CosmicGirl

In terms of compensation I agree, but duty of care remains even if delays or cancellations are due to force majeure. The volcanic ash situation is a perfect example of this. Airlines were on the hook for the extended stays passengers needed due to flight cancellations.

rickjt62

I would be quite happy to re-book my Mar 24th Vegas trip on a future date IF, and a very big IF the dates I can travel didn't add over Ł1350 per person to our fare. It's okay to say that there is a no-change fee being applied but the difference in ticket prices from what I paid to what is being offered is a second holiday!

Often1

I doubt that you will see this happen. What you can expect is that discounted fare buckets will open up roughly 90 days prior to your new dates and that is when I would book.

UKtravelbear

Yes.

littlefish

Looks like Tue 17 and Wed 18 have been cancelled. VS1.
However, after that all VS1 show as zeroed out; with the VS2 "return" also zeroed. No tickets for sale.
It does seem to be the case the flights from Thursday and beyond are confirmed 'terminated' but not 'cancelled'. In turn, the consumer is presumably not able to secure a refund. Dirty trick? Maybe. Maybe not. I smell a fish.

FlyerTalker7654

I can book LHR to LAX on Mon 23rd March...??

Brighterside

VS 6 MIA-LHR flights are showing zeroed out from today and the VS 118 has disappeared. Orlando flights have been cancelled as expected.

pfbloom

And VS27 LGW-MCO is cancelled today 3/17 and tomorrow 3/18. Also zeroed out for the next 2 weeks, so obviously not flying as MCO is not an approved arrival airport from Europe/UK. I'm very disappointed to miss this 747 trip as these become scarcer....and at least for now VS is insisting that any rebooking must be in the exact fare class of the initial ticket. Which means a $250 increase in fare for any routing I've asked for. Seems a little predatory, and negates the benefit of the change fee waiver.

marlborobell

VS27 is in fact flying today. Which leads me to believe that it’s flying empty to pick up the passengers for tonight’s VS28.

jp-mco

I made a similar point yesterday and was shot down for making it. Virgin seem to be waiting until the last minute to cancel flights in the hope that panicked passengers will get in touch and agree to a date change (spending a lot of extra money due to dynamic pricing) before they cancel the original flight at the eleventh hour at which point they would have been entitled to a full refund. However, if you’ve made a date change it invalidates your entitlement to the refund. They’ve also not updated their refund policy for UK passengers affected by the USA travel ban despite the ban coming into effect yesterday and being announced 72 hours ago. It all points to the same thing - Virgin are desperately trying to avoid paying refunds. I understand why they’re doing this but it’s incredibly sharp practice.

headingwest

I think that just about sums it up. I think there is a lot of underhand dealing going on right with a few airlines because they don't want to lose cash.

For next week VS8 LAX-LHR has been zeroed out of booking searches, but it's still showing status as 'on time'. There is no way I am rebooking that flight!

warakorn

Cheekily VS changed its refund rules. Luckily I saved the page on my computer.
Until yesterday VS offered pax (who are affected by the US travel ban) a full refund. That section has disappeared.

I guess I have to solve that issue via a credit card chargeback.

jp-mco

Is that not because the refund policy now applies to all destinations? Taken from the site:

“Alternatively, if you booked on or before the 11th of March you can apply for a refund (or a partial refund if you've already used part of your ticket) here”

warakorn

Well, I have found that statement too.

I wrote VS:
Unfortunately, that is what VS has replied to me:

Thus, VS does not recognize the waiver that they have published on their website.

warakorn

Does that sentence mean when I booked the flight or when the flight took place, which I booked?