Virgin Atlantic Flight Delay Compensation

Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

Not all travelers know that they are entitled to flight delay compensation if there’s a long delay due to the fault of the airline. In the EU/UK, all affected passengers can get this compensation. It doesn’t matter how much was the ticket, or whether or not you have an insurance. These are the laws in Europe, and airlines have to follow these laws. How to claim delay compensation?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Virgin Atlantic Flight Delay Compensation: EU / UK Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

As well as the UK flight delay compensation rules. The UK compensation regulation is based on its EU counterpart. So both of these regulations work in the same way. You are protected if you are flying with a EU/UK airline, and in some situations, the regulations also cover other airlines.

If you’re flying to or from Europe, your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Virgin Atlantic, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600. If you are flying Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines or any other non-EU/non-UK airline, the regulations apply only to flights departing from the EU.

Could you be entitled to Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation?

Yes, if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to the fault of Virgin Atlantic;
• Flight is to/from Europe.

Virgin Atlantic is a British full-service airline. Don’t forget that you are protected as a passenger in the UK, too. After Brexit, a new regulation has been introduced — Regulation UK261 which is very similar to EU Regulation 261 2004.

All the above mentioned rules apply to all Virgin Atlantic delays and cancellations.

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

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation.

Extraordinary circumstances are events which are considered out of airline’s control. Events like bad weather, national strikes, terrorism threat or airport security issues are considered extraordinary circumstances. In these situations you can’t get European flight delay compensation. 

What about strikes? When can you get Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation in the event of an airport strike? Some strikes are considered extraordinary circumstances, but some are not. Virgin Atlantic staff strikes are considered airline’s fault. At the same time, airport staff strikes — aren’t.

One more thing to remember is that not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. That’s why when in doubt, double check what you’re told.

This is done to avoid paying compensation. See, if airlines pay compensation to affected passengers, they lose a lot of money. A lot. And, of course, they will try to avoid it at all costs. Airlines often give wrong reasons for flight delays and cancellation. Airlines tell that flights have been delayed or cancelled due to “extraordinary circumstances”, even though they weren’t. That’s why we recommend you to work with a flight compensation company to avoid the hassle. To avoid communicating with the airline and potentially getting refused compensation even if you are entitled to it. 

Our partners can help you get compensation from Virgin Atlantic.

Just fill in a claim form and our partners will check if you are entitled to compensation.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Especially you have an airline-protected connecting flight. If you have two or more consecutive flights (under the same booking), calculate the delay at the final destination, not after each individual flight leg. Only the final destination matters. For example, your first flight was delayed for 2 hours, and you missed your connection, and you arrived at your destination 20 hours later. You are entitled to compensation (if the delay was due to the airline’s fault).

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival to your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe, you also have a right to care.

If your flight is delayed, cancelled or you’ve been denied boarding, and you are stranded at the airport for more than 3 hours, you are entitled to receive certain services for free.

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 flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Virgin Atlantic Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Virgin Atlantic owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Virgin Atlantic yourself. Contact the Virgin Atlantic customer support center. You can find the contact form on their website. Compose a message requesting compensation for flight delay. Refer to the European flight compensation regulation (Regulation UK 261 and EU Regulation 261 2004). Make sure you include all the necessary information about your flight. Also it’s good to know the reason why your flight was delayed, and the delay time. 

Keep in mind that the process might take months. Your compensation claim might be refused (even though you are entitled to compensation), or the airline might not reply you at all. 

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

All you have to do is to fill in one form. And the rest is done by a team of professionals. It’s very easy. Our partners offer such services.

Read more: How to Claim Virgin Atlantic Compensation?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

If everything goes well, it might take between 2 to 3 months from the moment you file a claim until you get Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation. It could take more if it’s necessary to take the case to a national enforcement body or court. It depends on the situation.

Many choose to work with flight compensation companies because it might save time. If you claim compensation on your own, you need to do all the communication yourself. If you aren’t experienced, it will take you some time until you understand what to do and what information to provide. Sometimes there’s a lot of unnecessary emails and calls until you get your compensation.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Virgin Atlantic delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

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).

3.1 Virgin Atlantic Voucher Refund or Cash?

You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.

Majority of airlines were offering coupons during the COVID crisis. 

The question is — do you have to accept anything that is not actual money? No. You don’t have to accept any vouchers from Virgin Atlantic. The European regulations state that compensation must be paid by cash or bank transfer. Not with coupons, vouchers, miles or discounts.

4. Virgin Atlantic and Regulation UK261

Virgin Atlantic is a British airline.

According to the EU Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004, you are entitled to compensation only when the disrupted Virgin Atlantic flight departs from the European Union. But it’s not like that. You are also protected when you are flying from a country outside the EU (UK, UAE, Thailand, Turkey, you name it!), or even if you are travelling within the UK. You are protected by the UK law.

Right after Brexit a new regulation has been introduced — the Regulation UK261. It is similar to the EU Regulation 261/2004.

The only real difference is that you will be paid in Pounds Sterling.

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	–	–

Virgin Atlantic Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Regulation UK261, Tourists

Other Situations

Do you still have questions about Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation, claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.