Platinum Complimentary Upgrade Change

[bullerdude]

I just used my last remaining complimentary upgrade on a flight in April and was surprised to hear that it was not confirmed during the call.

Instead I was advised that they forward the request through to the administration team who assign the upgrade and deduct it from my account and then send me a new itinerary within 24 hour - since when has this been the process?

I have always had instant confirmation in the past.

 

[Frostydog007]

Had a similar occurrance last year and thought it was not correct, so called back and was advised they should have confirmed it at the time of the request being made. I now deal directly with the plat desk.

 

[bullerdude]

This was the plat desk I spoke with to make the upgrade.

 

[bass_ke]

I've had the same thing happen with my last 2 flexi - J points upgrades

 

[Atleastonce]

I just used all my plat upgrades in the last 2 weeks, and all were confirmed on the spot and email confirmations before I got off the phone. They were done through the platinum desk.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi all, UpgradeMe Platinum member offer and UpgradeMe Points are both confirmed at the time of booking. The process to reissue your ticket, send you a new itinerary and either deduct your Platinum Credit or Points gets managed in our back office. This in no way affects the already confirmed upgrade. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[bullerdude]

Hi all, UpgradeMe Platinum member offer and UpgradeMe Points are both confirmed at the time of booking. The process to reissue your ticket, send you a new itinerary and either deduct your Platinum Credit or Points gets managed in our back office. This in no way affects the already confirmed upgrade. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks for confirming VFF - Sounds like the platinum call centre did apply the upgrade immediately (from checking my booking) but explained the process incorrectly; although the new itinerary did take 24 hours to email.

 

[Jurahn]

I've upgraded flights twice in the past couple of weeks, and have experienced both responses.

First occasion (as Gold) at beginning of March, we were on the Gold Coast and decided to upgrade the return MEL-PER leg with points. Rang the Gold Desk on the Sunday (two days before the flight), upgrade was processed and she advised I would receive the updated itinerary within 24 hours. We never actually received the new itinerary, maybe because we did OLCI for that flight on the Monday? Didn't bother following it up as the upgrade had obviously gone through and the booking itself was showing us in J anyway.

Second time was yesterday evening (as Platinum) - booked two Flexis for end of April, rang the Platinum desk and used two of my complimentary upgrades. Was told that I would receive the updated itinerary within 5 minutes - sure enough, checked my email 10 minutes later and the updated itinerary was there.

 

[maninblack]

Virgin has certainly changed their comp upgrade system for the worse. It used to be that you could upgrade from a flexi to business with a Platinum complimentary upgrade as long as any business class seat was available on the flight. This is no longer the case as the release of these upgrade seats are totally at the discretion of the airline and the last three times I have asked there has been none despite the flights having plenty of J seats for sale. It's a huge downgrade of the benefit, in fact it's pathetic. I think I've just about run out of love.

 

[vitagen]

I think the plat upgrades were always at the condition of a reward / z class seat available.

 

[maninblack]

I think the plat upgrades were always at the condition of a reward / z class seat available.

Mmhmm, which now reads Z0 most of the time especially SYD/MEL-PER. In other words they are releasing far less upgrade seats than they used to.

 

[DGW]

Mmhmm, which now reads Z0 most of the time especially SYD/MEL-PER. In other words they are releasing far less upgrade seats than they used to.

How far in advance are you booking? I've never had an issue upgrading C2C flights using complimentary upgrades or points, however I book my flights 4-6 weeks in advance. If you're trying to upgrade a week out then you probably have to expect that you'll struggle..

 

[maninblack]

4-6 weeks in advance! I'm lucky if I have a weeks notice.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I just used my two remaining plat upgrades for MEL-PER rtn. No problem whatsoever. Trip is end July/ early Aug.

 

[doczim]

I had to purchase a Flex for the family as we decided to take a trip only a couple of weeks out and this was all that was available. I thought id be able to make use of my comp upgrades. I called a few times in lead up to travel but no availability. They said try at airport lounge. checked in this morning, and still nothing. I thought that if there were seats still available for sale (which there were) and seeing i was looking to use one of my upgrades that they might then be available but they said there is no seats for with upgradable fare. not sure if its just bad luck for me or if this is common. I normally but saver so the comp upgrades are not really going to be much use for me . though I know im probably not alone in that .anyway probably more of a vent than anything ! needed to get it off my chest!

 

[Bofter]

I think as Vitagen mentioned, there needs to be a reward seat available. In the lead up to my latest flight back I was monitoring availability closely to try an snare such an upgrade from a flexi fare. On ExpertFlyer, Virgin business class availability appears in J, C, D and I classes. Availability in any or all of those didn't allow me to use a complimentary upgrade. I think the only way to see Virgin availability in Z class is by making a dummy reward booking on their website, but that is the class that you need.

 

[OzEire]

It seems strange that VA wouldn't do a comp upgrade a WP at the lounge if there were J seats avail ... its not likely those seats would generate other revenue so close to the flight so why not reduce a Velocity liability and keep a WP happy in the process?

 

[doczim]

I think as Vitagen mentioned, there needs to be a reward seat available. In the lead up to my latest flight back I was monitoring availability closely to try an snare such an upgrade from a flexi fare. On ExpertFlyer, Virgin business class availability appears in J, C, D and I classes. Availability in any or all of those didn't allow me to use a complimentary upgrade. I think the only way to see Virgin availability in Z class is by making a dummy reward booking on their website, but that is the class that you need.

Yes this was what happened in my experience. pretty much exactly what I did from booking to when in lounge but no avail.

It seems strange that VA wouldn't do a comp upgrade a WP at the lounge if there were J seats avail ... its not likely those seats would generate other revenue so close to the flight so why not reduce a Velocity liability and keep a WP happy in the process?

OzEire - that was my (simplistic) way at looking at it also. in the end there were 3 people in J , really left me wondering why they wouldnt do it. Anyway, got my upgrade to Signature suite at IC Melbourne so happy with that!