Virgin Atlantic COVID-19 Cancellations and related issues
Mar 19, 2020, 1:26 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 316
Update From v-flyer forum
"From VS trade flying schedule 20th - 27th March
As of 15.30 on Thursday 19 March 2020, our schedule to 27 March 2020 is planned as below but this is subject to change without notice, especially with government restrictions being implemented
LHR - LAX VS23/24
LHR - SFO VS41 20/21 VS42 20/21/22
LHR - JFK VS3/4
LHR - JFK VS25 20/24 VS26 20/23/24/25
LHR - JFK VS137/138 20/21/22/23/24/25
LHR - ATL VS103/104 20/21/22/23/24/25
LHR - HKG VS206/207 20/22/24/27
LHR - JNB VS461/462 20
LHR - JNB VS449/450 20/21/23/24
LHR - LOS VS411/412
LGW - BGI VS29/30
LGW - ANU VS33/34 20/21/24/26/27
LGW - UVFGND VS 89/90 20/23
LGW - UFVTAB VS 97/98 23
LGW - HAV VS63/64 22/26
MAN - BGI VS77/78 20/21/23/27
MAN - ATL VS109/110 20/21
"From VS trade flying schedule 20th - 27th March
As of 15.30 on Thursday 19 March 2020, our schedule to 27 March 2020 is planned as below but this is subject to change without notice, especially with government restrictions being implemented
LHR - LAX VS23/24
LHR - SFO VS41 20/21 VS42 20/21/22
LHR - JFK VS3/4
LHR - JFK VS25 20/24 VS26 20/23/24/25
LHR - JFK VS137/138 20/21/22/23/24/25
LHR - ATL VS103/104 20/21/22/23/24/25
LHR - HKG VS206/207 20/22/24/27
LHR - JNB VS461/462 20
LHR - JNB VS449/450 20/21/23/24
LHR - LOS VS411/412
LGW - BGI VS29/30
LGW - ANU VS33/34 20/21/24/26/27
LGW - UVFGND VS 89/90 20/23
LGW - UFVTAB VS 97/98 23
LGW - HAV VS63/64 22/26
MAN - BGI VS77/78 20/21/23/27
MAN - ATL VS109/110 20/21
Mar 19, 2020, 1:35 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
So they just cancelled my flight (as expected). E-mail just fired off to the agent asking for a full refund....we will see.
Mar 19, 2020, 4:34 pm
#78
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 317
We don't fly till May 22nd so thinking we should just sit tight for a while before canceling hotels. We also have flights with AirFrance on this trip and they sent us an email about the two month lookout. We just feel our trip is the least important thing right now but would like to know when to try and cancel. Thanks for any help.
Mar 19, 2020, 6:07 pm
#79
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
As late as possible!
On May 21 you should examine the situation. Its very likely that the flight have been cancelled (you are entitled to a full refund) + the hotels are not operating/closed or cannot accept any guests.
On May 21 you should examine the situation. Its very likely that the flight have been cancelled (you are entitled to a full refund) + the hotels are not operating/closed or cannot accept any guests.
Mar 19, 2020, 7:21 pm
#80
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: JNB, SFO
Programs: UA, DL
Posts: 92
Quick data point for anyone looking at cancel/change for a VS booked itinerary: I spent 80 mins on hold (no Flying Club status) after calling the US toll free number at about 8pm EST and was very politely addressed after that. Since my flights from the US to LHR and on to JNB were cancelled, they offered refund or credit (usable for up to 12 months) immediately with caveat that instead of typical 10-15 days that refunds are taking up to 60 days to process. I accepted latter. Per VS' boilerplate request, I did wait until my flight was within 72 hours to call them but only after I submitted an online refund request and received no response within 24 hours. Hope that helps someone.
Mar 19, 2020, 8:50 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LAX
Posts: 40
Well .....
All my flights got rescheduled which no big deal, except they apparently lost the return LHR to LAX leg. Just gone, no longer in their booking system.
Had gotten the email on another cancellation and they would attempt to rebook me or I could do it myself... standard and this has happened before, but when I checked now the itinerary is LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR.
It’s times like this I wished I had booked through the airline directly but I had just taken the 1.5x off the Chase skinned Expedia UR site.
Calling Chase now, last resort is just go to the airport supremely early tomorrow and ask what the hell, but at this point think if I can just get the refund I will take it.
All my flights got rescheduled which no big deal, except they apparently lost the return LHR to LAX leg. Just gone, no longer in their booking system.
Had gotten the email on another cancellation and they would attempt to rebook me or I could do it myself... standard and this has happened before, but when I checked now the itinerary is LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR.
It’s times like this I wished I had booked through the airline directly but I had just taken the 1.5x off the Chase skinned Expedia UR site.
Calling Chase now, last resort is just go to the airport supremely early tomorrow and ask what the hell, but at this point think if I can just get the refund I will take it.
Mar 19, 2020, 9:41 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LAX
Posts: 40
Full refund. 75 mins on the phone where talk and hold was longer than the original queue (needed to call VS to confirm the waiver) but allegedly the points will be back in hand within 30 min.
Effectively with the cancellations and flight rearranging VS couldn’t get me home the same day, and that allowed for the refund.
Can’t really complain, it’s a difficult time and I got a fair result out of it especially since wouldn’t get the walking around time in JNB that was originally planned with the 12h layover.
Ah well there will be more opportunities in the future for such things when life gets back to some degree of normalcy.
Effectively with the cancellations and flight rearranging VS couldn’t get me home the same day, and that allowed for the refund.
Can’t really complain, it’s a difficult time and I got a fair result out of it especially since wouldn’t get the walking around time in JNB that was originally planned with the 12h layover.
Ah well there will be more opportunities in the future for such things when life gets back to some degree of normalcy.
Mar 20, 2020, 9:27 am
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
My mum was due to fly to Vegas on Monday (23rd). She got through to Virgin this morning. Agent refunded her no questions asked. They did say that it will take 3 months to get the refund but that's ok. Email confirmation sent. Proops to Virgin for doing this 
For what it's worth, she did book direct.
Also, she was on the flight via LAX, which is still showing as operating.
For what it's worth, she did book direct.
Also, she was on the flight via LAX, which is still showing as operating.
Mar 20, 2020, 3:37 pm
#87
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
They said because of the back log of refunds
Secondly, there is still a large percentage of pax who will forget about the refund after 3 months of time.
Mar 20, 2020, 5:50 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 337
Quick data point for anyone looking at cancel/change for a VS booked itinerary: I spent 80 mins on hold (no Flying Club status) after calling the US toll free number at about 8pm EST and was very politely addressed after that. Since my flights from the US to LHR and on to JNB were cancelled, they offered refund or credit (usable for up to 12 months) immediately with caveat that instead of typical 10-15 days that refunds are taking up to 60 days to process. I accepted latter. Per VS' boilerplate request, I did wait until my flight was within 72 hours to call them but only after I submitted an online refund request and received no response within 24 hours. Hope that helps someone.
Last night (starting at 0030, the last of 4 Cnx email notices came in at 0720 pacific) for my flights to JNB, leaving SFO>LHR on 26th (VS42) then LHR>JNB on 27th (VS461), then return on 29 March JNB-LHR via VS450 and finally VS19 on 30March to SFO. All were now officially canceled.
As I don't know when or how I can fly next on VS, I am going to be pushing for a refund, not a flight credit.
Fingers crossed. Rough times we live in these days!
Mar 21, 2020, 2:28 am
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: TPA / JFK / LAX
Programs: DL 360, UA 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 304
Thank you. I guess I will need to do this. All I done so far is open a Twitter DM with them.
Last night (starting at 0030, the last of 4 Cnx email notices came in at 0720 pacific) for my flights to JNB, leaving SFO>LHR on 26th (VS42) then LHR>JNB on 27th (VS461), then return on 29 March JNB-LHR via VS450 and finally VS19 on 30March to SFO. All were now officially canceled.
As I don't know when or how I can fly next on VS, I am going to be pushing for a refund, not a flight credit.
Fingers crossed. Rough times we live in these days!
Last night (starting at 0030, the last of 4 Cnx email notices came in at 0720 pacific) for my flights to JNB, leaving SFO>LHR on 26th (VS42) then LHR>JNB on 27th (VS461), then return on 29 March JNB-LHR via VS450 and finally VS19 on 30March to SFO. All were now officially canceled.
As I don't know when or how I can fly next on VS, I am going to be pushing for a refund, not a flight credit.
Fingers crossed. Rough times we live in these days!
Mar 21, 2020, 2:33 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 316
or they are trying to push refunds out until the government "bailout" arrives