Virgin Atlantic Holiday Booked on Virgin Atlantic Credit Card, should i wait 120 days?

mashisback

I know a lot of people have also been told to wait 120 days for refund but i worry they might go bust before then.

I had a flight and hotel booked with them for over £3k which got cancelled the other day, i chose to be refunded which i am now told will be 120 days. I read a few people said they have gone and done chargebacks to get there money quicker. The credit card company i booked with was also Virgin Atlantic Credit Card so i dont feel that getting them to chargeback against there own company will work? as i read its not a legal requirement and its at the CC companies discretion?

Also i paid over £200 for choosing seats which they did not mention in the refund/voucher offer! has anyone else had to deal with getting this money back separate? i did email them about it but just got the standard re-written '120 days refund' email back so i havent a clue if that will come back.

Im not sure what to do, do i just have to wait the 120 days with my fingers crossed?

Thanks in advance for any help

[Deleted User]

I'd wait. You have plenty of other options in the unlikely event of them going out of business. ATOL, chargeback, section 75...

You wouldn't even need to keep your fingers crossed, unless you feel it helps.

bradders1983

The "brand" of the card is irrelevant, in the main branded cards are run by totally separate finance companies. It certainly should not impact on a potential S75 or chargeback, and Visa/Mastercard would have a fit if it did.

mashisback

Should i now change my approach? as i hear virgin how filed for bankruptcy

jackieblack

mashisback said:

Should i now change my approach? as i hear virgin how filed for bankruptcy

You heard wrong.

The Chapter 15 filing in the United States is a procedural application to allow the US courts to recognise the restructuring process they are undertaking (the solvent recapitalisation of the airline) under English law.

Caz3121

mashisback said:

as i hear virgin how filed for bankruptcy

read up on Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Protection in the US ( a mechanism that allows US courts to recognise foreign restructuring processes)

macman

Virgin Atlantic airline is nothing to do with Virgin Atlantic credit card, they are separate legal entities. It's just a branding arrangement. The card is issued by Clydesdale Bank, who bought Virgin Money.

mashisback

So do you think virgin will actually process all these refunds after the 120 days?

Still is the consensus that i should just wait it out? I just dont want to get caught out waiting and end up with a battle on my hands 4 months down the line, or without a refund at all

jackieblack

A few years ago I cancelled some flights with Virgin Atlantic (due to changes of flight times making a connection impossible) and it took just over 10 weeks to get the refund (which included the extra I’d paid to select seats).  If their processes are that slow in ‘normal’ times,  it’s no surprise that they’re taking so long in these very unique circumstances.

 I think you just need to be patient.

blindman

mashisback said:

So do you think virgin will actually process all these refunds after the 120 days?

Still is the consensus that i should just wait it out? I just dont want to get caught out waiting and end up with a battle on my hands 4 months down the line, or without a refund at all

I would start the charge back asap as you can have that running its course whilst waiting for the refund.
Supposedly Virgin have now lowered the refund delays to 80 days....
I had to wait 116 days, but it did finally arrive.
I give Virgin 6 more months to survive.

macman

If you wait 120 days then you will be out of time for a chargeback, which has to be initiated within...120 days. Now, isn't that a coincidence?
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.