virgin cancelled my flight to las vegas

darren1971

Hello, can anyone advise me on this. I was booked on a flight on 9th feb 2011 from gatwick to las vegas to celebrate my 40th birthday. im 40 on the 10th feb. i had also booked a early morning flight with BA from manchester to gatwick on the 9th also ( i live in Leeds)
virgin have cancelled the flight on the 9th and put me on the flight on the 10th feb. im upset that im actually going to be travelling on a plane on my actual birthday but im more annoyed that the flight ive booked with ba is going to cost me to change it. i paid £152 and its going to cost me £120 to change it to the 10th feb. my only other option is to go on the flight on the 9th and book into a hotel. either option is going to cost me. where do i stand re this? should virgin offer me compensation? this was booked through ebookers as a package and they are saying its nothing to do with them and after spending an hour on the phone to virgin this morning they say they cannot do anything as its a package and i need to speak to ebookers. Im really upset as i feel my birthday has been ruined and virgin dont seem to care. i understand they have probably cancelled the flight on the 9th as it wasnt very full and makes sense from a business point of view to send a full aircraft out on the 10th but all my plans have been ruined now. Not sure if i can do anything or can i claim on my travel insurance for hotel accommodation or the fee to change the BA flight. anyone know? Many thanks.

richardw

What does it say in the terms and conditions about a shorter holiday?
Is the package holiday from MANchester or Gatwick?

photome

if it is def a package then ebookers have to take resposibility although I doubt it is a package so not sure where you stand.

It hardly the end of the world flying on your birthday though,far worse things happen. Why not just use your original BA flight and have a champagne bfast in a hotel in london on the 10th.

I also find it hard to believe that VIrgin have cancelled that flight from Gatwick as it is full on an almost daily basis

I see it is your first post, I hope you come back and update

Edit to add
I stand corrected on the cancelling of the Virgin flight

ferf1223

as someone who's flying a few weeks later the day before my hubby's birthday (also flying on a Weds) this makes me nervous...it's not the end of the world, but I can understand not wanting to be stuck on a plane on your birthday.

It does look like they have cancelled the flight on the 9th looking at their website.

It sounds like it was not booked as a true package but separate components ala DIY, unfortunately. I would go ahead and take the BA flight, go ahead with the hotel and try to start the holiday as best you can.

totallybored

Could they reroute you via LA on the day you were meant to fly?

tarkytarks

I'd definately fly down on the flight you've already booked. You will find a hotel near the airport for cheaper than the cost of re-booking your flight.
Are you now going to loose a night in vegas? What about your accomodation at that end?

dmg24

ferf1223 wrote: »

as someone who's flying a few weeks later the day before my hubby's birthday (also flying on a Weds) this makes me nervous...it's not the end of the world, but I can understand not wanting to be stuck on a plane on your birthday.

It does look like they have cancelled the flight on the 9th looking at their website.

It sounds like it was not booked as a true package but separate components ala DIY, unfortunately. I would go ahead and take the BA flight, go ahead with the hotel and try to start the holiday as best you can.

The site is not clear, as all but one class (I can't recall which) are unavailable for the next day also, so it could just be that the flights are very busy.

OP, I would post on the Virgin board on Flyertalk. Someone there should be able to give a more definitive answer.

ferf1223

totallybored wrote: »

Could they reroute you via LA on the day you were meant to fly?

exactly what my husband asked when I mentioned this...would imagine it would be worth asking, but if ebookers are refusing to discuss with the OP as it's down to the airline and Virgin are refusing to discuss as it's a 'package'...then I don't know how much further the OP would get?

ferf1223

dmg24 wrote: »

The site is not clear, as all but one class (I can't recall which) are unavailable for the next day also, so it could just be that the flights are very busy.

I did see that, but assumed that economy was full the following day as all the Wednesday passengers had been shifted to the Thursday flight...given that Virgin have said that the Weds flight is cancelled?

pennylane99

happens every year around this time, light load flights are merged, theres quite a few cancellations/mergers in the next few weeks...but only that one for the Vegas flight so far

totallybored

It would be possible for you to fly to LA on the 9th from Heathrow. I'm not sure if Virgin would sort the connecting flight to LAS but what I'd do ask them to get you on the flight to LA and then sort a Southwest flight (which are $19 each to Vegas) yourself.

Call ebookers tomorrow morning, be calm and polite and tell them that flying on the 10th isn't convenient and you need to get there on the 9th. Tell them you are willing to fly via or just to LA and can they change your flight to this. Also explain that you have spoken to Virgin and they have told you that ebookers has to do this.

If they won't help then call Virgin and try getting them to change the flight. They normally would say that as you booked with a travel agent then the agent has to do this but its worth trying and I've managed to get airlines to make changes even when the ticket has been booked with expedia etc.

I don't think it is a reasonable request for you to ask them to switch you to an LA flight when they are trying to make you fly a day later.