No-show on the return leg of a Virgin flight

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Mal P

Junior Member
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Jan 26, 2007
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Hi there,

I have a return flight from Seattle booked in July with Virgin providing the long-haul segment. I need to change the last return leg and it seems changing the date and re-routing is going to cost me over $2000 at this stage.

So I'm going to buy a new one-way fare, on Qantas, $1100.

My question is... can I at least get the taxes back from the Virgin flight that I plan to no show?

Thanks!
Mal
 
be careful they can recalculate the oneway fare you have flown - I will leave it to the more experienced but I wouldn't be saying anything
 
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The only way you will get anything back is a fare recalculation and ticker reissue, that fare and associated fees could result in you having to pay them.
 
Hi there,

I have a return flight from Seattle booked in July with Virgin providing the long-haul segment. I need to change the last return leg and it seems changing the date and re-routing is going to cost me over $2000 at this stage.

So I'm going to buy a new one-way fare, on Qantas, $1100.

My question is... can I at least get the taxes back from the Virgin flight that I plan to no show?

Thanks!
Mal

What was the old routing & what would be the new routing?

I don't think the VA taxes are much at all anyway. I booked a return Business Saver fare for the folks SYD/LAX/SYD & were surprised how low the VA taxes were so economy taxes would be even less than that & you'd only be getting 50% of that back anyway.

Like the others have said above, if VA were to refund any portion of the taxes they would need to re-assess the fare paid to the fare travelled. I would think it's highly likely that the 50% refund of taxes would be well and truly eaten up in the additional collection of the new airfares when re-assessing it from a return to a one way.

Some airlines may not take into account the fare available at the time you booked but what if would be if you purchasd on the day you call up. Depending how long ago you booked, this price could've gone up significantly since then particularly as it's high season Aust to the USA in July being the Northern summer.

It would also depend on how an airline sells their flights ie separate one way fare components (LCC style) where a return is the same as two one way fares or where a one way fare component is more like 75% of a return fare (legacy airline style) or in some cases you may find that a special return fares could be less than a regular one way fare?

What are the cancellation penalties on the VA ticket if you cancelled the whole thing & just bought a new ticket for exactly the routing/dates you want now?

I guess it's cheap to buy a one way fare ex the USA in July because it would be their low season because they're flying into our winter.
 
Thanks for the information folks. You're absolutely right, the fares have gone up dramatically sinced I booked last October which is a component of why it's so bad, the same itinerary I paid $1500 for is now $2700. And in addition there's multiple airlines on the ticket, and that confuses matters.

The fare is non-refundable....

Ok perhaps I'll just suck it up, since the new fare I'll be paying is pretty much the same as if I had booked right now. But still... grrrr.
 
Would it be better just to keep quiet, so that your points, after you have flown the first sector to the US, will be credited to your VA account, and just not use the return?
Thats what I would do. Just use the one way out, and then forget about the return.
As an Australian citizen, you have a right of return to Australia, you might just have to show US CBP if they ask.
But with ESTA, and visa waiver, as an Australian, its easy peasy.
I certainly would not re contact VA and try to convince the Philippines girl your situation.
 
Thanks, I will do that - I've booked the new one-way return. I hope the Homeland Security automated passenger detection systems don't find it suspicious having two return legs in play! Hah!
 
Thanks, I will do that - I've booked the new one-way return. I hope the Homeland Security automated passenger detection systems don't find it suspicious having two return legs in play! Hah!

If DHS did say anything you simply tell them the truth that doing what you did saved you $1K.
 
Ive just got a VA reward seat for the daughter to the US, and 2 return reward tic (the second a week after the first). Intention is to cancel one when it becomes clear which one of 2 return dates she will use.

When she travels she will have a letter to show the reason for the 2 return legs..
 
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