Virgin Atlantic COVID-19 Cancellations and related issues
Mar 16, 2020, 6:08 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
Presumably people at the other end of a lot of VS's destinations have now accelerated their return home dates, or were otherwise due to travel back. Sure, the outbound flight to MCO will probably be empty, but how else do people get home? There probably are limited options as international flights are being grounded.
Mar 16, 2020, 6:14 am
#17
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I think you are mixing up two different things. The current flights are going out to bring people home. That some people who were booked to go and now can't isn't really VS's fault, and under the terms of the fare rules allowing a change of date is generous. Now I agree that a lot of airlines are throwing the rule book out the window, but this is what travel insurance is for. As far as ethics go, I think there are plenty of threads on that already.
Mar 16, 2020, 6:45 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 117
Am waiting news with baited breath as I have a booking - sadly made through Expedia - for Wednesday, which I've been struggling to change.
Related, I just saw this on Sky News' twitter feed:
"Virgin Atlantic says is plans to ground 75% of its fleet by 26 March adding staff will be asked to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months"
Related, I just saw this on Sky News' twitter feed:
"Virgin Atlantic says is plans to ground 75% of its fleet by 26 March adding staff will be asked to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months"
Mar 16, 2020, 6:50 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
In their press release just now they've also announced "Our London Heathrow-Newark route will be permanently terminated with immediate effect."
Do they really mean permanently, i.e. it won't resume even after the crisis/restrictions are over?
Do they really mean permanently, i.e. it won't resume even after the crisis/restrictions are over?
Mar 16, 2020, 6:58 am
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Am waiting news with baited breath as I have a booking - sadly made through Expedia - for Wednesday, which I've been struggling to change.
Related, I just saw this on Sky News' twitter feed:
"Virgin Atlantic says is plans to ground 75% of its fleet by 26 March adding staff will be asked to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months"
Related, I just saw this on Sky News' twitter feed:
"Virgin Atlantic says is plans to ground 75% of its fleet by 26 March adding staff will be asked to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months"
Mar 16, 2020, 7:04 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 117
NYC. I'd decided not to go before the US ban came into force as various museums had already started to close, but keep getting cut off from Expedia after waiting between 10 minutes and 3 hours over about 40 calls since Friday. Looking on FB, many others have hit similar issues. VS can't do anything as it wasn't booked directly with them. Am hoping that once I hit T-24 that Virgin may be able to help.
Mar 16, 2020, 8:02 am
#23
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
How can Virgin say you can make a change for free and travel later in the year, rather than just refund? Who freaking knows when they will be able to travel? So do you rebook now for July? For October? Sounds like a way to hold onto the cash... redicious.
My mum was due to fly out to see me in Vegas next Monday. Obviously that's not going to happen. Who knows when Vegas will be back to normal. Can't see the logic.
My mum was due to fly out to see me in Vegas next Monday. Obviously that's not going to happen. Who knows when Vegas will be back to normal. Can't see the logic.
Mar 16, 2020, 8:43 am
#24
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
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Posts: 13,043
It's quite simple... if VS refunds everybody's cash, they go bankrupt and everybody loses. If you have any interest in travelling in the future, you will want VS to survive, and will accept a voucher for future travel.
But as with most other things in times of panic, some people will go buy all of the toilet paper, and some other people will just limit themselves to whatever is truly necessary.
But as with most other things in times of panic, some people will go buy all of the toilet paper, and some other people will just limit themselves to whatever is truly necessary.
Mar 16, 2020, 8:59 am
#25
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
It's quite simple... if VS refunds everybody's cash, they go bankrupt and everybody loses. If you have any interest in travelling in the future, you will want VS to survive, and will accept a voucher for future travel.
But as with most other things in times of panic, some people will go buy all of the toilet paper, and some other people will just limit themselves to whatever is truly necessary.
But as with most other things in times of panic, some people will go buy all of the toilet paper, and some other people will just limit themselves to whatever is truly necessary.
And no, I am not in a state of panic, and nor am I buying all the toilet paper.
Mar 16, 2020, 9:09 am
#26
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
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Posts: 4,783
VS is probably afraid to be hit by EC261/2004 article 7 compensation claims if they now cancel the flights.
Technically speaking, VS is still allowed to fly to MCO - just without passengers.
Technically speaking, VS is still allowed to fly to MCO - just without passengers.
Mar 16, 2020, 10:13 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
If the flights aren't cancelled, and people either don't want to travel or can't due to the US travel ban, they can claim on their insurance if they want a refund, or their discounted, non-flexible fares have already been made flexible.
I think a little patience here will do wonders.
Mar 16, 2020, 10:35 am
#29
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
As far as I can see, no-one is having to fight for a refund if their flight has been cancelled, and a lot of flights will be cancelled over the next few weeks.
If the flights aren't cancelled, and people either don't want to travel or can't due to the US travel ban, they can claim on their insurance if they want a refund, or their discounted, non-flexible fares have already been made flexible.
I think a little patience here will do wonders.
If the flights aren't cancelled, and people either don't want to travel or can't due to the US travel ban, they can claim on their insurance if they want a refund, or their discounted, non-flexible fares have already been made flexible.
I think a little patience here will do wonders.
Mar 16, 2020, 10:55 am
#30
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
You can expect to see MCO-LGW cancelled shortly with passengers rerouted via MIA ATL or JFK as arrivals are limited to the following list. Remember that just as there are UK (and other) nationals trying to make it home from the US, there are US nationals in LON trying to make it back to the US. They will need to be rerouted onto domestic services once they reach an authorized Port of Entry. I do not see EC 261/2004 as having any impact here.
- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
- Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
- Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia