Virgin - Gatwick & Expedia - the refund saga (VA v E)

bagand96

Life__Goes__On said:

Westin said:

This is a standard tour operator clause and been this way for many years.  Both London Gatwick and London Heathrow are London airports. 

They well may have clauses, but doesn't mean they are fair,  so could be invaded.
But happy to be corrected with info saying that an change of airport is a minor change in regs (not T&Cs.)

Curiously the EU regulations do mention multiple airports serving the same city and says airlines would have to meet the passengers travel costs between the two airports.  However, where it mentions this, it is referring to inbound flights (after a cancellation) I couldn't find any reference to it for departing flights.

bagand96

esellek said:

It is a bit of a sticky point.  Although, any new flight would mean there would be a stopover (having checked the schedule from LHR) unless they introduced a direct flight!!  Either way, I'm waiting on the cancellation - at the time of posting, the flight is still scheduled to leave LGW.

It's a technical point - but if they just move the flight to Heathrow from Gatwick, same flight number and direct route, then you wouldn't have a stopover - they've just changed the departure airport.  However if they do cancel your flight and offer you an alternative re-routing, you'd be entitled to a refund.

All of this is likely academic for your departure in June.  The talk of closing the Gatwick operation is strategic planning for the future of the company over a long timescale.  Your flight will more than likely be cancelled, but it will be more to do with the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions than their future schedule changes.

bagand96

zacncaz381 said:

Hi, likewise I have rtn flights booked 24/06, Gtw-JFK. I don't want to re-book from a different airport, I don't want to defer the flight - especially as I will be expected to pay any difference in fare! Are they not legally obliged to refund, given they have cancelled my flight? What are the specific legislative points of law which can be quoted 

If they cancel your flight then you are entitled to a refund.  Have they actually cancelled it yet?

Life__Goes__On

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-changes/
UK regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirms where schedule changes are to the time or date (not the flight number), these are only covered by airline T&Cs, not by any law.

If you're moved to a different flight altogether (ie, a different flight number) you'd likely be covered under different, far tighter EU flight cancellation laws (the Government insists these won't change when the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019)

Clearly a change of airport is a  totally different flight.
As flights from Gatwick will be cancelled,  it will be classed as rerouting.

Dunas

I had started a similar thread, which I've linked below in case there are any answers that are relevant to both questions
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6139193/can-virgin-move-a-scheduled-flight-from-gatwick-to-heathrow-or-will-it-be-classed-as-cancelled

Life__Goes__On

Dunas said:

I had started a similar thread, which I've linked below in case there are any answers that are relevant to both questions
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6139193/can-virgin-move-a-scheduled-flight-from-gatwick-to-heathrow-or-will-it-be-classed-as-cancelled

RE .other thread
I do not believe for one second that they could get away with just renaming a flight number just to circumvent the EU rules.

Also EU flight rules must include package holiday flight no matter what a T&Cs say.
As you are still due compensation for delayed flights (not COVID-19) even if the flight was part of a package holiday, so clearly they are interlinked. 

bagand96

Dunas said:

I had started a similar thread, which I've linked below in case there are any answers that are relevant to both questions
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6139193/can-virgin-move-a-scheduled-flight-from-gatwick-to-heathrow-or-will-it-be-classed-as-cancelled

I posted on the other thread, but seeing as it's being discussed here too:

Virgin do not operate Heathrow - Orlando currently (pre-Covid-19).  So they wouldn't be simply "renaming" a flight.  If they planned to operate for example VS123 LGW-MCO and have decided there will be no more LGW departures then they could in theory move VS123 to Heathrow.  Aircraft type is not relevant, all airlines plan a schedule around aircraft types but they are always subject to change.

There are plenty of routes Virgin operate from Gatwick that they don't operate out of Heathrow, there's very little overlap.  So some Gatwick flights may well be moved across to Heathrow.  Where that leaves you in respect to refund rights etc I am unsure.

With all that said I'd agree it's highly unlikely your flight to Orlando will happen in July regardless of which London airport it may or may not depart from.

Life__Goes__On

"So some Gatwick flights may well be moved across to Heathrow."

I would be surprised if that happens, as VA would have to buy new slots (if they are available)  and can't see them forking out the higher cost at Heathrow for those

bagand96

Life__Goes__On said:

"So some Gatwick flights may well be moved across to Heathrow."

I would be surprised if that happens, as VA would have to buy new slots (if they are available)  and can't see them forking out the higher cost at Heathrow for those

This isn't a case of cancel everything at Gatwick, but Heathrow carries on as it was.

The whole airline is going to shrink and Heathrow will see cancelled flights/routes too. Where they had multiple frequencies a day to the same destinations (Virgin and Delta) they will likely find that post Covid-19 that will be too much so frequencies will be cut.  The one thing they will never do is lose or surrender their Heathrow slots, so any cancellations at Heathrow, slots will be filled with routes moving across from Gatwick.  

It's exactly the same reason BA's Gatwick operation will shrink too.

bradders1983

Life__Goes__On said:

"So some Gatwick flights may well be moved across to Heathrow."

I would be surprised if that happens, as VA would have to buy new slots (if they are available)  and can't see them forking out the higher cost at Heathrow for those

Arent the old Flybe ones still going? I thought they owned those anyway?