virgin cancellation would cost me the same

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Booked Syd-Mel 23 Jun - 30 Jun on Virgin, $70 each way for my partner and I. Unfortunately, she has had to fly down today at short notice. I tried to change her flight for the 23rd online, but since they were completed in the same CC transaction, that was not possible. Furthermore, the Virgin lines were jammed (anyone know why? there was 'unexpected circumstances' causing the phones to be busy?) so we had to bite the bullet and book ahead. She will be using the return leg.

So, I get on the phone this afternoon to see what value I can salvage from what was a very cheap fare. Turns out I woul dhave to fork out more ($40) to cancel the ticket and to gain flight credit which could only be used on the phone (where bookings are at least $15 more expensive, the call centre operator told me). Add to this a loss of Velocity Points.

I just don't tihnk it's worth my while. The way I see it, it costs me more money just to allow Virgin to resell the seat to someone else. I'm not into corporate charity.

What should I do with the ticket for the 23rd? I'm wondering whether I can recoup taxes and fuel fines without incurring these ridiculous charges? Otherwise, I'll just use the baggage allowance and forget all about it - the seats were cheap to begin with.
 
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I am in no way an expert and will bow to others knowledge if I am on the wrong track however it may pay you to check that if your partner simply doesn't show up for the first leg of the ticket/ flight whether the return trip is still "live".
 
I've never read the fine print for this situation, and I've only ever been stung for name or date changes. Does it cost $40 to cancel a ticket?
 
Yeah, she said I'd have to shell out another $40 to receive $69 credit which can only be used over the phone. I asked how much phone booking charges were and she said the tickets were at least $15 more expensive than online. I asked whether I could have $29 credit, apparently not.
 
matthecat said:
I am in no way an expert and will bow to others knowledge if I am on the wrong track however it may pay you to check that if your partner simply doesn't show up for the first leg of the ticket/ flight whether the return trip is still "live".

On most airlines, if you miss the first leg you nearly always cancell everything from there.
Evan
 
fortymilliondaggers said:
Yeah, she said I'd have to shell out another $40 to receive $69 credit which can only be used over the phone. I asked how much phone booking charges were and she said the tickets were at least $15 more expensive than online. I asked whether I could have $29 credit, apparently not.

Ah, so $40 to cancel the fare and receive credit. How much just to cancel the fare? Which would be done as a courtesy to them as it enables them to resell the seat, and refund you the taxes/fines. Surely no cost with that?

If so, you could check someone in and take advantage of the additional baggage allowance (which you may have to do anyway to keep the booking 'live'), then that person disappears between check-in and the gate, the plane gets delayed and the airline get a fine for missing it's take-off slot. Maybe even have a knock on effect at other destinations. All because of their miserable attitude to changing tickets. It's the only way they'll learn. Irritating to the other travellers, but there always seems to be people getting lost between check-in and the departure gate anyway.
 
If you dont show for the forward leg the return should not be cancelled,
This is because the fares sold in Australia for Dom travel are sold as single One Way fares .
In olden days fares were sold (disc fares anyway) as return fares so if you didnt front for the forward journey the return would be cancelled.
Cancellation/rebooking fees etc on disc fares are now the only real difference that airlines using oneway fares have of getting people to "trade up" to higher fares for flexibility(and access to more availability during peak times as well). I know I book the cheapest flexi fares even when lower ones are avail so I can change my flight easily
 
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