Are you still waiting on that Virgin Atlantic refund?
You requested a refund for a flight cancellation, but the refund has not arrived yet. Perhaps Virgin Atlantic has reached out to explain the situation, perhaps not. Although circumstances may vary, there’s one common thread: EU regulations dictate that your Virgin Atlantic refund should be processed within 7 days.
What steps can you take if it’s delayed beyond this timeframe?
Your Virgin Atlantic Refund Is Delayed: Step-By-Step Plan
Are you entitled to a Virgin Atlantic refund?
In the event of a flight cancellation, the airline has a duty to provide a refund.
For instance, within the EU and the UK, if Virgin Atlantic cancels a flight, they are obligated to offer the choice of a complete refund or an alternative flight. It’s crucial to note that sometimes only a refund is available, but occasionally — both refund for cancellation and flight cancellation compensation are available.
Step 1: Get in Touch with Virgin Atlantic
Get in touch with Virgin Atlantic customer service through their website.
You can also try contacting them through social media channels.
Unless there’s a global catastrophe, like the onset of a pandemic, they should respond within a week. If you don’t receive a reply within a week, keep sending messages. Continue to do this every few days until you get a response.
Step 2: Connect with Virgin Atlantic on Social Media
If Virgin Atlantic fails to respond, utilize social media platforms.
If after several weeks of emails you still haven’t heard back, leverage Facebook and Twitter to contact Virgin Atlantic. Remind them of the 7 day refund policy.
Refer to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Articles 5 and 8.
Step 3: Decline Any Offers for Vouchers
Your Virgin Atlantic refund should be credited to your bank account.
There’s no obligation to accept Virgin Atlantic vouchers or coupons.
Step 4: Reach Out to the National Enforcement Body (NEB)
Each EU member state has a NEB.
Contact the NEB from where your flight departed. If your flight left from Germany, liaise with the Nationale Beschwerde- und Durchsetzungsstelle Fluggastrechte. If the flight originated from a non-EU country, reach out to the destination country’s NEB. You can find the contact details for these entities on this page.
Learn more about this here.
While the fourth step is the most effective, it’s also the most time-consuming. Typically, it takes about 2 months for the relevant NEB to reach a decision. Then, you’ll have to wait for Virgin Atlantic to process the payment. To achieve the best outcome, persistently remind them about your case on Virgin Atlantic’s social media platforms and other communication channels.
Virgin Atlantic Refund: When Are You Entitled to One?
As per EU regulations, if Virgin Atlantic cancels your flight, you’re entitled to a full refund.
In case of a flight cancellation, Virgin Atlantic has to offer you a choice of re-routing (replacement flight at no extra cost) or a complete refund of your ticket price. This is mandated regardless of the cancellation cause, including so-called extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, natural disasters, etc). The refund for the cancelled flight must be processed within seven days.
Any delay by the airline in processing refunds is a breach of EU regulations, and passengers can consider escalating the matter.
But What If You Are the One Cancelling the Flight?
If you decide to cancel the flight, the refund scenario becomes slightly more complex. Here are some factors to consider:
- Flexible tickets. With a flexible ticket, you’re generally eligible for a refund, but always review the airline’s terms and conditions to confirm.
- Non-refundable tickets. With non-refundable tickets, you’re unlikely to receive a full refund. However, airlines may offer to refund any taxes included in your ticket price.
- Travel insurance. If your travel insurance covers cancellations, you might be able to claim a refund from your insurance company, depending on the cancellation cause.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Some airlines provide a full refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, provided the booking was made at least a week prior to the flight’s departure.
- Exceptional circumstances. If your cancellation is due to exceptional circumstances, like illness or a family bereavement, the airline may offer a refund or credit for future travel, depending on their policy.
Flight Cancellation due to Extraordinary Circumstances: Can You Get a Refund?
When there’s a flight cancellation triggered by extraordinary situations like severe weather, non-airline staff strikes, or safety issues, the airline is not ordinarily accountable for the resulting cancellation.
Nonetheless, EU regulations encapsulated in Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 mandate that an airline must give the opportunity to affected passengers to choose between a full refund and the possibility of re-routing, even when the cancellation arises from extraordinary conditions. This ensures that you maintain the right to a refund, irrespective of the cause of the cancellation.
So, if your Virgin Atlantic flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances, you can get a Virgin Atlantic refund for your cancelled flight.
Bear in mind that the refund should be processed within a span of seven days. If you experience any delays in receiving your refund, don’t hesitate to embark on the step-by-step plan delineated above.
What is your experience with Virgin Atlantic refunds? Have you ever received a refund from Virgin Atlantic? Share your experience in the comments!
Featured photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels