Original Routing Credit

[ICUDr]

Hi everyone

I have a question about "Original Routing Credit"

I booked NTL-MEL-PER-SYD-BNE in Y (Elevate). At 10pm (T-2) I received an email from VA saying my flight PER-SYD had been cancelled and I have been rescheduled to the next day's service. SYD-BNE had to be moved too and my new arrival time in BNE was 6pm on father's day! bummer ...


Not wanting to miss fathers day lunch I called VA but they couldn't book me with QF on that night. So I called QF and managed to buy a new ticket PER-MEL-BNE for the same night of my original ticket. This required a drive from Fremantel to PER (normally a 35 minutes drive but done in 18 minutes)

I applied for a refund from VA for the return leg of the trip which they have agreed to

I'm planning to contact my credit card provider and travel insurance company and try to recover the price difference between VA and QF ($800) and see what else can be done, in the mean time...

My question is do I qualify for an Original Routing Credit? My feeling is probably no as VA is going to refund the value of the refund ticket but its worth asking. Also, is there any sort of compensation that I might be able to get out of VA?

Thank you kindly

Ken

 

[JessicaTam]

I would think no ORCs as you were offered the same flights, albeit a day later. You chose the alternate carrier.

If VA had booked you on QF, then you might have had a case.

I hope the insurance company comes through.

 

[CPMaverick]

You didn't fly and got your money refunded, it seems a bit absurd to think you'd get mileage credit? Perhaps you have a shot at some customer service points, I would definitely recommend that angle as I suspect any request for ORC in this case will come up empty.

Just FYI I was informed by VA that they do not offer ORC about 18 months ago. They rebooked me from MEL-SYD-ZQN on an Air NZ direct MEL-ZQN without my permission (the MEL-SYD-ZQN flights all flew on time). I was crediting to DL and eventually got ORC but VA said it was only because DL guarantees ORC in their policy. If I was crediting to VA they said I would not get ORC (although I would earn on NZ metal). This was according to multiple communications I had with VA, although seems like policies on airlines can be fluid (putting it kindly).

Best of luck and hope you get come compensation!

 

[ICUDr]

Just an update regarding this cancelation:

I use 1Cover Domestic travel insurance. They are normally pretty good.

VA denied any ORC or compensation because they refund the costs of the return flight. No surprise there but worth a shot.

1Cover declined to pay the extra expenses due to the following:

We will reimburse if:

c) your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if a disruption to your journey arises from the following reasons:
• you lose your passport, travel documents or credit cards or they are stolen.
• your scheduled or connecting transport is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted because of one of the following events: strike, riot, hijack, civil protest, weather, natural disaster or accident.

• you unknowingly break any quarantine rule.
• your home is rendered uninhabitable by fire, explosion, earthquake or flood.”

So no compensation here and cased closed.

Cheers Maverick and Jessica for your replies =)

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for the update.