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

Life__Goes__On

bradders1983 said:

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

Didn't Flybe go bust,  so the slots would be dealt with by the administrators? So anyone could buy them (if they are worth anything)

bagand96

At least some (most) of Flybe LHR slots were remedy slots going back to BA buying bmi.  Competition regulators stated at the time that if any other airline wished to operate certain LHR domestic routes, BA would have to make slots available to them.  Initially Virgin had a go for a couple of years, operated by Aer Lingus, they stopped and the slots reverted to BA.  Then Flybe had a go.  Flybe actually weren’t that far from taking ownership of the slots (once they’d operated for a set time frame the slots would have become “theirs”).

However Flybe didn’t make it that far, so the slots will once again revert to BA 

Life__Goes__On

bagand96 said:

At least some (most) of Flybe LHR slots were remedy slots going back to BA buying bmi.  Competition regulators stated at the time that if any other airline wished to operate certain LHR domestic routes, BA would have to make slots available to them.  Initially Virgin had a go for a couple of years, operated by Aer Lingus, they stopped and the slots reverted to BA.  Then Flybe had a go.  Flybe actually weren’t that far from taking ownership of the slots (once they’d operated for a set time frame the slots would have become “theirs”).

However Flybe didn’t make it that far, so the slots will once again revert to BA 

Wonderful post,  thanks for details.

Westin

bagand96 said:

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?

As Virgin Atlantic don't operate London Gatwick - New York JFK I am not sure what zacncaz381 is referencing.   

Westin

Life__Goes__On said:

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.

When and If Virgin Atlantic recommence flights between London and Orlando I suspect it will just be a simple case of moving the current timetabled flight (say VS015) to the closest slot pairs available and just moved from London Gatwick to London Heathrow.    If the OP booked a package holiday with Virgin Holidays then those trading terms apply.    

That all said, I can't see any VAA flying to Orlando in June, from Gatwick or Heathrow.

I also suspect that Virgin Holidays will not want to annoy people if they truly do not wish to fly from LHR and may well give a discretionary refund based on the charged departure point (although not the change of departure city).

Westin

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

They just would redistribute flights across available slots.  In simplified terms rather than operate 8 x daily DL/VS flights to New York with reduced loads, consolidate one or more of those flights to free up slots to operate one of the moved London Gatwick services. 

esellek

An interesting twist.  I got in contact with Virgin re them not flying from LGW and the status of my flight booking and got a reply
"...They [my flights] are operated by WestJet and as far as we [Virgin] are aware they will continue to operate from Gatwick". 

Life__Goes__On

esellek said:

An interesting twist.  I got in contact with Virgin re them not flying from LGW and the status of my flight booking and got a reply
"...They [my flights] are operated by WestJet and as far as we [Virgin] are aware they will continue to operate from Gatwick". 

What flight details did you get at time of booking?

esellek

Life__Goes__On said:

esellek said:

An interesting twist.  I got in contact with Virgin re them not flying from LGW and the status of my flight booking and got a reply
"...They [my flights] are operated by WestJet and as far as we [Virgin] are aware they will continue to operate from Gatwick". 

What flight details did you get at time of booking?

Just trawled through all my emails from Expedia.  Missed this, note to self = to scroll down emails.  It said confirmation with booking ref (Virgin Atlantic), way down the email it says 'Virgin Atlantic 8001 operated by WESTJET' so I guess I have to keep an eye on Westjet (who are currently not operating at LGW).

Life__Goes__On

At least Virgin's move to Heathrow made you find out about the  Westjet flight.