24 hour delay. Any chance of compensation!

Was due to fly on 6th April from LGW to MCO at 12.45pm. Was told at Virgin check in that the flight was delayed to 18.45 due to techincal problem with the aircraft. They gave us a meal voucher and a standard letter that said we would get 10,000 air miles. Anyway, it was a very long day. Every flight was delayed or cancelled due to the snow, so the departures lounge was heaving. At 17.30 the flight was delayed again till 19.45. Then at 19.00 the flight was cancelled. You can imagine the scuffles at the service desk when this was announced!!! We had to do go through security in groups of 20 pick up our luggage then go back to Virgin check in. Most elected to stay over night in a Brighton Hotel (no hot food provided). I decided to go home and return the next day at 8.30am. Where we would have to check in again for a special flight at 12.00pm. We got another letter saying due to the weather the flight was cancelled, we could not claim compensation because it was the weather and not Virgin's fault, but yesterday they stated it was a technical problem with the aircraft. But as a gesture of goodwill they would give us 25,000 airmiles instead of 10,000. Rearly makes up for the days lost holiday and the expensive cab fare. Does anyone think I should pursue it further and ask for some sort of refund or except the air miles and bite my tongue!!!

Thanks for advice

I was on that flight. Horrific. The whole crew were going to Vegas and swapped to the Orlando because of the flight delays. As far as I was aware it was a weather issue, but they may have just told the crew that for their own reasons. We all spent the night in Gatwick (after sitting on the plane for hours) and then took the 24 hour delayed flight to Orlando. We were def. expecting the worst from the passengers. Their holidays had been disrupted and we did not expect them to like us too much. Big thumbs up to you and the rest of the passengers. We were all expecting the worst but you were all very lovely to the crew. I was working on the Upper Deck.

Originally posted by jabba2008
Was due to fly on 6th April from LGW to MCO at 12.45pm. Was told at Virgin check in that the flight was delayed to 18.45 due to techincal problem with the aircraft. They gave us a meal voucher and a standard letter that said we would get 10,000 air miles. Anyway, it was a very long day. Every flight was delayed or cancelled due to the snow, so the departures lounge was heaving. At 17.30 the flight was delayed again till 19.45. Then at 19.00 the flight was cancelled. You can imagine the scuffles at the service desk when this was announced!!! We had to do go through security in groups of 20 pick up our luggage then go back to Virgin check in. Most elected to stay over night in a Brighton Hotel (no hot food provided). I decided to go home and return the next day at 8.30am. Where we would have to check in again for a special flight at 12.00pm. We got another letter saying due to the weather the flight was cancelled, we could not claim compensation because it was the weather and not Virgin's fault, but yesterday they stated it was a technical problem with the aircraft. But as a gesture of goodwill they would give us 25,000 airmiles instead of 10,000. Rearly makes up for the days lost holiday and the expensive cab fare. Does anyone think I should pursue it further and ask for some sort of refund or except the air miles and bite my tongue!!!

Thanks for advice

Well if it was a weather delay you might struggle ... Even your travel insurance won't cover that. On that score what does it say about delayed departure caused by a technical fault in your policy?

If it was a tech delay then there are EU rules that address that issue.

In all honesty 25,000 FC miles is probably going to be enough to get you a single redemption fare to Orlando or any of the Eastern US cities with the redemption offers that have been round recently. 33,000 will get you a return trip. You would have to pay taxes though.

Also they've also offered you a hotel overnight.

I know how you feel but some might say that Virgin have already done quite a bit!

Technical issues happen, and weather is unavoidable. As annoying as that can be (and I have had my share of experiences) it sounds to me as though everything possible was done to limit the pain. Based on the details you provided I wouldn't have any complaint, but I definitely understand your frustration.

i agree that 25000 miles and overnight accommodation is not bad, but obviously doesn't make for the frustration of it all. In terms of the taxi, I am sure that their arguement would be that they offered hotel accommodation with travel and therefore they wouldn't cover that one.

[Neil]

We had a flight cancelled last year and the mileage reward offered was on the same basis we got, and we didn't even get overnight accommodation. I think you would be wasting your time trying to get anything extra from Virgin, although are you not able to claim on your holiday/travel insurance?

I got stuck in NYC in Feb 2006 when they had a massive snowfall. My flight was cancled for 48 hours resulting in me having to book 2 extra nights in a hotel.

I made a claim in my travel insurance for the delay, virgin offered me nothing at all apart from the offer to rebook me on a new flight.

As Harsh as it is I Think they have offered more than they normally do so count yourself lucky!