Changes to AIA Vitality Flight Benefits

cheapcheapverycheap on 19/01/2024 - 00:46
Last edited 19/01/2024 - 00:47

I recently called AIA vitality to enquire about my flight benefits for my airfare to the United States in May. And I was told that only one passenger in that booking will be covered due to a change to the flight benefits starting from 2024. I made the booking not being aware of such a change, and I did not receive any notification from AIA Vitality. Did anyone else receive the notification about this change? If so can you share when the email was sent?

Mind you the benefits guide in their app still says that the benefits cover up to one companion passenger so I’m really confused. I have sent them an email to resolve the matter, but I just want to know if I have actually missed any communications from them.

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Comments

  • stirlo on 19/01/2024 - 07:59

    For anyone like me that had no idea what these benefits are this is from the PDF of benefits:

    Flight Benefit - Virgin Australia and international alliance partners
    • Up to 50% cashback on the base fare of one international and one domestic booking, or two domestic bookings, operated by Virgin Australia. Members can now extend benefit to one accompanying passenger on the same booking.* Flights must be booked via
    the dedicated Virgin Australia booking portal available via the AIA Vitality app
    * Available until 31 December 2023.

    Seems pretty clear you could only extend it to an accompanying passenger until 31st December last year.

  • Iwantthebestprice on 19/01/2024 - 09:34

    No, this is news to me! But I just checked my app and it does state in the conditions drop downs that only I will receive the benefit, and my companion will need to book their own flight.

    20% virgin flight discounts on silver status FYI

    Edit - sorry read it wrong, the app says if your companion has an AIA account, they will need to book separately.

    Hmm strange I was planning on booking a trip to Asia this year and worked hard to get to silver status for the discounts…

    • cheapcheapverycheap on 19/01/2024 - 10:31

      Have a look at their downloadable guide in the dropdown further down in the list. See what you think whether you think you can or can not based on what it says.

  • knobbs on 19/01/2024 - 10:14

    Yeah I unknowingly got it last year with a suggestion $100 ticket with my kid. When I want to travel int and pay $1400 on a ticket for em the benefit ends :(
    I did see their until 31dec 2023 so wasn't sure if canning the flight benefit all together or just the companion. They will haven't updated the pdf

    • cheapcheapverycheap on 19/01/2024 - 10:28
      +1

      Exactly. In their downloadable guide to flight benefits in the members app, the expiration by the end of Dec 2023 is not added after the companion benefit but added to two others. So I presume it remains. I have raised this with AIA vitality see what they say. It’s misleading for sure.

      • Kat1909 on 03/02/2024 - 01:10

        Do you have a copy of this? I triple checked when I booked and was certain there wasn’t an expiry date - now have to argue with them but didn’t take a screenshot at the time

  • Kat1909 on 03/02/2024 - 00:57
    +1

    Did you hear back from AIA yet?

    I’m in the same boat. Both me and hubby booked with each child on 13th Jan - just received cash back and only paid for us as members only, not the accompanying passenger.
    I am absolutely certain the benefit guide on the app on the 13th Jan had no * with an expiry date etc as I had four people check the document back to front to make sure we were doing the right thing. Silly me should have taken a screenshot of the document.
    Would not have booked without the passengers receiving the cash back.

    Have emailed them but I’ll be devastated if it doesn’t come through. Pretty poor behaviour updating a document after the fact.

  • AJm24 on 05/02/2024 - 13:28

    I am eager to hear everyone’s progress with this too. There was no update on this policy and when I checked prior to booking the conditions were for member + companion. I have only received benefits for 1 person. I am so disappointed as this means I will need to cover the extra cost of my companion .., Plus I would not have booked my o/s travel via virgin without the incentive… This is a really underhand way of operating, such an unfair way to treat clients.

  • The Project on 09/02/2024 - 10:58

    Hey guys, I'm in the same boat as you all. Have contacted Vitality and they've referred me to this link:
    https://www.aia.com.au/content/dam/au/portal/vitality/conten…
    This was apparently updated Jan 2024. Hope it helps. Cheeky of them to keep this low down

    • knobbs on 09/02/2024 - 12:30

      2k per passenger per booking limit oO
      I think some people where enjoying business class tickets and refunding too much lol
      Also what is AIA extra, never heard of it

      • B_S_D on 07/03/2024 - 09:25

        I remember last year it was possible to select business class tickets with the AIA offer. Sad that this is now only limited to this AIA extra which there isn’t much information about.

        • knobbs on 07/03/2024 - 09:31
          +1

          You have to pay something like 10k in premiums to be eligible

  • superdoedoe on 10/02/2024 - 12:30

    I can't seem to find flights with the special fare tag for the eligible discount? Am i just blind?

    • Tj1999 on 27/02/2024 - 21:09
      +1

      I have just had a look through too and could not see any eligible flights, multiple destinations and/or dates chosen

      • jmart on 29/02/2024 - 23:30

        There was an issue the last two days where Virgin couldn't display the eligible fare banner. I called and they said this should be fixed by today.
        I had a look tonight and if I put Melb-Syd in the far future some came up as eligible, but none for the trip I need to take in two weeks time from Alice Springs…. think they have tightened down on what is considered eligible now , can only see cheap ones eligible. Let us know if you have any better luck!

  • heytherehoney on 02/04/2024 - 14:50

    Ugh, I am looking at flights to Bali now and just realised they have removed the companion benefit as of January 2024. AIA Vitality is getting more pathetic each year as the benefits reduce.

    Really unethical if they changed the T&C doc after you all booked expecting cashback.

  • eltito on 06/04/2024 - 18:05

    Hi All,

    AIA are currently closed (hence why I'm asking on this thread) - does the 50% one international flight still exist? Looking at the program features (https://www.aia.com.au/content/dam/au-wise/en/docs/aia-vital…), it notes that AIA Vitality includes up to 50% one international flight with an asterisk.

    The asterisk notes: *Cashbacks for international travel destinations available until December 2023.

    If I'm reading it correctly - then the AIA cashback no longer exists for international destinations - and in-turn the benefit only applies to domestic flights.

    I'm looking at changing health insurances and stumbled upon the AIA Vitality program. I go to Fitness First quite frequently - so I think I'd be able to achieve the Platinum Status, however (in my opinion), I don't think it's worth spending more on health insurance (by joining AIA), if the international benefit doesn't exist :(.

    • heytherehoney on 07/04/2024 - 14:46

      Hi, yes - you can still get 50% cashback for one international flight per membership year. See the latest terms and conditions as of January 2024 here: https://www.aia.com.au/content/dam/au/portal/vitality/conten…

      Previously, you could also get cashback for a companion travelling with you, a benefit which they have now removed.

      Note that you only get cashback on the base fare, excluding taxes and other fees.

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