SC Earn with travel agent fares

[Spacetravel]

Hi all,

I was posting in the QF section for an unrelated topic and it was mentioned that travel agent fares earn status credits?

I was always under the impression they do not, this came from a time when I was first getting into the status game a few years ago and I didn't receive SC for fares I booked via virgin holidays. I contacted virgin and they said flights booked on virgin holidays wasn't eligible.

So I would like to clear this up, can we receive status credits for flights booked outside the virgin website?
Is it only select booking websites or Travel Agents? If yes what ones?

Thanks for your help in advanced.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

I second the question!

I've travelled to a few places on VA and their partners where there weren't codeshares available and the whole process of separate bookings, re-checking bags etc. didn't seem worth it.

If there was an agent who I could trust to book me onto points and status credit-earning fares under a single PNR, I'd be one happy customer.

 

[Denali]

The first time my husband became a VA WP, 2012, was on a travel agent arranged trip.

 

[ftm]

Yes, as long as you are booked in eligible fare classes, status credits on bookins made by TAs are the same as if you've booked them directly with Virgin.

 

[Spacetravel]

Aren't all of virgin's fares eligible for SC (just certain ones at a lesser rate)?

 

[Denali]

Aren't all of virgin's fares eligible for SC (just certain ones at a lesser rate)?

I think if booking via a travel expo, you really need to ask what is the fare code to see its eligible.

 

[Spacetravel]

What about fares from Virgin Holidays, Flybuys Travel, American Express Travel, flight center, etc etc?

 

[Pleb Status]

What about fares from Virgin Holidays, Flybuys Travel, American Express Travel, flight center, etc etc?

I have personally flown on many VA flights booked via Expedia and AMEX travel and never had a problem with VFF points and SC earn.

As others have said, if in doubt just check that the fare class is eligible (I do not know of any commercial fares that are not).

 

[ric_melb]

Also as others have said check that the fare class is eligible. I have heard that flights booked as part of a Virgin Holidays package may not be eligible for points and SC.
I think the word package is the key, if a package you may not get SC. If just booking flights through a TA, should be eligible, as many attest above.

 

[Spacetravel]

Just found this in the Virgin Holidays T/C's:

"[h=4]B. EARNING STATUS CREDITS ON VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLIDAYS PACKAGES[/h][FONT=&quot]Velocity members can also earn Status Credits on eligible airfares booked and flown as part of travel packages. An eligible airfare is defined as any flight which is deemed eligible to earn Status Credits by observing the Velocity Frequent Flyer terms and conditions. To earn Status Credits on the airfare portion of your holiday package, simply continue with your booking until you reach the guest details page of your booking, where you will be prompted to enter your Velocity membership number. All other flights are not eligible to earn Status Credits when purchased as part of a Virgin Australia Holidays package."[/FONT]

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

My concern is partners, where there can be a lot of fare classes that earn few or no points/SCs.

 

[Spacetravel]

My concern is partners, where there can be a lot of fare classes that earn few or no points/SCs.

Yeah that would be an area to tread carefully.

This thread was regarding VA on VA metal specifically but any experience with partners would be good to know.

I feel ripped off now. It's my own fault for not following up though. Back in about 2012 I had a SYD > OOL virgin holiday booking on VA metal, I received the points but never the SC. I put in a missing points claim and the response was virgin holiday bookings weren't eligible. From then on I made sure to book only via the VA website. As it was a long time ago and I no longer have the email, can't say if things changed or the rep got it wrong.

The good news is time to book with virgin holidays again and get 6 points per $ which is like Christmas to me now.

 

[oz_mark]

Velocity used to explicitly exclude Virgin Holidays from status credit (and I thought points0 earn. That changed a few years back.

 

[Pleb Status]

The good news is time to book with virgin holidays again and get 6 points per $ which is like Christmas to me now.

So you are not going to jump ship to 'the other side' then?

 

[Spacetravel]

So you are not going to jump ship to 'the other side' then?

Haha I still haven't completely decided yet, that thread did start to sway me in the direction of sticking it out with VA a little longer. I have to see out my existing travel booked with VA first anyway, which will take me through till about July. Any new flight bookings I am still yet to decide.

 

[b_adger]

What about fares from Virgin Holidays, Flybuys Travel, American Express Travel, flight center, etc etc?

I did a booking through AMEX travel with MR points at 1c/p, and earned SC at restricted economy (5 SC per leg) whereas the same flight booked direct with virgin for the same price was discount economy for 15 SC per leg. Haven't decided if that was worth the extra point cost (converting to Velocity points would have given me 1.2c/p but no SC)