Express redemption fee

I have just tried to use miles to upgrade my flight from the US to the UK from Premium to Upper Class and the flight is in 2 days time.

There was availability but I was asked to pay a $50 express redemption fee as the flight was within 3 days!

Anyone else heard of this? I have done this any number of times before and never been charged.

[preiffer]

Never heard of it in the UK...

[RichardMannion]

No Express fees apply if you are a Gold FC member.

4.2 Virgin Atlantic Flight Rewards

4.2.1 Once reward tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB. The exception is, 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 Virgin Atlantic. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, outside 7 days of departure, 75% of the miles will be recredited to the member's account and a cancellation fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB will be taken. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, inside 7 days of departure, no miles will be refunded and no fee will be charged. Once travel has commenced miles cannot be refunded.

[mitchja]

Many airlines do this for reward flights booked at short notice.
It is in the VS Flying Club T&C's:

4.1.9 All Flying Club rewards are subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply with certain Flying Club Partners. Please call Flying Club for details or check at the time of booking. Rewards cannot be booked less than 3 days before departure or 7 working days before departure should vouchers/tickets require being sent. Outside the UK 14 days notice is required for booking partner rewards originating outside your country of residence and Eurostar rewards. Express Fees may apply for bookings made within 21 days of departure, please check at the time of booking.

Regards

[mcmbenjamin]

Call the US gold number, quote the T+Cs, they will be helpless then ask to be transfered to premier in the UK. This ways you save the long distance call.

Hi Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
No Express fees apply if you are a Gold FC member.

4.2.1 Once reward tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB. The exception is, 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 Virgin Atlantic. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, outside 7 days of departure, 75% of the miles will be recredited to the member's account and a cancellation fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB will be taken. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, inside 7 days of departure, no miles will be refunded and no fee will be charged. Once travel has commenced miles cannot be refunded.

I may have misunderstood, but I don't think this necessarily reflects the OP's situation: is manymiles upgrading and existing redemption flight, or upgrading a paid-for flight? If it's the latter, then the above doesn't apply as I read it.

I have booked easily half a dozen UC redemption flights within 48 hours of flying over the past couple of years and never had to pay anything other than taxes. Indeed, most of my redemption flights are booked right up to the last minute when availability often opens up.

Cheers, Howard

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Howard Long
Hi Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
No Express fees apply if you are a Gold FC member.

4.2.1 Once reward tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB. The exception is, 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 Virgin Atlantic. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, outside 7 days of departure, 75% of the miles will be recredited to the member's account and a cancellation fee of £25 or US$50, R100.00, 1,500 rupees, ´4000, HK$300, 325RMB will be taken. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up, inside 7 days of departure, no miles will be refunded and no fee will be charged. Once travel has commenced miles cannot be refunded.

I may have misunderstood, but I don't think this necessarily reflects the OP's situation: is manymiles upgrading and existing redemption flight, or upgrading a paid-for flight? If it's the latter, then the above doesn't apply as I read it.

I have booked easily half a dozen UC redemption flights within 48 hours of flying over the past couple of years and never had to pay anything other than taxes. Indeed, most of my redemption flights are booked right up to the last minute when availability often opens up.

Cheers, Howard

Yep, I'm an idiot. I posteed the wrong T&C paragraph - James posted the correct one.

Thanks,
Richard

This is for a paid S class fare for a one way upgrade.

I called the premier team in the UK as the US staff are hopeless.

Gold members should never need to pay an express fee at all.