Making flight changes

Hey all...

I have received my CC Companion Ticket and am planning on making a booking to JHB for myself and my partner. Ideally we'd like to return on different flights. I know that the Companion ticket is booked on the same flight as the Fare paying ticket, BUT...

since the Fare paying ticket is one of the flexible fares, could I book us to return on the same flight (e.g on a Friday), then once the tickets are issued, change my ticket (the fare paying) to return a few days later (e.g on the Sunday)???

All help greatly appreciated.

[preiffer]

Pretty sure you can't. The two have to be on the same flight.

T's and C's:

4.3.1.2. Companion tickets and free complimentary companion tickets must be for the same date and flight as that of the paying passenger. The paying passenger is entitled to travel in the same or higher cabin than that of the companion if required, however companion tickets may never be booked into a higher cabin than the revenue ticket holder.

ALTHOUGH... this particular rule makes it slightly ambiguous:

4.4.4 Once tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee (clause 4.21), except where the reward is a companion ticket and the person travelling on the paying ticket changes his or her flight or class of travel. In these circumstances, the companion ticket may be similarly amended, subject to availability of seats and other conditions laid down by the reward provider. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. No changes can be made within 14 days of travel. Once travel has commenced, date and name changes are not permitted.

"MAY be similarly ammended" could read as "may NOT"... [:?]

I'd still fall on the side of "no" though.

officially your comapnion ticket is just that however im not sure if the system would automatically flag the other ticket if you changed your flight

The only T&C's regarding changes I can find are here:

4.4.4 Once tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee (clause 4.21), except where the reward is a companion ticket and the person travelling on the paying ticket changes his or her flight or class of travel. In these circumstances, the companion ticket may be similarly amended, subject to availability of seats and other conditions laid down by the reward provider. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. No changes can be made within 14 days of travel. Once travel has commenced, date and name changes are not permitted.

I'm sure someone else will did jump in and assist you futher.

Edit:
Paul thats pretty fast[|:)] - or maybe I take too long to post[:0]

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Paul thats pretty fast[|:)] - or maybe I take too long to post[:0]

Just call me Mr. T's & C's.


Not sure if that's a [8D] or a [:#] though...!

Thanks to you both for the info.

Another option we have is to book our flights (one fare paying, one companion) and then the companion simply doesn't turn up for the return flight.

Would Virgin have a problem with that?

Virgin wouldn't have a problem with a no show
But how would the companion get home?

Good question...

He would use this BA (shudder) miles to do a one-way reward flight.

That's great news...thanks for the info.

if you have enough miles you could see if VS would accept the difference between the companion ticket and a normal reward ticket for the return.

I have done this with a regular miles companion ticket but not with a CC Companion Ticket

Mid-class
The companion CC ticket doesnt cost any miles so I cant see how VS can give you any difference?

I see where you going for a mileage companion (as this would be half miles one way) but this wont apply to a CC reward