Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellation Compensation

Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation refund.

Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation. Do you know the difference? What applies to you? Are there situations when you can receive both? In this guide, we will give answers to these questions, and more. But in short — if a flight is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may get both – flight cancellation refund from Virgin Atlantic and compensation of up to €600.

In case of Virgin, it applies to flights to and from the EU, and the UK.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled?

What are you entitled to? Will you be given a new ticket for free? Can you get a full refund instead? What about flight cancellation compensation?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation?

Yes. But the flight has to meet the following conditions:

• Flight must be cancelled due to the fault of Virgin Atlantic; 
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (max. 2 weeks before departure);
• Flight must be to/from the EU or UK.

Virgin Atlantic is a British full-service airline. Even though it is not considered a EU airline anymore (due to Brexit), you are still protected as a passenger on Virgin Atlantic flights. This is because passengers in the UK are protected. After Brexit, a new regulation has been introduced — Regulation UK261 which is very similar to EU Regulation 261 2004. It protects passenger rights in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellation and flight delay.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disaster, national strike, terrorism threat or civil unrest, you can’t get flight cancellation compensation. All of these are extraordinary circumstances. 

What about strikes? Keep in mind that there are two types of strikes. Airline staff strikes and others. Airline staff strikes are considered airline’s fault. At the same time, all the other strikes are considered extraordinary circumstances. You can’t get compensation from Virgin Atlantic if your flight was cancelled because of, for example, a planned airport staff strike.

1.2 Double Check What You Are Told

And, make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling the truth. 

You see, airlines lose a lot of money when they pay compensation to all affected passengers. Of course, airlines try to avoid paying compensation when it’s possible. So that they don’t lose that much money. Airlines often refuse compensation claims just because of that. It’s very common for airlines to say the flight was cancelled due to “extraordinary circumstances”. Even if it wasn’t. How to avoid improper refusal? Work with a flight compensation company. Our partners offer such services.

Just fill in a claim form, and our partners will check your flight on your behalf.

1.3 Right to Care

Your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case you have a right to receive care from the airline.

Thanks to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and the UK Regulation UK261, all passengers in the EU and the UK have a right to care. If you have a last-minute cancellation, and you have to spend 3+ hours at the airport waiting for your new flight, you have a right to receive care from the airline. What does it mean for you?

Virgin Atlantic must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

2. Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellation Refund, Virgin Atlantic Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

According to the EU/UK regulations, in the event of flight cancellation, you have to be given a choice between a new flight and a full refund. It has to free of charge, and it must not be affected by Virgin Atlantic internal policies (Virgin Atlantic refund policy). The reason for flight cancellation doesn’t matter in this case.

If you choose a refund, it has to be paid within 7 days (to your bank account).

You don’t have to agree to a Virgin Atlantic voucher refund.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

What about Regulation UK261? Regarding this, it is identical to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. It says the same things and gives you the same rights in case of flight cancellations.

These regulations don’t cover cases when you yourself cancel Virgin Atlantic flight.

3. How to Claim Virgin Atlantic Compensation?

There are two ways how you can claim Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact Virgin Atlantic directly. Contact Virgin Atlantic customer support center using the contact form on their website. Request compensation for flight delay. Refer to the European flight compensation regulations. Include all the details about your flight, including the delay time and the reason for delay. 

Be prepared that it may take months, and, possibly, several reminder emails, until you receive compensation. Also your compensation claim might be improperly refused, or the airline might not reply you at all.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

All you have to do is to fill in one form. You register your Virgin Atlantic compensation claim once, and the rest is done by the legal company. 

Our partners offer such services. See details below.

3.1 How Long Does It Take?

If everything goes well — 2 to 3 months.

2 to 3 months from the moment you file a compensation claim until your Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation is transferred in your bank account. In some situations, however, it might take longer, especially if your case has to be taken to a national enforcement body or even court.

3.2 Which Regulation Applies to Your Flight?

When submitting a Virgin Atlantic flight compensation claim refer to either Regulation UK261 or Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. If your flight departed from the UK or it was within the UK, refer to the Regulation UK261. If your flight departed from the EU or was within the EU, refer to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Sometimes both regulations apply, and you can refer to any.

See the table below, for all the possible scenarios.

Your flight is with a UK airline (for example, Virgin Atlantic):

	Regulation UK261	Regulation EC261/2004
EU – EU	✓	✓
EU – UK	✓	✓
EU – Third Country	✓	✓
UK – EU	✓	–
UK – UK	✓	–
UK – Third Country	✓	–
Third Country – EU	✓	–
Third Country – UK	✓	–

Your flight is with a EU airline:

	Regulation UK261	Regulation EC261/2004
EU – EU	–	✓
EU – UK	✓	✓
EU – Third Country	–	✓
UK – EU	✓	✓
UK – UK	✓	–
UK – Third Country	✓	–
Third Country – EU	–	✓
Third Country – UK	✓	–

Your flight is with other airline (non-EU, non-UK):

	Regulation UK261	Regulation EC261/2004
EU – EU	–	✓
EU – UK	–	✓
EU – Third Country	–	✓
UK – EU	✓	–
UK – UK	✓	–
UK – Third Country	✓	–
Third Country – EU	–	–
Third Country – UK	–	–

4. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in the EU/UK go up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Virgin Atlantic compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

4.1 Virgin Atlantic Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a voucher instead of compensation?

Many airlines were doing it during the COVID pandemic, and many still do that. The question is — do you have to accept vouchers instead of compensation? No. According to the EU/UK laws, compensations and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. You don’t have to accept Virgin Atlantic compensation voucher.

You can say no. You don’t have to accept it. Airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. It applies to both EU and UK flights.

5. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from Virgin Atlantic. 

Are you already at the airport? Is it a last-minute cancellation? What you should do? Wait for the announcement from the airline and follow your Virgin Atlantic flight information. Stay at the public access area of the airport. There’s no need to go through security. There will be a new flight, and you will need to check in for that flight. You can’t check in for a flight if you have gone through security.

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and a  full refund. If you choose the refund, it has to be paid within 7 days. 

In some situations, you can be entitled to both — a refund and compensation. If it was a last-minute cancellation (less than 2 weeks before departure), and it was due to the fault of the airline, you might be entitled to Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation.

Do you need to be on time for another flight? If it’s a Virgin Atlantic connecting flight, don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, Virgin Atlantic will book you on another flight free of charge. 

But if it’s a self transfer, the airline is not responsible for missed connections. You will have to book a new flight yourself.

Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Virgin Atlantic Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Regulation UK261, Tourists

Other Situations

Has your flight ever been cancelled? Did you receive Virgin Atlantic flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Virgin Atlantic compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.