Virgin award cancellation fees-Plat?

[texanaust]

Does VA waive cancellation fees on awards if you are Platinum? If not, has anyone had success if you ask nicely?

 

[Harthagan]

It's not a published benefit. You can certainly call up and ask nicely, worst they can say is no.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I've always been charged the requisite fees for cancelling or modifying award bookings

 

[maccaisking]

I have cancelled a three Y awards when J awards became available - all on HKG or LAX routes. Once I had fee waived after I requested, once the agent offered, once was politely declined. I haven't had it waived on bookings when I wasn't rebooking at the same time.

 

[James White]

I’ve cancelled several flights when i was on Gold and on Platinum.
the gold where international saver premium fares and they have always fully refunded me (to my travel bank) and once to the credit card with no fees.
And with platinum I’ve called up 2hrs before the flight and cancelled as me and the mrs had food poisoning. They also refunded it to the travel bank with no fees.
They can be lovely on the phone, I think it’s good to have a bit of a laugh with them.
pretend like you made a mistake and the mrs is grilling you. Then they usually take sympathy

 

[texanaust]

Reporting back...I managed to get a full refund on my award ticket without fees. I was going to Singapore for a cruise which is now not going to happen because of the coronavirus. It appears my reason was sufficient for a one time exemption.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Nice one. I'm very regrettably likely going to have to cancel a J award to HND, maybe I'll get a sympathetic ear as this was the way to get to Shanghai...

 

[hossein_au]

...pretend like you made a mistake and the mrs is grilling you...

No pretending here; that is my actual reason in majority of cases (and not just travel-related things)