Virgin Cancel My Home Flight

karinski

Hey

Virgin have just announced they are cancelling flights to Chicago. They cancel in the middle of my trip so I can get out there, but my flight back no longer exists.

They have offered

a) virgin return to another destination (non Uk)
b) move to United Airlines
c) refund

So b seems like the only option. United aren't as nice though are they? This was my first VA flight & was really looking forward to it. Grrh!

I just wondered if anyone had had a similar situation and what the best thing to do was or if there was any compensation or what not?

Thanks!

T

richardw

Well www.ba.com sale has started, so check if their flights are cheaper than you have paid and perhaps get a refund.

ferf1223

does c) refund not mean a refund of the full ticket so you can look elsewhere?

suppose it depends on the price you paid vs. the price you could now find.

mad_rich

You don't say when you are going. If they gave you less than two weeks' notice of the cancellation, then you can claim up to €600 in compensation.

Don't automatically settle for the United flights. Have a look through the timetable (all airlines) and find a routing that you like the look of, then ask to be rebooked onto that. It doesn't always work, but it can't hurt to ask.

Obviously, it's worth looking at how much alternative flights with BA or other airlines would be (from £289 in the BA sale) and compare that with how much the refund would be.

In terms of your rights, they're here:

http://www.auc.org.uk/default.aspx?catid=306&pagetype=68&gid=355

sturll

I don't see the problem tbh. Fly United.

richardw

sturll wrote: »

Fly United.

Have you been on United?

LeeSouthEast

United are great, from my experience. FAR superior to Virgin. Take it!

sturll

richardw wrote: »

Have you been on United?

About 50 times, International and Domestic.

They are not better or worse than any other US Airline.

lorweld

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alanrowell

The options you have been given are the best options for Virgin, not you.

Go and do some research to find options that are best for you. Then contact Virgin and begin to haggle - and if the best option for you is for one of the flights you've been offered, try for an upgrade.

As they say, shy bairns get nowt and the worst that can happen is that you end upwith one of their options

mad_rich

Just one more thought. Do remember that you only get one shot at this. You can't opt for the United flights, and then phone back later and say 'actually, I think I'll take the refund'. Well, not unless Sir Richard is feeling very generous.

So you should stall them on the first phone call and say you haven't decided yet.