Can Virgin move a scheduled flight from Gatwick to Heathrow or will it be classed as cancelled

Alan_Bowen

They have covered the change in their booking conditions making it clear that moving your departure from one airport to another is not a significant change and therefore if you cancel before they do, you will be subject to the usual cancellation charges. As you have probably read they are closing their entire Gatwick operation so any flights operating, and I very much doubt the US is going to admit any UK residents for a long time, will be from Heathrow. I should wait until they cancel, but then be aware they are estimating 100 days to refund, and that assumes that Sir Richard Branson's threat to close the whole thing down at the end of May is just a threat. If not, you will get a refund from the CAA ATOL scheme

Dunas

I don't think Virgins booking conditions are necessarily the only factor here as it's probably EU regulations that will be the most important and so it's more relevant if the flight number changes which under EU law means the original flight is considered cancelled and you are then entitled to a choice between rescheduling or a refund. If Virgin go bust ATOL protection doesn't apply as it's only covers package holidays or charter flights although section 75 should apply, although this is in doubt if a reschedule or voucher has been accepted.

miniben123

We are in very similar circumstances. We have to pay the balance of the holiday of a lifetime (Also Orlando, from Gatwick) Within the next 7 days. Or lose the deposit paid.
Holiday is August. All the emails from virgin so far, basically all go, holiday still on...Pay balance or lose deposit. 
 Anyone with an ounce of common- knows that even if the flights are on- how is the holiday going to be under the current circumstances. (Even the Park ticket company have already offered refund or extension).
Would we be able to postpone the holiday possibly.. until next year, given the unknown times we are all in?
My personal thought... I am not about to hand over our hard earned when it is likely that it is not going to happen- just to then wait months an months to get it back.

Dunas

I wonder if the expected announcement around quarantine will force Virgin to make their position on either offering rescheduling or cancelling summer flights clearer.

Alan_Bowen

I very much doubt Virgin will make such an announcement, they want to keep the money in the business, but realistically I doubt the US will be open to any UK residents this summer. You should talk to Virgin about delaying paying any further funds until the situation becomes clearer

Life__Goes__On

Alan_Bowen said:

I very much doubt Virgin will make such an announcement, they want to keep the money in the business

I agree
Also the other reason is money going out via refunds.

Dunas

Unfortunately as these were scheduled flights they were all paid for up front, I'm expecting things might become a little clearer over the next week or two once any new rules around travel are known and Virgin get an answer on their refinancing requests.

Thrugelmir

Dunas said:

I wonder if the expected announcement around quarantine will force Virgin to make their position on either offering rescheduling or cancelling summer flights clearer.

There's no indication that the US is going to lift it's travel restriction anytime soon.