Ever been offered 'free' Virgin flights?

[Pootle]

We checked in for our Virgin flight at DD last month, and because we wanted emergency exit seats, were first in the queue

They were overbooked on the LGW flight and if we had been willing to travel on the next flight, 2 hours later, they said we could have 2 free flights to anywhere that Virgin flies.

We thought about it for 10 seconds and refused. Has it happened to anyone here, and has anyone had 2 free Virgin flights?

Just curious.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

I am a frequent flyer on VS and have never been offered a free flight for overbooking or delayed . ( on the other hand never been significantly delayed either)

I have heard that some people have been dealyed for 24 hours due to the aircraft having a technical problem aand then being offered free flights.

A free flight for a 2 hour delay appears to be ( in my opinion) very generous ( and I would personally take it)

Of course emergency exit seats do add a lot more space and greatly enhance the quality of the journey.

Did you get the emergency seats?

Regards

TBS

 

[Sue & Co.]

Whilst personally we have never been offered free flights (but then at the moment we always travel as a family of five), I do know of other who have. It is not because your flight is delayed two hours but if you are willing to be bumped off your original flight onto a different one because of overbooking, if the next available flight is only two hours later that is good becuase it is usually the next day! My friend was offered this but because of her husbands work commitments they couldn't accept, she was furious.

Sue

 

[kazzie]

I would have snatched their hand off for free flights for that little inconvenience

I guess the point is luckily it was a choice and you could decide what was best for you

 

[daipp]

Moira


You refused !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gilld]

We checked in really early for our flight in 1999 and were offerd the opportunity to be bumped onto a Continental flight via Newark, leaving 3 hours earlier but landing at Orlando 20 mins later. There were four of us. As compensation we were to be given four free flights and were to fly First Class on the bumped flight with Continental. What do you think we did????? I said yes without consulting anyone else. We had a fabulous flight with Continental and used our free flights for a holiday in St Lucia.

 

[Pootle]

Interesting replies - thanks to all who responded.

We refused only because we were heading back for a family funeral in the north west the next day and our schedule was to get a few hours sleep after landing at LGW and then drive up to Lancaster later in the day. (Doing the M1/M6 on a Sunday afternoon is not fun) So although we would normally have been tempted, this time the sadness of the occasion and our need to 'just get on with it' took over.

What really *did* interest me was why they didn't offer upgrades to Premium Economy on the next flight (okay, they might not have been available) because that would have made me snatch their hands off.

The check-in woman was surprised we declined but we are not fans of Virgin. We used them many times in the nineties when their leg room was a good deal more generous. Cannot deny the convenience of the DD check-in though. Now we prefer to fly indirectly with American carriers for more room and we were on the Virgin flight only because that was what the insurance company had booked to get us back to the UK.

After I'd sent the original post I thought I probably should have explained why we declined - I can see why we would be thought mad to turn down the offer

 

[Pootle]

Please forgive me - it's early and there are a few more things I wanted to add!

To The Banking Scot - we did get our emergency exit seats. Back in the nineties my then 15 year old son was as tall as my husband at 6'2" and soon overtook him, so I can honestly say I have masses of experience at getting those seats The DD check-in opened at 8.30 am and we were there for 7.20 am and managed to be first in line by about 30 seconds!

Also, in the past we have been delayed overnight 3 times (I think this must be a record somehow). Once with Virgin, once with BA and once with a charter (can't remember which) and each time we were put up in a hotel for a flight back the next morning. On no occasion were we offered anything for the inconvenience - just letters to pass on to insurers.

 

[edie w]

We were delayed 24 hours last October on our way home. We were put up in a very nice hotel, fed and given half pice vouchers for "any future Virgin flight".

A couple of months ago we booked our next trip (this October) using them. Got what we wanted and everything.

Someone else got free flights vouchers because of a 48 hour delay (or maybe 2 x 24 hour delays) and has had trouble finding anything because they were restricted to the lowest economy fare only - and she hasn't been allowed to upgrade & pay the difference

So I guess it depends on the small print whether you are being offered anything of value. We clearly got the better deal.

 

[bubblefactory]

We got free flights because of the 2 x 24hr delays Oct 03 and had no trouble claiming them. the small print that matters is that your free / discounted flights are valid for the fare class you were in when the delay occured. can't understand the not being able to upgrade bit though as we upgraded from PE to Club for our trip. BTW they are not completely free - you still have to pay taxes of ~ £80 ppn .

 

[Sue F UK]

Edie, the person who got the 'free' flights was me!

We were delayed 48 hours on our return flights in Feb. When we phoned Virgin they said that we could only book seats in the lowest fare category, of which there were none left for any flights during the summer holidays this year. When we asked if we could pay the difference to the next fare category we were told that this was not possible. Basically they wanted us to buy the seats at full fare - even though we had free flights vouchers.

We complained by phone to Virgin Customer Service who said that this was the position and that is was covered in the terms & conditions of our vouchers. Except there were NO terms & conditions given to us with the vouchers and when we asked ground staff at Orlando if there were any restrictions we were told NO! If we had been told this then we would not have accepted the offer and pushed instead for compensation.

Friends of ours who were on the same flight wanted to use their vouchers to go to Cape Town in March next year and were told the same thing - if they want their 'free' flights, they must phone exactly 11 months prior in order to get the lowest fare rate before the travel agents snap them up!

We have sent Virgin a strongly worded complaint letter and are currently waiting for their response.

Sorry to 'rant' but, 5 weeks after the fact, it still makes my blood boil

 

[edie w]

So sorry to hear you aren't getting anywhere, Sue.

the small print that matters is that your free / discounted flights are valid for the fare class you were in when the delay occured.

This is the weird bit - our half price ones were valid for ANY fare at all - so half price PE or 1st had we been able to afford it

It's so inconsistent - but consistent with Virgin's inconsistency, if you see what I mean! Sue would have been better off with the half price vouchers.

I'd be inclined to write to Watchdog or one of the weekend broadsheets' travel sections. They love things like this!

 

[uktigger]

sue
i would be ranting too if that had happened to us don't forget and let us know how you got on with virgin i think they are going a bit down hill lately

eve

 

[bubblefactory]

Originally posted by Sue F UK

and pushed instead for compensation.

Sue ,

We claimed compensation off our travel insurance - these vouchers were in addition to this.

I agree that Virgin appear as usual to interpret things a different way with each person you speak to. When we were delayed the second time (Edie's flight ) and were given our second 50% off voucher I phoned VA from the USA to clarify our position . It was this person who said because of the two delays we could combine our vouchers to 100% off but then added the bit about valid only in the class of travel . When I phoned to claim our flights a few weeks later this is how our fare was calculated.

I cannot understand why they will not let you pay the difference and hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction ASAP. Try a letter to RB himself - you never know.

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for all the advice & support guys.

Bubblefactory, our travel insurance would only cover us for compensation for delays on the outbound flight. Return is, according to them, the responsibility of the airline. Classic passing the buck. We are still awaiting Virgins response to our claim for extra car hire etc - they promised a response within 28 days (on the 1st March!!)

We tried getting in touch with RB but Virgin have obviously got wise to this strategy as they would only give his address as C/O the Customer Services Office at Virgin HO.

Edie, We would indeed have been better off with two half price vouchers - we should have known that Virgin were not stupid enough to give an entire planefull of passengers free flights without there being something of a catch!

However, I am not convinced at the legailty of claiming restrictions based on Terms & Conditions unless these T&C's were put in writing in the initial offer i.e 'free flights offered subject to terms & conditions' (there was nothing mentioned at all on our 'free flights' letters) and we are thinking of it up with our solicitors if we do not get a satisfactory response from Virgin soon. Do we have any legal eagles on the Dis who may be able to advise on this?

I will keep you all updated.

 

[Pootle]

Ah well, Sue's replies have answered the question I've asked myself since "I wonder did the offer come with any strings attached?" Now I know!

Also, it didn't make any sense why they would not just offer upgrades on the next flight (I believe they were offering them for sale at £300 pp on the day) When a few days earlier I asked Virgin by phone if it was possible to buy upgrades to PE I was told they were available at a cost of $900 pp.

I was not happy when the insurance company told us they had booked us on a Virgin flight and I was actually considering the upgrade - whereas DH was turning puce at the thought of paying that much.

The compromise was if we got the exit seats I would stay and if not, my credit card was ready for action. You know the rest.

Good luck Sue - 48 hours is some delay.

 

[Sue F UK]

Result!!

Had a phone call from Virgin this afternoon and, after some discussion they have agreed to exchange our 'free flight' offer for discount vouchers. The vouchers give us a £400 discount off the cost of any future flight, regardless of the class of seat. This doesn't cover the full cost of flights it does give us a lot more flexibility and we don't have to phone 11 months in advance for a flight!

They have also refunded our car hire expenses while we were delayed.

All in all I was happy that they had made an effort to sort out our problems and that they phoned to sort things out instead of just fobbing us off with a letter.

 

[Pootle]

Glad you got it sorted out to your satisfaction after all the hassle.

 

[Mickey_UK]

We have just returned having been with US Airways...the return flight from philly was overbooked so we volunteer to take the same flight the next day....the deal was $400 cash each..overnight accom..vouchers for dinner, breakfast and lunch and I talked them into a business class upgrade as well,we checked in at the envoy desk the next day and went direct to the envoy lounge where food and drink were available at no cost, we boarded first, in row 2 and had a great flight. We also took advantage of the extra day with a tour of Philly