VA - ADL - BRIS - EMER - Separate Itinerary - Tight Connection

[G-Unit]

Hi All (Gold VA and Gold Q)

Next week I will be travelling with my family from Adelaide to Brisbane (Business) then Brisbane to Emerald (No business) on VA. When booking 2 weeks ago it was evident that it was about $100 cheaper per person to book the legs separately rather than together - an obvious glitch in the VA system.

I took the courtesy to call VA this week and check with them the 35min connection time was ok. They said it was EXCEPT for the fact that I could not be checked all the way through as I had separate itineraries and would therefore need to collect baggage and recheck. So I asked if the could merge the itineraries - NO. So I asked them to find another solution which did not involve me forking more money (already paid 1100 for 2 business fares) - No must charge you fees and fare difference. Apparently checked with supervisors who seemed equally as useless.

I am now regretting my decision to focus travel to VA. I am annoyed at both the fact they wont accept it was their system error that caused me to book separately AND the fact they seem disinterested in fixing it. Any thoughts or suggestions to fix this?

 

[lovestotravel]

Welcome to the forums

I would be really hoping the flight arrives in Brisbane early, or the Emerald flight is delayed so you have more time

You will also need to complete on-line check-in or mobile check-in for both flights before leaving Adelaide

I can't see quickly on the VA website when the bag-drop closes for your fight, that being said it's going to be very tight and I wish you luck

 

[mannej]

Sorry, but how is this a system error if you were presented with both options and chose the cheaper option?

 

[G-Unit]

It is a system error . I was not "presented" with both options. I researched the options and found that one way I was being charged a lot more money for the same tickets!! I would be silly to do it!

 

[lovestotravel]

The $100 more for the connecting flight would cover you if you missed the 2nd flight!

As I said cross your fingers, but I don't see how you'll be able to get your bags from the first flight and then be able to drop them for the 2nd flight in time

 

[markis10]

It is a system error . I was not "presented" with both options. I researched the options and found that one way I was being charged a lot more money for the same tickets!! I would be silly to do it!

Its not a system error, its how airlines price tickets, same thing happens all the time to Europe, buying separate tickets is often cheaper. You dont really have a leg to stand on, unless you can get the checkin to through check bags.

 

[Fruitcake]

When booking 2 weeks ago it was evident that it was about $100 cheaper per person to book the legs separately rather than together - an obvious glitch in the VA system.

Hi G-unit - it might appear to be a glitch but to some extent you're comparing apples and oranges. Seating from BNE to EMD might be in the economy cabin but the fare would have business class change and cancellation provisions. The saver fare (I assume) you have purchased from BNE to EMD is much more restrictive.

Alternatively, view the fare difference as a $100 fee for getting your bags between the two flights really quickly.

In terms of solving the problem your business fares from ADL to BNE incur no change fee. But it sounds like the fare difference will be your problem if business savers have sold out on that earlier flight.

 

[mannej]

It is a system error . I was not "presented" with both options. I researched the options and found that one way I was being charged a lot more money for the same tickets!! I would be silly to do it!

It's not an error - you chose to book the flights separately, hence you bear the risk of the unprotected connections.

It's not uncommon to have flights cheaper if booked separately compared to being booked on the same ticket.

I would say that VA are within their rights to stand their ground here

 

[lovestotravel]

Please keep in mind this is a new member to the forum

 

[G-Unit]

Thanks for thoughts so far... I dont mind criticism I have put this out there to seek opinion!!

Whilst I may have to accept my role in doing the separate bookings it was not malicious and I dont think my logic was that far from normal. I am however still very disappointed that in explaining my story which at worst includes a genuine error on my part that do not seem willing to help fix it in a reasonable manner.

 

[lovestotravel]

As genuine as your mistake/error may be, given the price difference, if an airline allowed you to link up 2 separate bookings, everyone would just book the cheaper tickets and make the phone call to link them

 

[pat25d]

And you actively chose the cheaper options where I am sure the terms and conditions say that baggage won't be checked through for flights on different itineraries.

It's odd that you think that it's a system glitch as to the connecting flights being $100 more pp, when it's obvious that $100 is actually going to give you more services (connecting baggage).

 

[lovestotravel]

I just re-read your post, and you booked business class tickets.

Just cancel the tickets and re-book then if that's the case. My quick reading of the enhanced flight rules indicate no fees/charges for a full cancellation, although it appears it will be a credit voucher for a future flight which may cost you $$ to re-book over the phone ?

I say this, as I honestly don't see you being able to get off the plane, collect your baggage, re-check your baggage and then go back through security to board the 2nd flight.

 

[pat25d]

If he booked separately and there is no J on Brisbane - Emerald then I doubt he is in J for that flight.

 

[Fruitcake]

I just re-read your post, and you booked business class tickets...

Business saver fares for BNE-ADL seem to be $549, G-unit mentioned having already paid $1100. So I suspect G-unit might have booked business saver tickets, and the business saver fare class has been sold out on the earlier flight (hence the mention of having to pay fare differences, which G-unit has said is not an option).

If he booked separately and there is no J on Brisbane - Emerald then I doubt he is in J for that flight.

Exactly - that's why the apparent "arbitrage" appeared to exist (unfortunately, as G-unit has now discovered, it's not an arbitrage).

 

[williamsf1]

Brisbane is the worst airport in the country for on time arrivals so even a 1 hour connection time would be dangerous

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for thoughts so far... I dont mind criticism I have put this out there to seek opinion!!

Whilst I may have to accept my role in doing the separate bookings it was not malicious and I dont think my logic was that far from normal. I am however still very disappointed that in explaining my story which at worst includes a genuine error on my part that do not seem willing to help fix it in a reasonable manner.

Will you definitely have checked luggage or can you do it hand luggage only?

There is just no way with a 35 minute 'connection' that you would have disembarked the inbound flight & even made it to the baggage carousel never mind collected your bags and made it to VA checkin prior to the 30 minute close off for baggage acceptance.

I knew the VA would/could not through check if flights were booked in separate pnrs however I thought that it had something to do with their Navitaire checkin system. I thought this may have changed after their migration to Sabre.

 

[eastwest101]

One piece of advice may be try and call VA again and see if a different customer service agent gets a better result in linking the two bookings. Sometimes airline call centres can have unreliable/inconsistent results.

Agree with ozbeachbabe - if you can do HLO its much less of a risk, but still a very real risk. Has anyone suggested to the OP to book another pair of fully refundable Y tickets for the next BNE-EMD flight after the BNE-EMD flight that they are currently booked on?

That way the worst outcome would be the loss of fare from the original tight connection BNE-EMD flight, and if going HLO and the ariline gods align, then they may still have a slight chance to make the originally intended flight and of course get a refund/credit voucher for the refundable later BNE-EMD option. Any problems with that plan?

Or changing the ADL-BNE J class flights to an earlier time or even previous day and spend a night in BNE may be cheaper than cancellation fees.....

 

[G-Unit]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Most of them were defeated by information you didnt have which is I am travelling with my wife and 16 month old daughter - for 2 weeks in QLD. I am sure you can imagine the luggage including oversize we will have!! It also meant I couldnt change the J flight of ADL to BRIS as the only earlier one leaves at 0605 - before junior wakes. I tried two different people in call centre with same result.

Good news though is we have an outcome. I emailed VA complaints at the same time as posting here, and got concerned when it said a response may take 15 days (although it did mention sooner for plat, gold and business). I got a phone call this afternoon from a helpful VA chap who arranged for me to be able to change the BRIS to EMER leg to a later flight a no charge whatsoever. Now whilst this means a 4 hours layover, this solution would have made me happy from the start. It is a shame it took as much energy as it did to get there. Needless to say I have learned my lesson about connections!!

 

[Simo]

IMHO I would have rang VA before I did the booking and see if they could do something to put in on the same booking.

QF had a glitch like that awhile ago and I used it but it was a quick ph call and they linked it all together.

It was a tight connection in SYD but well worth the extra SC's