Virgin Atlantic package holidays offer the convenience of booking flights and accommodation together, but when a flight is delayed or cancelled, many travellers are unsure about their rights. Confusion often arises over whether UK261/EU261 flight compensation rules apply to package holidays, or if responsibility lies solely with the tour operator.
In this article, we explain how UK261 and EU261 apply to Virgin Atlantic package holidays, what you may be entitled to claim, and who you should submit your claim to.
Check your compensation online.
What Is a Virgin Atlantic Package Holiday?
A Virgin Atlantic package holiday is defined as a trip that combines at least two different travel services into a single booking for the same holiday or journey. These services typically include flights, accommodation, car hire, or other tourist services such as airport transfers or excursions.
A trip qualifies as a package holiday when:
- Two or more travel services are booked together at the same time from one provider (for example, a Virgin Atlantic flight and hotel booked as one deal)
- The services are sold or advertised for a single, total price
- The trip lasts more than 24 hours or includes an overnight stay
For example, booking a Virgin Atlantic flight and hotel together as part of a Virgin Atlantic Holidays deal clearly meets the definition of a package holiday.
What does not count as a Virgin Atlantic package holiday:
- Booking a flight only
- Booking accommodation only, with no transport included
- Booking a flight and hotel separately on different websites or at different times
- Making independent travel arrangements without a single contract covering multiple services
Do UK261 and EU261 Apply to Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays?
Yes — UK261 and EU261 passenger rights do apply to Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays.
Even though your trip is sold as a package by a tour operator, the flight itself remains protected under flight compensation regulations. If your package holiday flight is delayed, cancelled, or you are denied boarding due to the airline’s responsibility, you may still be entitled to compensation, a refund, rebooking, and the right to care under UK261 or EU261, depending on the flight disruption type.
We explain how this works in more detail below.
Read more:
- Virgin Atlantic Flight Delay Compensation
- Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellation Compensation
- Virgin Atlantic Denied Boarding Compensation
Disrupted Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays: Your Rights Under Package Travel Regulations
Regulation UK261 and Regulation EU261 apply specifically to flight-related disruptions, such as delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. The Package Travel Regulations, meanwhile, protect your entire holiday, including accommodation, transfers, and any additional services included in your package booking.
For example, if your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled, UK261 or EU261 may entitle you to flight compensation, a refund, or rebooking. At the same time, package travel laws may give you additional rights, such as alternative accommodation, a full holiday refund, or further assistance from the tour operator.
Much of the confusion arises because airlines and tour operators have separate legal responsibilities.
The airline (Virgin Atlantic) is responsible for flight delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and UK/EU flight compensation under UK261/EU261.
The tour operator (Virgin Atlantic Holidays) is responsible for the overall holiday package, including hotels, transfers, and arranging suitable alternatives if any part of your trip is disrupted.
Check your compensation online.
Your Rights When a Virgin Atlantic Flight Is Delayed, Cancelled, or Overbooked
If your package holiday flight is delayed, cancelled, or you are denied boarding, you are protected by UK261/EU261 flight compensation rules, in addition to your rights under the Package Travel Regulations.
If your flight arrives three hours or more late and the delay was caused by the airline (not extraordinary circumstances), you may be entitled to Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation. You are also entitled to the right to care, which includes meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required, and transport between the airport and the hotel.
If your package holiday flight is cancelled, you have the right to choose between a full refund and rebooking on an alternative flight. You may also be entitled to compensation if the cancellation was within the airline’s control and occurred at the last minute.
If you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you are similarly entitled to denied boarding compensation, care, and either re-routing to your destination or a refund.
In all of these situations, the airline is responsible for flight-related compensation and care, while the tour operator (such as Virgin Atlantic Holidays) remains responsible for the overall holiday arrangements. This includes accommodation, transfers, and organising suitable alternative travel when necessary.
Who Should You Claim From: The Airline or the Tour Operator?
One of the most common sources of confusion for Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays travellers is knowing whether to submit a claim to the airline or the tour operator.
The tour operator or holiday provider (such as Virgin Atlantic Holidays) is responsible for the overall holiday package. This includes accommodation, transfers, and arranging suitable alternatives if your trip is disrupted. You should contact the tour operator if you are seeking a full holiday refund, alternative accommodation, or replacement travel. A common mistake is claiming flight compensation from the tour operator instead of the airline, which often results in delays or rejected claims.
For flight-related issues — including delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and compensation under UK261/EU261 — claims must always be made directly to the airline operating the flight. These legal obligations rest with the carrier, not the tour operator.
If you prefer not to deal with the airline yourself, you can also choose to work with a flight compensation company to handle the claim on your behalf.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Extraordinary Circumstances and Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays & Virgin Flights
Extraordinary circumstances are events outside the airline’s control, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security issues, political unrest, or airport closures.
When a flight is disrupted due to extraordinary circumstances, the airline is not required to pay compensation under UK261 or EU261. However, this does not remove your other passenger rights.
Even in these situations, you are still entitled to the right to care, including meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation when necessary, and transport between the airport and hotel.
If your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled, you also have the right to a full refund or re-routing on an alternative flight. In addition, the tour operator remains responsible for accommodation and replacement travel under the Package Travel Regulations.
When your Virgin Atlantic Package Holidays flight is delayed, cancelled, or you are denied boarding, you are protected under UK261/EU261 flight compensation laws, in addition to the Package Travel Regulations.
Featured photo by Jess Loiterton from Pexels