These terms and conditions contain important terms you should be aware of. In particular, clause 2 states when you are and are not able to request a refund of standard Economy seat fees.
Seat selection terms and conditions
1. Purchasing Standard Economy seat selection
1.1 These standard Economy seat selection terms and conditions apply to your purchase of standard Economy seat selection and are in addition to Virgin Australia’s Conditions of Carriage, the Fare Rules and Privacy Policy, which you accept at the time you purchase a fare.
1.2 Standard Economy seat selection is available when flying on an Economy Lite fare on flights operated by Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia International and selected Alliance Airlines and Link Airways operated Virgin Australia flights. Standard Economy seat selection is not available on flights operated by our codeshare and other third party airline partners.
1.3 Guests can select a standard Economy seat without incurring a fee when flying on a Virgin Australia fare which includes standard Economy seat selection in the price of the fare.
1.4 Economy Lite fares do not include standard Economy seat selection in the price of the fare. An Economy seat can be purchased at the time of booking or after a booking has been made for Economy Lite fares, up to 3 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure.
1.5 Virgin Australia may change its published fees at any time. The applicable standard Economy seat selection fee will be the fee published at the time you purchase standard Economy seat selection. Fees are per person, one way and per sector. Fees are in the applicable booking currency, being the country of origin specified in your booking or purchase.
1.6 Standard Economy seat selection on Economy Lite fares will become complimentary within 3 hours of the flight’s scheduled departure, when checking in online or at the airport.
1.7 Even where you have purchased standard Economy seat selection, not all seats are available for selection by all guests. Some seats are reserved for Platinum and Gold Velocity members.
1.8 Subject to seat availability, if you have paid to select your standard Economy seat, seat changes are permitted on the same flight, without incurring an additional fee up until the scheduled flight is closed (except where you change from a standard Economy seat to an Economy X seat, which will incur a fee).
1.9 Depending on your fare type, you may incur an additional fee if you change the origin or destination of your flight, and wish to select your seat on the new flight.
1.10 Velocity members will not earn Velocity Points or Status Credits on the amount paid for standard Economy seat selection.
1.11 We will endeavour to accommodate your standard Economy seat selection. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be provided with your selected seat. We may change your seat at any time, even after you have boarded the aircraft for any reason, including for safety or operational reasons. If this happens, you may be entitled to request a refund of the fee paid for standard Economy seat selection, see clause 2.
1.12 Standard Economy seat selection fees are non-transferrable (to other passenger) and cannot be used towards any other service or product.
1.13 These standard Economy seat selection terms and conditions are in addition to and do not vary the Fare Rules that apply to your Fare.
1.14 To the extent of any inconsistency between these standard Economy seat selection terms and conditions and our Conditions of Carriage, the Conditions of Carriage shall prevail.
2. Refunds and your rights
2.1 This section 2 outlines when you may request a refund of the standard Economy seat selection fee you have paid. There may be additional circumstances where you are entitled to a refund of the fee under the Australian Consumer Law. For more information about your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, please see our Consumer Guarantees page.
2.2 If you pay a fee to select a standard Economy seat, you are entitled to a refund of the fee you have paid for the seat in the following circumstances:
(a) if you have purchased standard Economy seat selection and you subsequently purchase an upgrade to Economy X;
(b) if Virgin Australia changes or cancels your flight, and:
(i) Virgin Australia cannot reaccommodate you on another flight;
(ii) if Virgin Australia can reaccommodate you, where you have selected a standard Economy seat, and you are moved to a new seat that is not like-for-like (“like-for-like" being another seat which is the same seat type (window, middle or aisle) in the two rows in front of or behind your original selected seat);or
(iii) we changed your standard Economy seat either before or after boarding in accordance with clause 1.11, and you were not provided with a standard Economy like-for-like seat (”like-for-like” being another seat which is the same seat type (window, middle or aisle) in the two rows in front of or behind your original selected seat.
2.3 To the extent permitted by law, fees paid for standard Economy seat selection will not be refunded if the following occurs:
(a) if you choose to cancel your flight;
(b) if we offer you a complimentary upgrade to another class of travel at the airport and you accept that offer;
(c) if Virgin Australia changes or cancels your flight, and Virgin Australia reaccommodates you on another flight which you accept, and cannot provide your selected Economy seat, but can provide a like-for-like seat (“like-for-like” being another seat which is the same seat type (window, middle or aisle) in the two rows in front of or behind your original selected seat).
2.4 Refunds can be requested through the General Enquiries form on the Virgin Australia website or through the Manage Your Booking section on our website when you update your booking. Standard Economy seat selection fee refunds will be refunded to the original form of payment.
3. General
3.1. You have certain rights under the Australian Consumer Law. These include Consumer Guarantees that the services we provide to you will be carried out by us with due care and skill, will be fit for purpose and will be supplied within a reasonable time. You may have rights to seek a remedy from us where we fail to provide services to you in accordance with the Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in these terms and conditions affects those rights or any other statutory rights you may have under applicable laws (including the Australian Consumer Law) that cannot be excluded.
3.2. Virgin Australia may modify and change these Standard Economy seat selection terms and conditions from time to time. The terms and conditions which apply to your purchase of Standard Economy seat selection are those in effect at the date of purchase, as published on our website.
3.3. The failure by Virgin Australia to exercise its rights will not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of the future performance of any of its rights, and the Guest’s obligations with respect to such future performance shall continue in full force and effect.