International mileage on domestic leg - is this right?

[shuuy]

In business I flew VA from east coast Australia to PER (VA flight number), and then NZ from PER to AKL (NZ flight number and ticket stock).

I got credited the international mileage from MEL-PER. If they had applied the domestic rules, I would have received ~3-4x more points (5,000 vs. 17,000).

I don't think MEL-AKL via PER is a valid routing, nor is MEL-AKL-PER a origin/destination open-jaw on two separate airlines.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and communicated this to Virgin to get it straight?

 

[moa999]

If on NZ flight number, then I wouldn't think the VA domestic rules apply.
I believe same occurs if you are on thru-ticket VA services eg. PER-SYD-LAX, as you can't ascribe a $ value on the dom part, so all done via mileage.

 

[williamsf1]

Were you on NZ flight numbers or VA flight numbers for all flights ?

If on NZ flight numbers, you earn at the NZ rates regardless of where that flight travels.

 

[bullerdude]

If it was booked as a MEL-AKL flight with a transit through PER (i.e booked on one ticket) then you will receive points at the international rate.

I get this when I fly MEL-BNE-AKL on a single ticket.

 

[shuuy]

It was a 7 hour connection in Perth. VA flight # then NZ flight #.

Here is the explanation from the platinum desk:

The flight was credited as a single flight entity, however as it was booked as an international itinerary together with other flights in one record, this domestic flight is priced as an international route and is treated as an international segment.Regardless if the domestic flight is an open jaw, interline or direct flight, so as long as the itinerary was purchased which includes an international leg, it will be considered international.

 

[notzac]

If it's booked as part of an international itinerary, then it's basically impossible to credit points per $ spent - how would they work out how much to allocate to the domestic flight vs. the international flights?

 

[williamsf1]

It was a 7 hour connection in Perth. VA flight # then NZ flight #.

Here is the explanation from the platinum desk:

Buying the domestic leg on the same ticket would have also saved you the GST on that domestic flight if you bought it separately

 

[dajop]

My partner has had similar problems but with a ticket booked separately as part of international itinerary. Different to OP circumstance but always credits with mileage not dollar baed points.

Itinerary has always been SQ return SIN-SYD on SQ ticket stock, plus separate ticket for domestic sectors on VA code on VA, with cost of ticket clearly shown. Unfortunately TA insists on including in overall international itinerary (even though not connecting flights) and issues ticket through Hahn Air. Always comes through as international (mileage based) rate, but has a single contact on Manila call centre who knows how to correct.

Basically last time he was told (politely) by gold line (in Australia) that he was only entitled to international mileage because it wasn't ticketed by VA. Managed to get it corrected again through regular number for Manila call centre (HUCA with different phone number!) but next time it will be QF as all too difficult.

But this is different to domestic sectors that are part of international ticket where rules are clear.