Booking a reward return

Hi all I'm wondering if I could call on the experience of the forum users about a planned upcoming trip to orlando. I have enough miles for a return in upper class. I would like to hold/book the outbound flights when they are available but then I'm not sure what to do about the return.

I have had conflicting advice from people at VA. On the phone they have suggested it is not possible to add a leg to a single booking and convert it into a return however someone on the live online chat yesterday said that this would be possible. 2 singles would be £270 more per ticket in taxes/fees so not ideal.

The other option is to reserve the outbound then book a return for a day or two later. I could then change the return date to the one I want if/when they become available. I realise I would need to pay the change fees but this would be much cheaper than the two singles.

Also what is the cancellation policy on G fares? Are all miles/fees refunded if cancelled within a specific timeframe?

Thanks!

They’re not supposed to do it, but you can get lucky.

Cancellation within 24 hours is complete refund and all your miles. Anytime after that, it’s all your miles and refund minus an admin fee. It’s the same as the change fee. I can never remember what it is, but it used to be south of £50.

They’ll hold flights for 3 days, so you can use that to your advantage too.

I can never remember what it is, but it used to be south of £50.

£30 IIRC.

Orlando Upper Class reward seats are rare. They do come up and I have had a few. (off season)
I have always booked as soon as they were available just to guarantee getting them.
It had not occurred to me to book an early return an then change it but that seems a great idea.
Much better to pay £30 fee than several hundred in extra tax.
Best of luck.
Dick D

I've been encouraged by Virgin Gold line in the past to do exactly what they say they can't do - ie book an outward, wait for the return to be available, then get them to book the return leg for you on the same PNR, making it a 'return' and eligible for the lower tax

If YOU book the return leg yourself, and ask them to combine, it's either harder or impossible depending on who you speak to

Peter

I can never remember what it is, but it used to be south of £50.

£30 IIRC.

Unfortunately I have had to cancel reward flights twice this past year, and each time was quoted the £30 pp admin fee. And each time have received the refund without any admin fee being deducted. Is this usual.

I have had to make a few changes to reward flights and never been charged the admin fee again of £30. I think it depends who you speak to and if they like you maybe?

I’ve made date changes to reward flights twice over the past year and each time got charged the fee... I obviously need to improve my telephone manner ;)

[mitchja]

I *think* the change fee on reward flights is only waived if you are Flying Club Gold.

I *think* the change fee on reward flights is only waived if you are Flying Club Gold.

I’m not Gold, nor even Silver, but three times in total and twice in the past year they’ve charged me nithing.

Thanks for the replies folks.

For now I have managed to secure Gs outbound (very lucky combined with a frantic call to VA when I saw them as available!) and have booked it with an economy return the following day. I’ll keep a look out for the return leg and call to change date/upgrade when available. I’m not expecting upper on the way back but hopefully premium will be available. I booked economy for now as I’d rather pay the difference to virgin rather than have to get a refund back if no higher classes are available. For this trip the dates are more important than flight class.

This seemed like the best way to guarantee the upper outbound leg while not paying the increased fees for 2 singles. All apart from one virgin employee told me I cannot add a return leg onto a ticketed single booking. One did say it’s a grey area and they shouldn’t really do it. I guess it’s there as an option; probably for gold members, which I’m no where near!

i am in the same situation ,however i have 115k in my account and my wife has 95k in her account.

The flights we are looking at are lhr-mia return upper ,one leg is 47.5k and the return in peak dates is 57.5k.

Hopefully we would only pay the taxes as 2 returns rather than 4 singles ?
anyone know?

i am in the same situation ,however i have 115k in my account and my wife has 95k in her account.

The flights we are looking at are lhr-mia return upper ,one leg is 47.5k and the return in peak dates is 57.5k.

Hopefully we would only pay the taxes as 2 returns rather than 4 singles ?
anyone know?

Depends how it’s booked. If you book each leg as a single you will pay taxes on 4 singles.

VA’s reluctance to add a leg onto a single ticket and convert it to a return is frustrating but there are workarounds.

Just for info for anyone else,they let me book a return and put on file that I will be changing it to my required date and there will be no cost.
Happy with that

I managed to get the return seats booked in premium. Paid the small increase in taxes plus a £30 change fee.

I tried when booking the outbound to see if they could waive the change fee but no such luck. I guess it depends on how they’re feeling at the time.