Virgin Holidays / Gatwick

hammyfan

Hi...booked a holiday to Florida with VA last August, for November 17th this year. Obviously slightly concerned at the news today that they are pulling out of Gatwick completely (albeit they are keeping their take off / landing slots just in case...).Have been hoping that things would ease enough for us to go, but aside from holding out (balance due to be paid in August) any other advice?

Browntoa

Not much apart from wait for the inevitable cancellation unless we get an effective vaccine and the USA opens its borders

jonesMUFCforever

To keep their slots I think they will have to operate 80% of flights that they have slots for - when flights start over again of course.

micky137

I booked Florida with Virgin Holidays in April 2019 flying from Gatwick in August 2020. If they now stop flying from Gatwick and re-allocate the flight to Heathrow, does that constitute a change in terms and allow me to cancel and demand a refund?

photome

micky137 said:

I booked Florida with Virgin Holidays in April 2019 flying from Gatwick in August 2020. If they now stop flying from Gatwick and re-allocate the flight to Heathrow, does that constitute a change in terms and allow me to cancel and demand a refund?

What do the t and c say about change of airport

bradders1983

photome said:

micky137 said:

I booked Florida with Virgin Holidays in April 2019 flying from Gatwick in August 2020. If they now stop flying from Gatwick and re-allocate the flight to Heathrow, does that constitute a change in terms and allow me to cancel and demand a refund?

What do the t and c say about change of airport

Change of London airports does NOT constitute a "significant change"

https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/important/terms-and-conditions

Westin

hammyfan said:

Hi...booked a holiday to Florida with VA last August, for November 17th this year. Obviously slightly concerned at the news today that they are pulling out of Gatwick completely (albeit they are keeping their take off / landing slots just in case...).Have been hoping that things would ease enough for us to go, but aside from holding out (balance due to be paid in August) any other advice?

Obviously a lot can happen by November but if travel and holidays are indeed operating later in the year I feel you will simply be offered flights from Heathrow.  I think 99.9% sure there will be no Gatwick flying. 

I would see ultimately a direct LHR MCO service but as predominantly a leisure route much will depend on holiday demand as to whether this service operates daily or x days per week.  They may initially, or on low season periods, route passengers on indirect services.

As already answered above, whether Gatwick or Heathrow the departure is viewed as London and no major change.

The Gatwick slot comment I feel is a bit of a smoke screen. There will be no short term return to the airport. They will want to maintain their well timed slot pairs for the future (think 2023+). Comments made would be hopeful that they could either lease out for another airline to babysit them, or gives hope that the airport would not take them back and reallocate.

For the OP, I would just hold fire for now, keep regular eyes on the VH website and be prepared for flight changes.

Westin

Not sure why they feel the need to change the business name from “Virgin Holidays” to “Virgin Atlantic Holidays”.   Seems a bit unnecessary.

Skintski

We are also due to fly out of Gatwick to the Caribbean at the end of November. We have a wedding booked through them which includes a V-Room complimentary package. There is no V-room at Heathrow, only Gatwick. Given that and the change of airport (which for us is a big deal as we live down the road from Gatwick) are we likely to be cancelled or are they likely to change our package?

bradders1983

Skintski said:

We are also due to fly out of Gatwick to the Caribbean at the end of November. We have a wedding booked through them which includes a V-Room complimentary package. There is no V-room at Heathrow, only Gatwick. Given that and the change of airport (which for us is a big deal as we live down the road from Gatwick) are we likely to be cancelled or are they likely to change our package?

I already answered this above. Change of London airport is not considered a significant change which would cancel a holiday. Sorry.

Regarding the lounge they may put you in the lounge at Heathrow as there is a Virgin one there, its just called something different (Clubhouse). You would have to ask.