Credit card voucher expiry and change fees

[sturgeon]

There seems to be mixed info on this forum regarding voucher expiry’s and booking rules.

I have a voucher expiring this October. I’m looking to book Shanghai flights next year so a 241 using the voucher as a companion voucher.

Based on latest experiences I assume if calling to book these flights (for say May 2024) they’ll refuse on this voucher as the travel dates exceed the voucher expiry? I do have a few other vouchers with longer expiry’s but I’d want them to use the one with the shortest expiry.

What workarounds are there? If booking a dummy flight before the expiry (so early October) and then paying the £30 change fee to move to a date next May, would that work?

[AL]

Clause 6 of https://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/credit-cards/vaa-cards/terms/reward.jsp is, as far as I’m aware, the only written reference to the rules online. It states:

You can spend your reward for up to 24 months from the date it’s issued. That means you have to have booked your flights and taken the outbound flight within those 24 months. You can take the return journey afterwards.

I think the phrasing makes it confusing, but my own experience – and VS’ famed flexibility – is that they’re often quite happy to see what they can do with your vouchers. I would advise, though, calling and seeing what happens.

[mrcrsearle]

I recently booked two UC return London to Antigua using miles, money & 2 vouchers. Both expire Nov23 but travel is June24.

This question has been posted so many times on here. I guess it depends who you get through to a VA.

[sturgeon]

Well they refused to take my voucher expiring late October for a November return flight. Disappointing and that voucher now will expire. Is there anything I can do with it (bar using it for a flight in the next 4 weeks?)

I’ve therefore booked dummy flights before the end of the year to then move them to 2024 when my dates open. I did this to get the 25% off points redemptions and hope they don’t try and charge the full points if I move and pay the change fee. Interestingly, I used a voucher as a companion voucher and they definitely didn’t charge 50% of points for the 2nd ticket, more like 33% which is odd. Anyone successfully moved a flight booked with an offer like this?