Virgin Holidays - Delayed Flight

DustyMiller · 26 Jul 2018 at 23:01

After some advice here:

A few weeks ago we had a holiday, with Virgin Holidays - A flight & Hotel package. WE checked in online, got to the airport and were bumped of the flight as it had an issue and was swapped for a smaller craft. Att the airport Virgin Holidays said deal with Virgin Atlantic, as its there issue.

So long story short, we got the standard eu compensation from Virgin Atlantic, of 600 Euro's each. but missed a day of the 14 night holiday which was bought and paid for - Sort of. I managed to get Virgin Atlantic to move our return flight by 24hrs, but Virgin Holidays stead fast refuse to pay for the extra nights stay, which wasn't really an extra night, more like returning my holiday to 14 nights.

Virgin Holidays, the firm my contract is with are just shrugging their shoulders and saying speak to Virgin Atlantic, or claim on your holiday insurance.

Where do I stand, as far as I am concerned Virgin Holidays have not supplied what I paid them to supply, and the issue with the flight is with their supplier not mine. I'd rather not claim on holiday insurance for one night, as the Excess will eat up a third of the nights stay.

Any Thoughts ??

booyaka · 26 Jul 2018 at 23:30

You've already got compensation - and your looking for more??

How many people got the 600 euros each? Surely that covered the cost of the additional day that you "paid" for.

Raymond Lin · 26 Jul 2018 at 23:43

If you got the same number of days and you are not out of pocket, move on.

Compensation is to compensate of what you have lost, it is not a tool to gain MORE than what you have lost. One can argue the days lost is priceless, however since you haven't lost any days as it was moved back a day and you got 600 euros each….was the hotel more than 1200 euros a night?

DustyMiller · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:34

The compensation received was from Virgin Atlantic, and all those that were denied boarding got the same regardless of whether they were on a package holiday with Virgin Holidays or just a flight with Virgin Atlantic. It was the standard EU mandated compensation for being kicked off the flight. From my point of view. I paid Virgin Holidays for a 14 night stay, and due to their (or their suppliers issue) I only received from them a 13 night stay, as I had to pay for the 14th night.

VincentHanna · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:41

But as long as you paid less than 1200 euros (I assume two of you) then you are in profit anyway.

FortuitousFluke · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:43

DustyMiller said:
The compensation received was from Virgin Atlantic, and all those that were denied boarding got the same regardless of whether they were on a package holiday with Virgin Holidays or just a flight with Virgin Atlantic. It was the standard EU mandated compensation for being kicked off the flight. From my point of view. I paid Virgin Holidays for a 14 night stay, and due to their (or their suppliers issue) I only received from them a 13 night stay, as I had to pay for the 14th night.

You had a delay, this delay led to some inconvenience and loss on your part. You were compensated for this, you are no longer out of pocket. Just because the compensation is eu mandated doesn't mean you deserve extra, the compensation is there to cover inconvenience and additional cost, like having to pay for an extra night at a hotel. Tbh if virgin switched your flight home for free they've already done more than they needed to.

weringo · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:43

DustyMiller said:
The compensation received was from Virgin Atlantic, and all those that were denied boarding got the same regardless of whether they were on a package holiday with Virgin Holidays or just a flight with Virgin Atlantic. It was the standard EU mandated compensation for being kicked off the flight. From my point of view. I paid Virgin Holidays for a 14 night stay, and due to their (or their suppliers issue) I only received from them a 13 night stay, as I had to pay for the 14th night.

Virgin Holidays are just the agent, the supplier (Virgin Atlantic) has let you down and compensated you accordingly. I am not sure why you feel you should be compensated by both parties. You seem to be under the impression that the EU fixed compensation isn't really compensation because its statutory, but the whole point of the EU compensation is to cover costs such as this.

Gixer · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:45

The issue here is with Virgin Atlantic not getting you there on time. You got compensation from them to cover and losses, like a night of your holiday, extra hotel expenses etc. So that is the end of it as far as I see. It isn't Virgin Holiday's fault you arrived late or decided to stay an extra night. Look at it this way that your flight was with Virgin Atlantic but you were staying in a hotel all arranged by yourself, you wouldn't be asking yourself for compensation just because Virgin Atlantic didn't get you there on time would you?

I can understand your frustration but you have to separate the two companies. If you really think like you're still out of pocket then you'll have to go through your travel insurance as stated.

Maundie · 27 Jul 2018 at 07:45

You will still have had the hotel booked for 14 nights but only used it for 13, you got 1200 euros compensation which is probably a lot more than the 1 night in the hotel cost but hey this is 2018 and you are entitled aren't you?

MrRockliffe · 27 Jul 2018 at 08:06

I would say that you were compensated to a high enough level - I don't think it would be fair to expect anymore to be done by Virgin (either party)

FortuitousFluke · 27 Jul 2018 at 08:16

In most circumstances you'd be right and you'd expect the company who you contracted, Virgin Holidays, to compensate you and then clain m from Virgin Atlantic. What the EU regs allow is the cutting out of the middle man by requiring VA to compensate quickly and directly. Just because the money didn't come from your package holiday maker doesn't mean you haven't been appropriately compensated.

VincentHanna · 27 Jul 2018 at 08:18

No roaming charges and generous standard compensation for delays? Bah, what's the EU ever done for us.

wesley · 27 Jul 2018 at 08:22

are you american?

Diddums · 27 Jul 2018 at 08:25

They should probably offer you a few virgins for your immeasurable pain and suffering tbh. It's the least they could do.

Em3bbs · 27 Jul 2018 at 09:43

VincentHanna said:
No roaming charges and generous standard compensation for delays? Bah, what's the EU ever done for us.

Wrong thread.

With regards to the OP/actual topic, what do you think the compensation you got paid is for?

dowie · 27 Jul 2018 at 09:53

booyaka said:
You've already got compensation - and your looking for more??

How many people got the 600 euros each? Surely that covered the cost of the additional day that you "paid" for.

that's not the point really, that was compensation for the flight, I don't think it is unreasonable for the package holiday company to make it right re: the hotel.

i.e. he paid for a 14 day holiday, they deliver a 14 day holiday albeit a day late + he gets the 600 compensation for the delayed flight, delivering him a 13 day holiday and making him pay extra for the 14th day in the hotel when he originally paid for a 14 day holiday seems a bit unreasonable

whether or not he has a leg to stand on re: some sort of ombudsman etc.. is another matter but I can see the principle at least, the 600 for the delayed flight is irrelevant re: the hotel etc..

DustyMiller · 27 Jul 2018 at 09:58

Phew, i thought my logic was wrong with the amount of replies i got.

Everyone that was denied boarding on the day (18 of us) got the same EU mandated compensation for not being able to fly. That's all virgin atlantic have compensated us for, the lack of flying as planned.

Regardless of whether i had a flight or flight & hotel the compensation from VA is the same.

booyaka · 27 Jul 2018 at 10:02

Loves Love Island said:
that's not the point really, that was compensation for the flight, I don't think it is unreasonable for the package holiday company to make it right re: the hotel.

i.e. he paid for a 14 day holiday, they deliver a 14 day holiday albeit a day late + he gets the 600 compensation for the delayed flight, delivering him a 13 day holiday and making him pay extra for the 14th day in the hotel when he originally paid for a 14 day holiday seems a bit unreasonable

whether or not he has a leg to stand on re: some sort of ombudsman etc.. is another matter but I can see the principle at least, the 600 for the delayed flight is irrelevant re: the hotel etc..

But he got 600 per person already - so as other say unless he's paid more than that for the 14th night, how can the OP claim to be out of pocket overall?? You can't claim for something that you aren't owed regardless of who has already paid/compensated you.

You go to court when you are "out of pocket" or when you are owed a debt.....you can't really expect to claim in court when you are already in "profit"

OP - can you answer - how many people in your party got the 600 euros? (2 /4 of you?) - And how much did you pay for the 14th night at the hotel?

Kenai · 27 Jul 2018 at 10:04

FortuitousFluke said:
, the compensation is there to cover inconvenience and additional cost, like having to pay for an extra night at a hotel.

My understanding was that the EU implemented it expressly as compensation for inconvenience only and NOT with expectation that additional costs incurred are covered by the standard amount. These additional costs should be pursued separately and the OP is correct in his attempts to recover the cost incurred to actually have a 14 day vacation.

GravyMonster · 27 Jul 2018 at 10:05

DustyMiller said:
Phew, i thought my logic was wrong with the amount of replies i got.

It is, you just managed to find one person as wrong as you