cooling off period

Am I right that you can cancel any flight booking without penalty within 24 hours even if the fare code is a non changeable/no refundable code? - i.e. a cooling off period. I am sure when I have booked over the phone previously I have been told this.

I want to get some seats booked before the USA sale ends but am not fully sure whether we can take the time off yet!

Thanks

[preiffer]

The "cooling off period" is a specific application of the Distance Selling regulations, which do not apply to:

Food, drink or other goods for everyday consumption "delivered by regular rounds men" (such as milk)

Accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services to be provided on a specific date or within a specified period (such as airline tickets, hotel bookings or concert tickets)

There may be some other rules around e-commerce (but I can't think of any that apply here, as long as the contract can be "completed" online). I know United allow the 24 hour rule - I don't, however, believe Virgin allow such leniency.

For reference, here is all you need on Distance Selling

[mitchja]

I think with VS you have upto the point when your e-ticket is issued to cancel without any penalty, although I'm not 100% sure. Although I do seem to remember reading something about a 24 hr cooling off period as well.

Regards

[preiffer]

Actually, that's a good point James. I've "intercepted" a ticket before, which was non-changeable, before the e-ticket was issued (successfully). That was to make a change to it, however, not a cancellation.

In either case, legally I don't believe VS have to help (unless the e-ticket issuing is viewed as the "completion" of the contract online) [?]

[honey lamb]

The last time I booked I was told I had 24 hours in which to make any changes and on another occasion when I had booked a Z fare I noticed they had the outbound date wrong. I managed to get it changed within that period