Fare Class 'R'

Yes, it was there when I was amending a booking; the message, effectively, that which was above, regarding R class tickets not being amendable online, available for OLCI or available for kiosk check-in.

I'm trying to book some BGI flights for next year and Expertflyer is showing these 'ere fancy new R fares. Trouble is, when trying to book them via the VS website it's defaulting to Ds instead (actually Z out, D back). Why so?

[Nottingham Nick]

As mentioned above - there are ongoing issues with the R fares on the VS website - you will probably have to book via the phone instead of online, in the short term.

Nick

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
As mentioned above - there are ongoing issues with the R fares on the VS website - you will probably have to book via the phone instead of online, in the short term.

Nick

So you're suggesting I may get an R fare by 'phoning? Worth a try, cheers Nicholas.

Out of interest, I did a dummy booking through Virgin Holidays and they were able to come up with return - and very well priced - UC flights for the same dates (although not at the hotel that we want). Now, if Expertflyer is right and there are only D and R fares for the inbound leg, VH must be acessing the R fares, wouldn't you think?

If you have an Upper Class booking with an R class booking letter you will not be able to amend your booking, assign seats or check in online or via an airport kiosk. We apologise for any inconvenience this temporary restriction may cause, in the interim please call reservations to amend an existing booking and check in at the airport at the dedicated Upper Class check in counter.

Saw the above on the 'Amend your booking' pages of the VS webb site. Thought how pecular but ignored it as booked in G. Now it make a little more sense

I have an update from Virgin on this:
R class is to be used for Corporate travel accounts who currently use Z class and will have different availability to Z as the revenue levels are different and corporate customers were annoyed about sale fares taking all the seats on their contracts.
It is about splitting up the seats available to different markets so they can manage yield better. VS are actually trying to cut the number of classes in Y but the high spenders get the best treatment as always!

Ed

Originally posted by eejp1007
R class is to be used for Corporate travel accounts who currently use Z class and will have different availability to Z as the revenue levels are different and corporate customers were annoyed about sale fares taking all the seats on their contracts.

So does this mean we can expect fewer Zs from now on? That wouldn't be too great...

From the sounds of it they will have their revenue management machines running overtime to maximise the higher revenue tickets they can get so I think that yes, Z class will have fewer seats in it.

I've got a Virgin Issued 'R' Class eticket (He says Smugly) - in exchange for miles - we were originally booked under 'O' ( 747 first class mileage ticket) - then Singapore changed the aircraft to an A380. Since you can't travel A380 suites on mileage (according to the rules) they reissued our etickets in 'R'

But how you get 'R' on Virgin Metal (not codeshare) I don't know

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by PeterStansfield
But how you get 'R' on Virgin Metal (not codeshare) I don't know

R on VS is just another standard revenue fare class code such as J, D or Z. Its just new, having been introduced in the last few months, and sits between Z and D in regards to flexibility.

Thanks,
Sarah