Virgin Atlantic Denied Boarding Compensation

Virgin Atlantic overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.

In which situations are you entitled to flight overbooking compensation? What are the rules?

Flight overbooking – it’s very common. To ensure that there are no empty seats at take off, airlines often sell more tickets than there are seats. So that if there’s a no-show, the plane is not half-empty. But what happens if everyone shows up? Someone has to be denied boarding due to overbooking. If that happens, the airline is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.

There are two ways you can claim this compensation.

1. Virgin Atlantic Overbooking Compensation: UK / EU Denied Boarding Regulations

Have you been denied boarding by Virgin Atlantic?

What are your rights in the even of denied boarding? Are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from Virgin Atlantic? In which cases you are not entitled to it? When it comes to flight overbookings and denied boarding, the rules are very simple — if you have been denied boarding involuntarily, you have a right to compensation.

If you’re flying to or from Europe with Virgin Atlantic, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you are entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600. If you are flying from, to or within the UK with Virgin Atlantic, and you are denied boarding due to airline overbooking— you will entitled to the UK denied boarding compensation up to £520.

This only applies to overbookings.

The UK and EU flight compensation laws only cover situations when you are denied boarding due to overbooking. You won’t be entitled to compensation if you are denied boarding due to visa or passport issues. Also, you won’t get compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat.

Read more: 

• Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; 
• Regulation UK261

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 Voluntary Denied Boarding

What is voluntary denied boarding?

Yes, there are different types of denied boarding. 

First of all, what is overbooking? In short, overbooking is when an airline accepts more bookings for a particular flight than there are seats. Airline simply sells more tickets than there are seats in hope that not everyone will come. But what happens if everyone (or most) shows up?

If this happens, the airline has to refuse boarding to some passengers. At first, the airline looks for volunteers. You may be asked to give up your seat in exchange for a new flight and instant compensation in the form of vouchers or cash. If you accept this offer, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.

In this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation from Virgin Atlantic.

You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.

1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding

There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.

There are not enough volunteers, or there aren’t any free seats left. In a situation like this, people will be bumped from the plane involuntarily. Has it happened to you? It is called involuntarily denied boarding, and you are eligible for compensation.

What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?

• The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund for the flight;
• In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
• You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger. 

* 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 you have to wait overnight, Virgin Atlantic must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.

1.3 Right to Care

All passengers travelling with Virgin Atlantic have a right to care.

If you are stuck at the airport waiting for a new flight, you have a right to receive care. In case of Virgin Atlantic, the EU/UK Flight Compensation Regulations apply to most of its flights to and from the EU and the UK. For example, if you are denied boarding, or if it’s a last-minute cancellation or a long delay, and you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to receive care from Virgin Atlantic.

It applies to all situations when you have to wait for 3 or more hours extra. Including flight disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances.

What does it mean for you as a passenger?

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 the delay is overnight, Virgin Atlantic has to provide you with a free hotel stay and free transfer. Agreeing to these free services doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.

2. How to Claim Virgin Atlantic Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?

You can claim compensation yourself.

The other option is to work with professionals.

Claiming compensation from Virgin Atlantic yourself. Contact Virgin Atlantic customer support center using the contact form on their website. Request compensation for denied boarding Virgin Atlantic owes you. Refer to the above mentioned regulations: (EC) No 261/2004 or the UK Regulation 261. Keep in mind that it may take months until you receive the denied boarding compensation from Virgin Atlantic.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

Register your Virgin Atlantic compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. Fill in one form. It will only take minutes. The rest will be done by the professionals. You don’t have to communicate with the airline.

Our partners can help you claim compensation. Details below.

Read more: Virgin Atlantic Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

It depends on a number of factors.

Like, what country you were flying from? Time of the year? 

If everything goes well, the process takes about 2-3 months. 

But quite often airlines are not cooperative and refuse to pay compensation. If this happens, the case has to be taken to a national enforcement body or court. It adds extra months to the process. If you are claiming compensation on your own, you might be confused as to what to do about it. It could take time until you figure it out. So that’s why many choose to work with flight compensation companies. If you work with professionals, you don’t have to worry about your claim. As everything is done for you.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

In the EU and the UK compensation amounts are fixed.

In most situations they range from €250 to €600.

Here is how you can calculate Virgin Atlantic compensation yourself:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

Don’t agree to anything less! Virgin Atlantic might offer you a smaller amount. But it’s against the law. Request the right amount.

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).

3.1 Virgin Atlantic Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?

According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

However, airlines do not always obey the law. Airlines take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge and often offer vouchers as compensation.

Virgin Atlantic, just like most airlines, may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Request a bank transfer instead. Because all airline compensations and refunds in the EU/UK have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

Virgin Atlantic Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ

Denied Boarding Because of Visa/Passport

EU – Non-EU Flights, Regulation UK261, Tourists

Other Situations

Have you ever received Virgin Atlantic overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Virgin Atlantic compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.