For those flying with Virgin... why...

[flortlebap]

...have they cancelled so many flights in September? What's going on? Is it due to the added security? Have any of you been affected by it, and what are the repercussions for those of us flying on these planes??

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/latestnews/index.jsp

 

[Miffy2003]

I have a feeling they did this last year too?

It is sometimes because they have not sold enough seats on each plane so can accommodate all the passengers on less planes. Say they were flying 3 from Gatwick daily, they might have found they could fit all the passengers on just 2 planes (which clearly is much cheaper for them to operate).

I wouldn't worry about it, it will just mean you are flying at a slightly different time

 

[Lindy Loo]

We were on one of the canceled flights on 7th Oct, when I asked why it was canceled I was told Virgin hadnt sold enough seats to justify flying 3/4 filled planes. Now since the terrorist threats, they seem to have canceled more, I guess to respond to drops in holiday makers going to the US?
We just fly out an hour and a hlaf earlier.... come back earlier too ( yuck )

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

They have to initially schedule aircraft in slots to keep those slots.
By cancelling the flights during the low season, it means they can keep the slots in High season.

It also means that they have spare aircraft to take up gaps for aircraft to be serviced/the new PE seats to be fitted etc..


But yes, no airline if they can help it will run two half filled aircraft to the same destination when they can run one.

 

[fulles]

We were on one of the canceled flights on 7th Oct

Do you mean this year? If so, how do you know it has been cancelled as the website only goes up to 29th Sept?

We are scheduled on this flight on 19th October. If we have to go on the earlier flight, this would mean being at the airport by 7:30 (instead of 10:30 for the 13:30 flight). I would consider an overnight stay at Manchester airport if this was the case.

Steve

 

[Jules224]

We fly in January 2007 and have had a letter from Virgin dated 17 july 06 saying they have found it necessary to cancel the VS027/VS028 from January 15th through to the 31 January, so we are now on the VS015/VS016 instead. i think the difference is we fly out 1 1/2 hours later and more or less the same on the way back, i guess if you haven't heard from them then your flight time hasn't changed.

 

[gismo1554]

Yeah it is just due to not selling enough seats. Virgin look at previous years figures and compare them for the year to decide whether its worth doing. I also think that in Jan 2007 Virgin are upgrading some of their planes so this may be why its going down to 1 flight. At this time of year there is usually 3 flights to Orlando from Gatwick and rumours are from next year they wont even be scheduling the 3 as they never have enough for all 3

 

[Laurafoster]

We have had our flights cancelled once or twice - but they always advise us quite a way in advance by post!

 

[gavvy]

Do you mean this year? If so, how do you know it has been cancelled as the website only goes up to 29th Sept?

We are scheduled on this flight on 19th October. If we have to go on the earlier flight, this would mean being at the airport by 7:30 (instead of 10:30 for the 13:30 flight). I would consider an overnight stay at Manchester airport if this was the case.

Steve

I hope not as I am flying VS on 7 oct this year and have not been told anything- also PE is almost full on both flights so I doubt it will be canclled.

 

[gavvy]

Just read VS site and its Manchesters flights im going from Gatwick- that will teach me to jump before reading