Should we protect ourself with ESTA if reroute?
Nov 3, 2018, 11:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: BA Silver / Aegean
Posts: 287
Should we protect ourself with ESTA if reroute?
Let me start.
I booked a holiday thru a travel agent to Jamaica when the Upper Class discount cheap sales were on at Xmas last year.
My wife & I am going next Sunday to Montego Bay! 2 weeks in Negril, cannot wait.
We have experienced other BA customers being denied Boarding & downgraded to WTP when we went to St Lucia last in First. I don't want that experience but realise they may be no control with Virgin.
I have no status on Virgin & flight appears full. Twilight Check in seems possible from Gatwick Saturday nite before as we are staying in the Sofitel beforehand!
Should I sign up with Virgin miles given its only a holiday flight to help protect !
What do we do at Gatwick if subsequently downgraded to PE which has space?
There appears to be a Business Virgin flight thru Kennedy with an overnight in NYC before an onward connection with Delta to MBJ. It does mean we Arrive in resort an afternoon later. Does that qualify for EU261 if downgraded but refused for a reroute? I'm a BA member and they are always good from Africa in this area.
Business Class is part of the experience, should I insist on that option, and how long to ESTA's take usually if at Gatwick Virgin play hardball cause I'vre bought a cheap TA ticket deal with a Holiday?
Experience advice needed.
Steve & Anne
Cheers
I booked a holiday thru a travel agent to Jamaica when the Upper Class discount cheap sales were on at Xmas last year.
My wife & I am going next Sunday to Montego Bay! 2 weeks in Negril, cannot wait.
We have experienced other BA customers being denied Boarding & downgraded to WTP when we went to St Lucia last in First. I don't want that experience but realise they may be no control with Virgin.
I have no status on Virgin & flight appears full. Twilight Check in seems possible from Gatwick Saturday nite before as we are staying in the Sofitel beforehand!
Should I sign up with Virgin miles given its only a holiday flight to help protect !
What do we do at Gatwick if subsequently downgraded to PE which has space?
There appears to be a Business Virgin flight thru Kennedy with an overnight in NYC before an onward connection with Delta to MBJ. It does mean we Arrive in resort an afternoon later. Does that qualify for EU261 if downgraded but refused for a reroute? I'm a BA member and they are always good from Africa in this area.
Business Class is part of the experience, should I insist on that option, and how long to ESTA's take usually if at Gatwick Virgin play hardball cause I'vre bought a cheap TA ticket deal with a Holiday?
Experience advice needed.
Steve & Anne
Cheers
Nov 4, 2018, 3:35 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
There is certainly no harm in having a valid ESTA at all times. It's only roughly 10 quid...
But IMO, flying a short Upper Class flight to JFK, over-nighting there (perhaps at your own expense) and continuing on via DL (mediocre US F presumably) would be a far worse experience than accepting the 75% refund (or an even better deal involving VS vouchers or miles), the PE seats and hopefully crew willing to let you spend time at the UC bar or otherwise make up for the downgrade.
But IMO, flying a short Upper Class flight to JFK, over-nighting there (perhaps at your own expense) and continuing on via DL (mediocre US F presumably) would be a far worse experience than accepting the 75% refund (or an even better deal involving VS vouchers or miles), the PE seats and hopefully crew willing to let you spend time at the UC bar or otherwise make up for the downgrade.
Nov 4, 2018, 4:00 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,195
I do think that you are definitely over thinking this and worrying yourself unnecessarily.
Do downgrades happen? Yes they do but not as often as people think they do. IF and I emphasise IF they do they will ask for volunteers first and that usually works for VS.
Why do you think you’ll be downgraded?
Your main protection will be to do Online check in as soon as it opens and then to do twilight check in the night before. It will speed your trip through the airport on the day of yiur flight as you can go straight to security and then the clubhouse.
Do downgrades happen? Yes they do but not as often as people think they do. IF and I emphasise IF they do they will ask for volunteers first and that usually works for VS.
Why do you think you’ll be downgraded?
Your main protection will be to do Online check in as soon as it opens and then to do twilight check in the night before. It will speed your trip through the airport on the day of yiur flight as you can go straight to security and then the clubhouse.
Nov 4, 2018, 10:57 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
You are on a paid ticket. Before VS gets to you, there will be a call for volunteers, there will be people who upgraded, and people on redemptions. I suppose that there is always a chance that there are no volunteers and everyone else has higher status and paid too. But, that is unlikely.
Should you need an ESTA, you should be able to do that relatively on the spot. But, if it makes you feel better, get one as they are relatively cheap.
As to what VS will do in a specific situation, that really depends on how desperate the situation is. Perhaps facing a 75% refund for a downgrade, it will pay delay compensation and consider the overnight at JFK as a semi-duty of care, but perhaps it won't and perhaps the staff are simply busy so you are downgraded and advised to send in your bank information for the refund.
The real bottom line is that there are any number of other things much more likely to go wrong, e.g. technical, weather, the Captain is ill, than a downgrade. Moreover, I cannot conceive of routing overnight via JFK onto a DL domestic (configuration) aircraft rather than nonstop.
Should you need an ESTA, you should be able to do that relatively on the spot. But, if it makes you feel better, get one as they are relatively cheap.
As to what VS will do in a specific situation, that really depends on how desperate the situation is. Perhaps facing a 75% refund for a downgrade, it will pay delay compensation and consider the overnight at JFK as a semi-duty of care, but perhaps it won't and perhaps the staff are simply busy so you are downgraded and advised to send in your bank information for the refund.
The real bottom line is that there are any number of other things much more likely to go wrong, e.g. technical, weather, the Captain is ill, than a downgrade. Moreover, I cannot conceive of routing overnight via JFK onto a DL domestic (configuration) aircraft rather than nonstop.
Nov 5, 2018, 6:22 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 34
There is certainly no harm in having a valid ESTA at all times. It's only roughly 10 quid...
But IMO, flying a short Upper Class flight to JFK, over-nighting there (perhaps at your own expense) and continuing on via DL (mediocre US F presumably) would be a far worse experience than accepting the 75% refund (or an even better deal involving VS vouchers or miles), the PE seats and hopefully crew willing to let you spend time at the UC bar or otherwise make up for the downgrade.
But IMO, flying a short Upper Class flight to JFK, over-nighting there (perhaps at your own expense) and continuing on via DL (mediocre US F presumably) would be a far worse experience than accepting the 75% refund (or an even better deal involving VS vouchers or miles), the PE seats and hopefully crew willing to let you spend time at the UC bar or otherwise make up for the downgrade.