No economy seats ex ZQN using Future Flight Credit

[indigo1]

These things have to be the biggest sham out there? I had flights booked via VA for March 2020. They "kindly" gave me this credit, but the only seats available to spend it on are business class (either ZQN-MEL or ZQN-SYD). Doing a regular search, there are plenty of economy seats for sale with cash. If I book a "lite" fare, presumably I can use the credit to purchase additional baggage after the booking is made? Can it be used for pre-purchasing food or anything?

Thanks for any advice

 

[SydneySwan]

FFC excludes Lite fares. Only Choice upwards are allowed.

 

[indigo1]

FFC excludes Lite fares. Only Choice upwards are allowed.

Thanks; there are no economy fares at all available on any dates. My question was more around how else can I use the credit? What can I add to my booking (paid via credit) after I've made a cash booking? The website is incredibly vague and confusing.

 

[serfty]

FFC excludes Lite fares. Only Choice upwards are allowed.

I thought it more the case that a specific underlying fare bucket class needed to be available in conjunction with that of the actual class being booked (I have used FF credits on Lite fares). ISTR it is the last listed in a GDS fare bucket search for a VA flight. Can't remember the actual letter off the top of my head.

 

[AIRwin]

I thought it more the case that a specific underlying class needed to be available (I have used FF credits on Lite fares). ISTR it is the last listed in a GDS fare bucket search for a VA flight. Can't remember the actual letter off the top of my head.

U?

 

[henrus]

I thought it more the case that a specific underlying fare bucket class needed to be available in conjunction with that of the actual class being booked (I have used FF credits on Lite fares). ISTR it is the last listed in a GDS fare bucket search for a VA flight. Can't remember the actual letter off the top of my head.

As mentioned above U class is required for economy but it needs to be U combined with a paid fare class, eg for a Flex flight both U and Y would need to exist to be bookable. Business class is different as it just needs D class which is a normal fare class hence the OP is seeing business fares but not economy as they clearly have either sold out or are not releasing U fares on the trans tasman flights.

If I had to guess the lack of U fare release on international flights could actually be on purpose, the future flight credits are effectively goodwill from the new owner (Bain) so the money to cover FFCs is coming from their pockets. On domestic flights this isn't a huge issue as taxes are low so they don't have to pay much out however on international flights Bain would effectively be having to cover the taxes so instead they don't release any U fares, because business doesn't have the same controls it's slipped through here.

Something worth stressing is that when using future flight credits where possible it's best to pay as little extra cash as possible, so if the fare is $600 for two people but you've only got $300 in credits, split the booking and make two separate ones. The logic behind this is that once it's booked as a future flight credit fare it becomes non refundable (except back to a future flight credit where fare allows), so if you need to cancel or the flight is cancelled you'll end up with a bigger credit balance then when you started.

 

[serfty]

The logic behind this is that once it's booked as a future flight credit fare it becomes non refundable (except back to a future flight credit where fare allows), so if you need to cancel or the flight is cancelled you'll end up with a bigger credit balance then when you started.

Yes, I had a situation with a cancellation of a booking that had been part paid with a FFC.

The entire 'refund' originally went back to my FFC travel bank, not my normal one ... ending up with a bigger balance than the start.

I was able to call back strait away and get that rectified.

Fortunately, I redeemed all my FFC some time ago.

 

[henrus]

The entire 'refund' originally went back to my FFC travel bank, not my normal one ... ending up with a bigger balance than the start.

I'd say that was more luck/status that caused that. The VA website does indicate that any amount paid with credit/debit cards goes back into the FFC value.

 

[Zanzara]

Fly somewhere else or choose another day

 

[henrus]

Fly somewhere else or choose another day

Dumb response for the thousands of New Zealand based tickets that were sold pre covid, many of those people who live in NZ. Obviously VA as we see them now are a new company so technically don't own anything but FCC's are a goodwill which don't appear to be offered on NZ flights by the new owners.

 

[Zanzara]

Dumb response for the thousands of New Zealand based tickets that were sold pre covid, many of those people who live in NZ. Obviously VA as we see them now are a new company so technically don't own anything but FCC's are a goodwill which don't appear to be offered on NZ flights by the new owners.

Flexibility is key to using the credit. NZ is cactus as far as VA are concerned. Far too price sensitive and small a market for them to make any $$$.

 

[antycbr]

Flexibility is key to using the credit. NZ is cactus as far as VA are concerned. Far too price sensitive and small a market for them to make any $$$.

The other aspect is that flights on the Tasman have a much higher percentage of tax included in a say ~$300 fare compared to the same fare domestically. If you’re able to fill the plane for a similar sector length/utilisation it makes more sense to use the plane on domestic operations.

 

[Mattg]

As mentioned above, there needs to be U availability to be able to redeem your credit.

I am indeed seeing almost no U availability on ZQN-SYD and ZQN-BNE. There are a few ZQN-MEL flights with seats though, e.g. VA148 on 2/9/23 has 6 seats available to book using Future Flight credits.

 

[indigo1]

Thanks for all of your responses!

If i want to use the credit to purchase bags, can I book a Lite fare, then log in to manage my booking and purchase baggage there using the credit?

 

[indigo1]

As an update. I booked the ZQN-MEL fares and paid cash....checked back on their website today and of course there is availability to purchase tickets using the FFC.