VRHunter
Level 2 Member
I'm interested in scenarios where I can book provisional flights that I can cancel without penalty so I can wait/hope for saver level award space to open up on a legacy carrier.
For example, I'm eyeing a flight from LAX to BOS on the last day of our spring break in 2015. I've already got lodging booked so I'd really like to leave on Saturday. Virgin America has fair pricing ($194 pp one-way) for 4 seats on direct flights at decent times in economy so I'd like to book them, but also have the flexibility to cancel should saver level space open for even better flight times.
I notice that the cancellation fee on Virgin America is $100 per ticket so I want to avoid that. I recalled that the Virgin America credit card comes with a change/cancellation fee wavier so I was tempted to obtain the card primarily for the benefit of being able to cancel an itinerary for my family.
But in looking into it more closely I found that:
1) The terms of the waiver aren't very clear
2) What is clear isn't as good as I'd hoped
The first problem I noticed was that the ticket had to be purchased with the card. Since I don't have the card yet, I can't book the tickets then get the card later. And I also can't book the tickets with some other bank points currency (like Wells Fargo/TD Rewards for example) and expect the cancellation benefit to convey.
The second problem is that the waiver doesn't apply on award tickets.
The third thing I notice is that the funds associated with a cancelled flight are credited to your Virgin America travel bank where they have to be used within 12 months. That's a deal breaker for me because I may never actually take the flight if saver level space opens on another carrier. I guess my use model is what they're trying to avoid, but hey - I'm willing to pay $150 a year for what's otherwise not that great of a card for me.
From there, details get murkier. I was most specifically interested in whether my entire family's tickets, if booked on the same itinerary, would be eligible for a cancellation waiver.
From the thread on FlyerTalk it is suggested that yes, all passengers on the itinerary are eligible for the waiver if the cardholder is on the itinerary. It would be nice if they'd state that in the T&C's (below).
Overall, this has too many limitations to entice me to sign up for the card given how [in]frequently we'd likely fly Virgin America.
I hope this is helpful and would be interested in hearing about any other gotchas or potentially lucrative benefits associated with the card and Virgin America's loyalty program I may have overlooked. For example, the part about spend going towards elite status that rolls over from one year to the next is similarly not so clear to me at this point.
4. Flight Change/Cancel Fee Waiver. (Premium Cardholders only)
Premium Cardholders are eligible to receive waived change or cancel fees (as published at virginamerica.com) when purchasing non-refundable fares on Virgin America-operated flights. To receive the waived change or cancel fee benefit, you must include your Elevate account number in your reservation and use your Premium Card to purchase your ticket(s) directly from Virgin America. Your Credit Card Account must be in open and not in default at the time of making a change or cancellation to an existing reservation. The waived change or cancel fee benefit is only available on paid Virgin America marketed and operated flights; codeshare flights with a Virgin America flight number but operated by another airline are not eligible. The waived change or cancel fee benefit is not valid for Reward Travel, where the published Elevate redeposit fee will apply for cancellations. When changing a reservation, you will be responsible for paying for any difference in fare in accordance with the original purchased fare rules. Premium cardholders must remain a named passenger on the reservation and include their Elevate account number in order to receive the waived change or cancel fee benefit. When changing or cancelling a reservation, any remaining funds will be credited to your Travel Bank account for future travel on Virgin America. The travel credit is valid within 12 months from the date of change or cancellation. To make a change or cancellation to an existing reservation, you must call the Virgin America Contact Center at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (877.359.8474) from the United States and Canada, 001.877.359.8474 from Mexico, or +1.650.762.7005 from other countries prior to your scheduled flight departure time. If you call from the United States, you may access a complimentary telecommunications relay service by dialing 711. If you make a change or cancellation to an existing reservation at virginamerica.com the fee will be charged and then reimbursed to you in the form of a statement credit 6 to 8 weeks after your reservation is changed or canceled.
For example, I'm eyeing a flight from LAX to BOS on the last day of our spring break in 2015. I've already got lodging booked so I'd really like to leave on Saturday. Virgin America has fair pricing ($194 pp one-way) for 4 seats on direct flights at decent times in economy so I'd like to book them, but also have the flexibility to cancel should saver level space open for even better flight times.
I notice that the cancellation fee on Virgin America is $100 per ticket so I want to avoid that. I recalled that the Virgin America credit card comes with a change/cancellation fee wavier so I was tempted to obtain the card primarily for the benefit of being able to cancel an itinerary for my family.
But in looking into it more closely I found that:
1) The terms of the waiver aren't very clear
2) What is clear isn't as good as I'd hoped
The first problem I noticed was that the ticket had to be purchased with the card. Since I don't have the card yet, I can't book the tickets then get the card later. And I also can't book the tickets with some other bank points currency (like Wells Fargo/TD Rewards for example) and expect the cancellation benefit to convey.
The second problem is that the waiver doesn't apply on award tickets.
The third thing I notice is that the funds associated with a cancelled flight are credited to your Virgin America travel bank where they have to be used within 12 months. That's a deal breaker for me because I may never actually take the flight if saver level space opens on another carrier. I guess my use model is what they're trying to avoid, but hey - I'm willing to pay $150 a year for what's otherwise not that great of a card for me.
From there, details get murkier. I was most specifically interested in whether my entire family's tickets, if booked on the same itinerary, would be eligible for a cancellation waiver.
From the thread on FlyerTalk it is suggested that yes, all passengers on the itinerary are eligible for the waiver if the cardholder is on the itinerary. It would be nice if they'd state that in the T&C's (below).
Overall, this has too many limitations to entice me to sign up for the card given how [in]frequently we'd likely fly Virgin America.
I hope this is helpful and would be interested in hearing about any other gotchas or potentially lucrative benefits associated with the card and Virgin America's loyalty program I may have overlooked. For example, the part about spend going towards elite status that rolls over from one year to the next is similarly not so clear to me at this point.
4. Flight Change/Cancel Fee Waiver. (Premium Cardholders only)
Premium Cardholders are eligible to receive waived change or cancel fees (as published at virginamerica.com) when purchasing non-refundable fares on Virgin America-operated flights. To receive the waived change or cancel fee benefit, you must include your Elevate account number in your reservation and use your Premium Card to purchase your ticket(s) directly from Virgin America. Your Credit Card Account must be in open and not in default at the time of making a change or cancellation to an existing reservation. The waived change or cancel fee benefit is only available on paid Virgin America marketed and operated flights; codeshare flights with a Virgin America flight number but operated by another airline are not eligible. The waived change or cancel fee benefit is not valid for Reward Travel, where the published Elevate redeposit fee will apply for cancellations. When changing a reservation, you will be responsible for paying for any difference in fare in accordance with the original purchased fare rules. Premium cardholders must remain a named passenger on the reservation and include their Elevate account number in order to receive the waived change or cancel fee benefit. When changing or cancelling a reservation, any remaining funds will be credited to your Travel Bank account for future travel on Virgin America. The travel credit is valid within 12 months from the date of change or cancellation. To make a change or cancellation to an existing reservation, you must call the Virgin America Contact Center at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (877.359.8474) from the United States and Canada, 001.877.359.8474 from Mexico, or +1.650.762.7005 from other countries prior to your scheduled flight departure time. If you call from the United States, you may access a complimentary telecommunications relay service by dialing 711. If you make a change or cancellation to an existing reservation at virginamerica.com the fee will be charged and then reimbursed to you in the form of a statement credit 6 to 8 weeks after your reservation is changed or canceled.
