The 25%miles deducted when you cancel a.......

I have had to cancel our trip booked to MCO for December[V]

My son who has Asperger's (and behavioral problems,anxiety disorder etc.)has become increasingly afraid of flying and has refused to go on our holiday to Europe on Novemeber 5th,we're losing the whole lot on that holiday.He has also admitted he won't be able to fly on the December trip.

I have lost the deposit on our villa and have cancelled the 4 PE flights booked with combining 5 family members flying club miles.
Of course 25% of miles were deducted which is the rules & regs I know.But that has taken the miles in each account to below the 32,250 needed to make up the PE mileage ( for Hubbie and me for hopefully next year!)and 2 of those are now too old to travel with us and the accounts won't get added too.

Is there any point in writing to the flying club and explaining my circumstances,which are entirely out of my control, and asking for them to reconsider the deducation of all the 25% or is there not any point?
Appreciate any advice[?]

[mcmbenjamin]

I would. Possibly get a letter/note from a professional that can verify this and enclose it.

Also Virgin offers a Flying Without Fear Class

After further exploring the website; I noticed that Virgin offers some benefits for taking the course.

Benefits

-2,000 Flying Club miles
-The Virgin Atlantic Special Assistance department at 0870-380-2004
-The Flying Without Fear Channal onboard the aircraft

Benjamin

It's always worth writing and as the previous post says - if you can do so with a doctor's letter, all the better. In fairness though, your expactations should be low. VS is quite upfront about the 25% "fee" and they impose it for these very reasons. But still, write and see what happens ... if you play up the fact that you know the 25% rule exists, you may get additional 'sympathy' from the FC team?!

Hi Kazzie,

I looked up your thread from earlier in the year and am sorry to hear of your experience as I am sure you were really looking forward to the trip.

I am still somewhat confused as to quite how you made up the 4 PE tickets - your original thread suggested 4*32,500 but this would be enough for only 2. Perhaps, depending on where the miles came from, you could request in your letter that the miles are deducted in such a way as to leave sufficient in certain accounts to rebook at a later date.

Was it not a possibility to change the dates on your travel - assuming you were still interested in MCO. This would have only cost £25 a ticket.

Alternatively could I suggest a few rounds of blackjack to get your miles back up

Hope you get a good result.

Phil (Buffy)

[mcmbenjamin]

After thinking a bit more ....

Since you will be going later (2 persons) change the travel dates at 25GBP each, cancel the other 2 tickets, and the two ticket for the people traveling to Upper Class.

Benjamin

I really apprecaite those of you that have taken the time to reply to my question,thanks very much.

Firstly,I have thought about a fear of flying course.I'm sure these are very helpful for your average person.BUT it is impossible to get someone who is autistic to get things into perspective as it were!They can say statistically this or that but my son is adamant a 'plane could crash,and nothing can disengage him from his 'arguemnt'![:0]

He is starting at a residentail special needs school on November 14th.Of course he dosn't want to go as he has the life of riley with no education for the last 3 years and the boundaries,rules and regulation he needs that we're too worn down to provide at home will come as a big shock for him.

So bearing in mind he's going (allegedly!) on November 14th maybe I should have just changed the flight for Hubbie and me for next year and not lost the miles[:(]

We had only 2 PE flights and 1 economy as my daughgter wanted to come with us and we didn't have enough miles for PE.I had also booked the third PE flight as a Virgin Holidays flydrive so have lost the £125 deposit on that too[n]

I will write to the flying club,I have nought to lose and could throw myself on their mercy;)

I did finally take the plunge last night and joined the casino.I was really sacred doing it as i didn't understand all the proffesional betting advive on the long thread!But I think I manged it,although I lost my £10 stake.I then joined for Hubbie and won £25,so have broekn even and got £20,000 in total it was so much easier than i thought.

Originally posted by Kazzie
I did finally take the plunge last night and joined the casino.I was really sacred doing it as i didn't understand all the proffesional betting advive on the long thread!But I think I manged it,although I lost my £10 stake.I then joined for Hubbie and won £25,so have broekn even and got £20,000 in total it was so much easier than i thought.

£20,000 !!!; u r a professional !! LOL

The 20,000 was 10,000 for Hubbie and 10,000 for me;)

[Decker]

Originally posted by Kazzie
The 20,000 was 10,000 for Hubbie and 10,000 for me;)

and it was miles not Pounds

Blimey,that was wishful thinking!;)
A freudian slip I think[8)]

In case anyone was interested[:I] I received such a kind letter from someone at the Flying Club today it made me cry[:p]
In my request not to be penalised with the 25% loss of miles,I was expecting a curt--No,not possible,or possibly OK on this occasion we will etc.What I didn't expect in my wildest dreams was to have an e-mail so personal and kind,sending us best wishes for my son etc.Well this is the reason I love Virgin so much.
What other massive compnay can you thik of that would respond in such a personal thoughtful way?
Upshot is that for my one off circunstances I can have the miles back and even more amazingly something I didn't ask for or consider,the admin fee refunded too[y]

[preiffer]

Top marks VS - well done Kazzie [y]:)

Good for you Kazzie and good for you too VS:)

[Nottingham Nick]

Great result, well done. [y][y]:D

Nick

Originally posted by Kazzie
In case anyone was interested[:I] I received such a kind letter from someone at the Flying Club today it made me cry[:p]
In my request not to be penalised with the 25% loss of miles,I was expecting a curt--No,not possible,or possibly OK on this occasion we will etc.What I didn't expect in my wildest dreams was to have an e-mail so personal and kind,sending us best wishes for my son etc.Well this is the reason I love Virgin so much.
What other massive compnay can you thik of that would respond in such a personal thoughtful way?
Upshot is that for my one off circunstances I can have the miles back and even more amazingly something I didn't ask for or consider,the admin fee refunded too[y]

Kazzie, that's a good reason to shout from the rooftops how good Virgin is. I felt so sorry for you having to change plans and undoubtedly cope with so much difficulty ... for large company to respond in such a personal way implies incredible focus and skill. Good for them and I sincerely hope your future holiday is as good as it can be.

[Scrooge]

And that dear readers is how a big company like VS can make a person a customer for life. [y] VS for going above and beyond.