VS040 Cancellation

I received a message from VS telling me that my return flight from Chicago on 14th April 2009 has been cancelled and we're now on the next flight 24 hours later. Having just spent 30 mins on hold I've given up trying to contact the call centre so I'll ask the questions here in anticipation of a more rapid response..

1. Anyone know why this is - particularly so far in advance ?

2. Given that this means an extra 24 hrs in Chicago (no problem there) with attendant accommodation costs (now that hurts my northern soul) is this something that is likely to be be covered by travel insurance - or will the argument be that it is so far in advance that (a) I could make alternative arrangements and (b) if I bought non flexible tickets, well, caveat emptor...

Thanks

Paul

[Nottingham Nick]

Hmm.. VS did have a list of cancelled flights on their website, but I can't find it now. It appears to have been replaced, with a bland holding statement A small number of flights on certain dates will not be operating due to lower, out of season demand. [n][V]

Your rights are explained here, but that just seems to talk of compensation for flights cancelled < two weeks before departure. It does seem however that you could cancel completely and seek an alternative carrier without penalty.

Nick

Or you could ask VS to move your departure a day later at no charge ... unless this upsets other plans?

I think VS should offer a more easy way of communicating in your situation - such as a dedicated telephone number other than the normal FC line, which, if you don't qualify for premier service, seems to take forever to be answered.

Thanks for the replies. I finally got through using the FC route and they were as helpful as i guess they could be offering to shift the departure date or allowing me a full refund. In the end I bit the bullet and just extended the stay, though due to the Hilton points/ chosen hotel combination it meant I had to change hotel. Ah well, worse things happen at sea.

It may be indicative of the loadings that when I checked the seat allocation we had exactly the same seats on the rearranged flight as we did on the original.

Paul

[Nottingham Nick]

mitchja is in his way to Chicago right now. No doubt he will give us an indication of the load when he gets there, but I don't think they have been great lately.

Nick

I was booked on the VS39 to Chicago on March 31st, but when I logged on to 'Amend Booking' it had changed to April 1st. I called and managed to get it changed to the day before instead. The guy at Flying Club said that the flight had not been cancelled but 'delayed' and that 2 flights will be departing on April 1st.

Perhaps this is something like planned maintenance?