Cancelled Virgin Flights VS049 & VS050 May-October

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi Wan - You consider this trivial because of your extensive experience of international travel. Jna has no such experience and is probably not going to accept the opinions of someone who is in the end a total stranger, however well meaning they might be.

If circumstances conspire such that something you have said turns out to be incorrect then there will be nothing Jna or any other affected passenger can do. You will get to hold your hands up say 'I'm Sorry' and everyone is still left in the lurch.

I can understand that Virgins lack of response is worrying for all of those affected and really whatever way you look at it, it is poor customer service. If the airline cancels any flight they should be clear about what happens to those paasengers that have already booked and they should also be available to answer those passengers questions.

I feel it would be sensible to stop the line of discussion that has currently overtaken this thread at this point and move it back on topic before it is locked.

Alan,
The point was that the two things they are worrying about are as has been told to tehm, inconsequential at this moment in time, some 11 months before the flights.
If the "invoice" has come from Virgin Holidays, then VH will have very little idea what is going on with the flights, all they will know is that they have booked X amount of seats on Virgin Atlantic (and other airlines as VH do nor soley use VA) and one department has been told that the VS49/50 flights are cancelled.
If the Poster has paid VH for the PE seats then VH will make sure that they get those seats as it forms part of a legal contract.
All Travel agents pre book flights and pay for them nearer the time, helping their cash flow, That is why in many cases until the travel agent releases the names to the airline, you cannot find your seat allocation on the airlines web site.
Also, a lot of the letters sent out from TA's are computer generated, so it could just be two sections of the same TA not knowimng what the other is doing.
If however, the poster has bought seats direct from Virgin atlantic, then
They will get confirmation from VA their new seat allocations
Virgin Atlantic will have with this seat allocation given them PE seats and numbers as per the contract with that airline.

But as the poster has not told us who the invoice is with, there is very little more that can be said to them.

 

[sandshal]

jna, OWK, Goofyfish and Alan

I feel like I need to add a few points at this stage:-

I cannot believe so many posts have been added since I last looked at this thread!!!

1. Its a shame customers were not informed in writing of the changes before flights and seat allocations simply disappeared from "manage your flights" - as non seasoned travellers who save hard to get to Disney every 2 or 3 years this can be most worrying and a little disappointing - Virgin do seem to operate mainly on their own hype.

2. I agree, the letter from VH was very badly worded but nonetheless was at least some form of notification - some 2-3 weeks after the event.

3. I understand what you mean about invoices I've probably had around 6 now, some original, some cancellations and some new - all very confusing!! however, my last call to VH was handled with excellence.

4. 11 months away - how dare you question your booking - Obi Wan told me to get a grip when Ive only got 6 months to go before I fly !!!!!!!!!

5. Obi Wan Kenobi obviously knows his stuff and I too found his manner extremely offensive at times - Please Obi it would be a great help if you could give us the value of your expertise without being so patronising you probably are right with everything you say but please just less verbal.

And finally, this thread was started purely to notify all those travelling on the additional weekend flights that they had been cancelled, bearing in mind VH had not let its customers know at this stage, we now all know the deal, I'm sure jna's mind will be set to rest as soon as the seat allocations show - so lets all sit back and start the very long wait ............. for our holiday.

 

[susieh]

We're flying UC with Virgin next June and I received a phone call last month to tell me the flight time home had changed (we're on VS016 on a Sunday evening). Even though it was 8 months away I had already booked our seats so my immediate concern was to check we still had those (we had).

Whether you are a seasoned flyer (I am) or a novice, I think you can still enjoy the excitement of planning for a holidy 11 months or more away and so any changes to it can be a worry. I like everything planned down to the day (already have tours in place for our 2 weeks out there) but my husband is happy to go with the flow. So he leaves it all to me and we're both happy.

Each to his own - live and let live - and if one person wants to make sure everything is still as they booked and planned it when it is still months away then what is wrong with that - it doesnt affect anyone else.

 

[Claire L]

Just a quick point jna says that the return flight is now VS015, this cannot be correct as VS015 is a LGW-MCO number not a MCO-LGW number, clearly something or someone is wrong somewhere???

Claire

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Don't forget that if the plane goes tech, they may have to put on an airbus, which will have a completly different seating arrangement (But better IFE!) so your seat assignment can change right up to boarding.

I would always regardless of which class of travel you are in, do on Line checkin before your flights.

the two flights back from orlando are

VS16:- 19:55-08:45
VS28:- 18:05-06:55

 

[sandshal]

Cheers Obi-Wan, have just changed my outbound flight to the VS027 and added a couple more days to the start of the holiday so although I've got 4 seats in Row 35, I shall definately do on-line check in before we travel down to the Gatwick Hilton the night before. With regards to the airbus, I have noticed the 747's they use LGW-Orlando do seem to be the ones that have the oldest IFE - my kids are desperate to fly on one of the planes with the in-flight games but I can see from V-Flyer the chances are slim (I sound like a real plane spotter now don't I !!!).

Definately going to do the check one bag in at Downtown disney trick you recommended, so hopefully we can all sit together on the way home - jna - its better you don't know than know for sure you've been allocated 3 seats one side of the plane and 1 the other with absolutely nothing left on pre-allocation - I'm sure you'll be OK but I know its hard not to worry.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Cheers Obi-Wan, have just changed my outbound flight to the VS027 and added a couple more days to the start of the holiday so although I've got 4 seats in Row 35, I shall definately do on-line check in before we travel down to the Gatwick Hilton the night before. With regards to the airbus, I have noticed the 747's they use LGW-Orlando do seem to be the ones that have the oldest IFE - my kids are desperate to fly on one of the planes with the in-flight games but I can see from V-Flyer the chances are slim (I sound like a real plane spotter now don't I !!!).

Definately going to do the check one bag in at Downtown disney trick you recommended, so hopefully we can all sit together on the way home - jna - its better you don't know than know for sure you've been allocated 3 seats one side of the plane and 1 the other with absolutely nothing left on pre-allocation - I'm sure you'll be OK but I know its hard not to worry.

I think your chances are going to get a lot better, as eventually all 747's will be on the gatwick/Manchester routes and Heathrow will be all airbus, so you should have a better chance of getting Oddysey

The problem is that the gatwick 747-400's are not actually that old, but were a cancelled order from Alitalia, so the IFE was already part of the package, so whilst they are some of the newest 747's the IFE is way behind the other Virgin specified IFE systems.
they have updated Nova to "supernova" but its still pants

 

[sandshal]

Obi Wan Kenobi,

Thanks again, I've gotta ask - Are you an secret undercover agent working for Virgin - how do you know so much ?????????? or just a seasoned Disney Traveller?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Obi Wan Kenobi,

Thanks again, I've gotta ask - Are you an secret undercover agent working for Virgin - how do you know so much ?????????? or just a seasoned Disney Traveller?

Think he just gets his info. from the 'dark side'

 

[Claire L]

as eventually all 747's will be on the gatwick/Manchester routes and Heathrow will be all airbus,

Thats a shame as we much prefer the 747

Claire

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi Wan Kenobi,

Thanks again, I've gotta ask - Are you an secret undercover agent working for Virgin - how do you know so much ?????????? or just a seasoned Disney Traveller?

Just too many flights per year travelling between here and the States I am afraid.
Not just on Virgin I may add.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thats a shame as we much prefer the 747

Claire

I do too, but both Virgin and BA seem to be heading down the route of Airbusses

I find them cramped and rattly, rather like French cars, you know, when you first buy them they are pretty to look at, smell nice, but put a few thousands of miles on them and they become squeeky, rattly and the engines get noisy

Also, there is that HAL 2000 thing going on, ( Space oddessy for you young 'uns) where most of the driving is done by the computer; "You don't want to descend, captain"

 

[sandshal]

Request for more info from the Dark Side !!!!!!!!!!!!

Obi Wan, assuming you are a star wars nut, and changing the subject completely, we're going during the star wars weekend month of May - was planning to do the fantasmic dining package on Sunday 21st May - do you know if MGM is best avoided of a weekend at this time?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Request for more info from the Dark Side !!!!!!!!!!!!

Obi Wan, assuming you are a star wars nut, and changing the subject completely, we're going during the star wars weekend month of May - was planning to do the fantasmic dining package on Sunday 21st May - do you know if MGM is best avoided of a weekend at this time?

Its a bit busy to say the least!
You cannot tell the real Obi from the fakes
Its worth it just for the costumes

 

[sandshal]

jna,

Did you have any luck with your seats - are you able to them on manage your flights yet? If so, hope everything was OK - let us know

sandshal

 

[jna]

jna,

Did you have any luck with your seats - are you able to them on manage your flights yet? If so, hope everything was OK - let us know

sandshal

Thank you very much for asking. I guess the answer is yes and no. Yes, inasmuch as Virgin Holidays were able to access our booking. We are still on a VS049 flight to MCO, even though it is advertised as being withdrawn. I have a feeling we have not heard the end of this, unless of course demand is so great on October 14 that it really is still operational.

Coming back, well, we have been switched from VS050 to VS016. This is also confusing to us when the Virgin announcement regarding the cancellation of VS050 refers to a period ending on October 28 2006, and we return on November 4th.

On the day VH could see the booking we were told to call back after two days and we would be given a 'reference locator number' in order that we could call another number to reserve PE seats. So I waited three days. When I called VH again I am then told I have to wait until December 6th. No reason was offered.

Now I know I risk attention for getting into a tiz so far in advance, and this is indeed the reason why I had not chosen to say anymore about this matter on the forum until you kindly asked, but we have committed to flights costing over £5,000 and we are not impressed.

Yesterday I booked a ferry to France and two hotels over there, all on line, and in the a space of about half an hour received my e-ticket and confirmations respectively. I know the airline holiday business is far more technical, but we are getting rather frustrated with them.

We are now waiting to December 6th to see what happens then. I'll let you know.

Thanks again for your interest.

John

 

[sandshal]

Thanks for your reply,

Dare I say !!!!, I am with you 100% on Virgin - Having flown many times worldwide up until my first child was born the hype Virgin carries led me to believe I was about to receive some super service. We paid the extra to travel Virgin and were somewhat disappointed. Our seat back TVs only worked for half the outbound flight, being offered one ice cream in 9 hours (to me does not constitute shouting out - you're offering something special that kids should get excited about) to be fair it was OK but like I say nothing to should home about.

This time I got several prices - TCD being £600 cheaper than Virgin. Having 2 children 1 x 10 and 1 x 5, having their own entertrainment system seems quite important - so we reluctantly paid the extra and so far I really wish I hadn't.

I confess, I too am a worrier! - yes this may sound ridiculous but in the back of my mind I have this horrible vision that the 3 seats on 1 side of the plane and 1 on the other will become reality on the way home. How can you pay £2,600, book 8 months in advance and get this - I do not call this good customer service at all!

In this day and age - most service is instant - Virgin IMHO seem to think they are above good customer service (although I must add VH have been excellent and Im sure they're totally in the hands of Virgin Atlantics who I feel are currently offering poor service).

What really gripes me more than anything is "Many years ago I worked for the company that built Richard Bransons Powerboat "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II) all I can say is its a good job he didnt get the sort of service he is now providing - otherwise he'd have never broke the record !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok gripe over - still very much looking forward to my holiday - I really hope you get your seats sorted jna (Good luck and roll on the 6th December)

 

[Candy]

hi i am also booked with Virgin and flying on the 14 oct 06 in P E every time i ring Virgin airways to resrve our seatsi an told ring back in a few days time.they dont seamto care that we have paid a lot more to sit in P E and i for one am not going to sit in the downstairs P E seats.

 

[sandshal]

Candy,

Upper Class, PE or Economy - the service stinks at the moment! - I read somewhere that on "manage your flights" if the 60% pre bookable seats have all gone, the "seat plan" button does not show for editing. On my account the "seat plan" button is showing but the only seats highlighted are my 4 - so I'm wonering .... have Virgin put a block on changing or editing seating plans for the time being on these merged flights? and is the 6th December significant - does it again go live?

 

[Claire L]

Dec 6th is by my calculations likely to be about the 336 day mark at which point the seats can be booked, so given a few more days for the VH details to be passed and loaded onto the system sounds about right.
Claire