Useful Information

Hello!

Just incase some people aren't aware I thought I would just post this to save anyone else the same frustrations I have experienced today!

I am a couple of thousand miles short of the mileage required to get two upper returns to the carribbean so I worked out that it could be more cost effective for me to purchase a qualifying one way ticket (L, B, Y, S, W class) and then upgrade that sector using miles and purchase the inbound ticket totally out of miles. With me so far?!

So, I call FC and check that bookings through agents can be upgraded using miles. Yes, no problem is the answer providing the class is one of the above.

Then I call my wholesaler, and book a one way S class nett fare at a good rate. I call FC back ask them to look at the locator and just double check the fare is ok for upgrade using miles before the ticket is issued. Again, I am advised yes no problem, as soon as the ticket is issued the booking can be upgraded.

So, I get my wholesaler to issue the ticket - becoming bound to the cancellation charges etc and call FC back to upgrade the ticket.

This time - and I am sure you can guess what is coming - 'Im sorry sir you haven't booked a qualifying fare....'

The conversation goes on and to cut a tedious story short VS will not upgrade ANY nett fare ticket even if it is in the correct class (W & Y excluded). I make the point that not only was I assured that the reservation I had made was ok before I issued the ticket, no where in the T&C's on the VS website does it say that nett fares are excluded.

I didn't get anywhere. Luckilly I have the knowledge and contacts to be able to get the ticket issued voided off as it was within 24 hours but I wouldn't want anyone else to get into a pickle in the same situation.

Basically, it appears that VS will only upgrade published fares in the correct classes - not netts.

It is just a shame they didn't point that out when I enquired before booking!!!

[RichardMannion]

Sure its in the T&C's somewhere, I know NETT fares have been excluded for some time.

EDIT:

4.3.8 Qualifying fare levels for Economy to Premium Economy upgrades and Economy Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):

Only full adult fares apply

- Any Economy fares booked in Y class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.
- Only Virgin Atlantic published Economy fares booked in B, L, or M class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.

4.3.9 Qualifying fare levels for Premium Economy to Upper Class upgrades and Premium Economy Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):

Only full adult fares apply

- Any Premium Economy fares booked in W class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.
- Only Virgin Atlantic published Premium Economy fares booked in S class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.


4.3.10 Qualifying fare levels for Upper Class Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):

Only full adult fares apply

- Any Upper Class fares booked in J class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.

* For journeys Lagos to the USA and Delhi or Mumbai to USA, Virgin Atlantic published Upper Class fares booked in D class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.
**M class is only available for flights booked outbound from Lagos.

Well, Stand corrected then. Sorry!

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by barnstaple
Well, Stand corrected then. Sorry!


It is somewhat buried! But then we all love the marketing gloss, and that immortal statement 'Terms and Conditions apply' [:w]

So true!

The old saying 'if its too good to be true it probably is'... and it was!

Do you earn air miles and tier points on a nett 'S' ticket? Also would you be allowed to upgrade at check-in?

gnjb.

You certainly do get airmiles and tier points just as you would on a published, and there would be no reason you could not upgrade at checkin (for money rather than miles I assume).

The price difference was: 1000ish for a 1 way W class published and 500ish for a one way S class so if you don't want to use miles to upgrade in advance it is definately a BARGAIN!!! - tax included.

[honey lamb]

'Scuse my ignorance, but what is a nett fare? [:I]

Yes, you earn the same FC miles and tier points on nett fares as you do on published.
Upgrades at check-in are dependant on lots of things such as loads on the day and who has got there before you so there is never any guarantee.

I am in exactly the same position as you Barnstable, I am off to Fiji in November and flying via LAX so want to use my miles to upgrade the outbound to UC. It would be great to save a few pounds and use our nett fares and so I called FC and asked if this would be OK. To me too they said that as long as it was in the correct class they would be able to upgrade it.

The other thing I am worried about is that some customers have asked for tickets that are upgradeable with miles so we have issued them ourselves in the right booking classes but it seems that even though we have done this, they won't be able upgrade.
The only way it seems I'll save any money is by not charging myself a credit card fee!

A nett fare is the term refered to fares supplied to consolidators/agents/tour operators etc. It is nett of any commission so the wholesaler chooses the markup.

Edward - I was just really frustrated that I hadn't taken the person who said it would be ok's surname and extension number. If I had, and I have been able to speak to her when I called back I wonder if I would have got a different response?! It would be interesting to know if it is something in the VS res system that actually prevents them from upgrading a nett fare or weather it is just a policy not to which if they really wanted to/didn't know their own rules (!) they could overide.

I always take the persons name when I make a call - but never thought I would need the surname too! pook!

Ed - if you find a way around the rule do let me know!!!