Downgrade Compensation

Link to original topic.


Folks who've read my recent trip report where my flight was cancelled & I was moved onto a later one, downgraded from J to Y, and arrived 4 hrs late might be interested in the outcome of my discussions with Virgin.

I requested 45k miles and retention of my gold status for another year (I roll off in Dec).
Virgin offered 90k miles but no gold retention. This struck me as a very reasonable offer (given the choice of gold or 45k miles I'd have taken the miles anyway!). I thought it was interesting how much Virgin want to 'protect' the gold status, such that they'd much rather offer a big chunk of miles. I personally value miles at about £10/1000 (ie £500 for 50k miles), implying gold is 'worth' about £450, which is more than I'd pay for it.

So everyone's happy. Its worth bearing in mind that I was on an ultra-discounted ticket (great escapade, which on a per-mile basis costs c. £1000 return to NY in Upper).

It did take virgin a little time to sort it out (2.5weeks) but the outcome is a good one.

And finally, a thanks for all the info on here - it was useful to see what other people had requested/been given in terms of compensation.


Edit by mod to add link to original thread..... Nick

[Nottingham Nick]

Glad you are happy with the outcome, Dave.

I have added the link to the original thread so that readers can understand the background to your problem.

Nick

[rant]
(Give the amenity rants a rest, GJ!)
First, let me browbeat GJ with an old tattered Air France bag, followed by a Qantas, a plethora of OB bags, a pile of United and American bags, and at least one Delta. You want amenity kits, GJ? Here! Have some of mine!!! You might note the pre-J2000s in the second downpour of amenity rain, but by now you are unable to function... I hope... [}:)])
[rant off]

I must say this is much more than I'd hoped you'd get offered, from all the recent comments about reduced offers of compensation. I wondered from the start if they'd even try to figure out a monetary renumeration - highly unlikely in this case due to the RTW fare. If it had been a question of one point for gold, maybe, but highly unlikely, IMHO.

But 90k miles? Of course you nabbed that. I would have nabbed that too.

Good on you! Good job, VS, for doing the right thing here (doubling the requested compensation). I only hope all of the v-flyers who have letters in the pipe have such a favorable outcome.

[y]