Via Head for Points, Virgin Atlantic has quietly updated their change and cancellation policy. Going forward, if you've redeemed Flying Club miles for an award, you won't receive a refund of your miles if you cancel within 7 days of the flight. The Virgin Atlantic website now reflects the following terms [emphasis mine]: "Once tickets…
Continue reading: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Awards Become More Restrictive
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I take it this applies to VS redemptions made on VX as well? How do they address VX tickets booked WITHIN the 7 days?
While Delta's 72-hour rule is frustrating, I do have some sympathy with their argument that it discourages people (especially elite members who pay no award cancellation or change fees) from hoarding award seats "just in case" and leaving less award space for others (not to mention leaving the airline with last-minute empty seats). But 7 days does seem excessive.
But, arguably, airlines are already too generous with award change and cancel policies. Why should award tickets be so much more flexible than paid tickets? The fact that award tickets are "distressed" inventory doesn't really hold up -- I have successfully redeemed miles at the lowest level for tickets that definitely displaced a paying passenger for the airline, and if an airline is making award seats available at the last minute that's great, but it also means you should have near-absolute certainty that you will in fact make the flight time you are booking.
Does anyone know if you can use Virgin Atlantic miles for all Virgin Australia domestic routes? They list some on the Virgin Atlantic website but not SYD-AYQ, the one I'm interested in. I can't seem to find this out
If the award seat being cancelled is not distressed inventory, that means the airline can sell that seat at a very high last minute purchase price. So one would be doing them a favor by cancelling.
Furthermore, if you know you won't get your miles back, why let them know you won't be flying? I would never go out of my way to cancel an award booking where I got nothing back for doing so, just to make it easier for the airline to turn around and sell my seat..
If I was writing legislation on this, I would require an airline to refund miles and fees if they resell the seat.
@ Robert Hanson -- Agree in general, though keep in mind Virgin Atlantic also has high fuel surcharges, so getting those refunded is the incentive for cancelling.
I don't understand. If you cancel more than 7 days before departure, then do you get your miles redeposited and the fees refunded?
@ Brandon -- Yes, you just have to pay the fee, and then the miles and taxes/fuel surcharges will be refunded.