You learn that your Virgin Atlantic Flight is delayed.
Receiving a notification about a delayed flight can leave you in a state of uncertainty. The question arises: should you prolong your stay at home or stick to your original plan and head to the airport? Flight delays can range from a short half an hour to an extensive wait of nearly 24 hours. The dilemma is whether to potentially spend a whole day at the airport until Virgin Atlantic provides a solution.
The answer is subjective and depends on a few factors.
Nonetheless, there are a few common scenarios.
Your Virgin Atlantic Flight Is Delayed. Should You Stay Put or Carry on as Scheduled?
You learn that your Virgin Atlantic Flight is delayed. What should you do?
Where’s your current location? Are you at your home or hotel?
Or have you already reached the airport?
Scenario 1 – You Are at the Gate, Awaiting Your Flight
Picture this: you are waiting at the gate for your flight, and suddenly there is an announcement about the delay of your flight. What’s your next move?
The answer is to simply stay put at the gate and wait for further information about the revised flight schedule.
Scenario 2 – You Are at the Airport, But You Haven’t Yet Passed Through Airport Security
You’re at the airport, getting ready to proceed through security, and you learn about the delay of your flight. It is best if you to stay where you are. Prior to going through security, ensure there are no updates about your flight’s check-in time. If the check-in time has been delayed, it would be advisable to delay going through security.
Hold off until additional instructions are provided before passing through security.
Have you already completed online check-in?
It would be best to wait anyway. Do not proceed until check-in begins.
Scenario 3 – You Are at Home or Hotel
What to do if your flight is delayed?
Your first step is to confirm whether the check-in time has been changed or not.
You can achieve this by contacting Virgin Atlantic or by asking the airport information desk.
If the check-in time is postponed, there’s no need to rush to the airport immediately. You can wait at your hotel or home. However, if the check-in timing remains unchanged, it would be wise to adhere to your initial plan and travel to the airport as scheduled.
If the check-in time has been postponed, wait at home or hotel.
If check-in is not delayed — proceed to the airport as per your original plan.
How to Check Virgin Atlantic Flight Status Online?
Here are a few methods to check your flight status online:
- The website of the airport from which your flight is departing;
- Your airline’s website (virginatlantic.com in this case);
- Flight tracking platforms such as Flightradar24.
It’s always a good idea to check the status of your flight before setting off for the airport, especially for flights scheduled early in the morning. You definitely wouldn’t want to reach the airport at the crack of dawn only to discover that your flight has been delayed or even canceled, and be left waiting for numerous hours. To avoid such a situation, it’s best to check the status upon waking up. It’s equally crucial to verify the status one more time just prior to departing from your home or hotel in case there are any last-minute changes.
Usually, passengers are informed about the delay through:
- A text message or an email from the airline, informing them of the delay;
- Checking the flight status online;
- While at the airport, or even at the gate.
What If You Are Going to Miss Connecting Flight Due to Flight Delay?
Your Virgin Atlantic flight is delayed, and you have another flight to catch.
What happens if you miss a connecting flight?
Don’t worry. If you have a connecting flight with Virgin Atlantic, they have you covered in case you miss your connection. They will arrange a new flight for you, and you won’t have to pay anything for it. Additionally, you have the right to receive care and, in certain situations, flight compensation.
However, if you have a self-transfer flight and you miss your connection, it becomes your responsibility to purchase a new flight. In such cases, the airline is not responsible for your connection. If you have travel insurance, there is a possibility of getting a refund. Nevertheless, you may be eligible for flight delay compensation or flight cancellation compensation for that particular disrupted flight.
Right to Care at the Airport
Passengers who have to endure a wait at the airport on account of a flight delay, cancellation, or denied boarding are entitled to certain benefits, referred to as the “right to care“.
- For relatively brief delays of 3 hours or more that occur during daylight hours, Virgin Atlantic is duty-bound to provide free meals and beverages, along with two modes of communication (such as phone calls, emails or faxes), typically facilitated through coupons.
- In case of an overnight delay, Virgin Atlantic is obligated to arrange for complimentary hotel accommodation, transport to and from the airport, and one or two meals, all at no additional cost to the passenger.
If you haven’t been offered any of these benefits, get in touch with Virgin Atlantic for assistance.
Could You Be Entitled to Virgin Atlantic Flight Delay Compensation?
Absolutely, you could be entitled to Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation.
If your flight has been delayed for more than three hours, or if it has been cancelled without a notice of at least 14 days, you may be eligible for a compensation of up to 600 euros under EU law, unless the delay or cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances.
This right applies regardless of the ticket price and the nationality. Remember to keep your boarding pass and other travel documents, as you may need them when claiming compensation. If you need assistance with the process, there are services available that can help you claim your compensation from Virgin Atlantic – our partners provide such services. You can use the compensation claim form below to make a claim.
Can You Get Flight Delay Compensation in Case of a Virgin Atlantic Strike?
If your Virgin Atlantic flight is delayed or cancelled due to a strike, there are two scenarios – it’s either a strike of Virgin Atlantic staff or some other kind of strike.
Generally, if the strike is initiated by airport staff, air traffic control, or a labor strike unrelated to Virgin Atlantic, you will not be eligible for compensation. This is defined as an extraordinary circumstance, and airlines are usually not held responsible.
However, if the strike involves Virgin Atlantic’s own employees, the airline will most likely be required to compensate passengers. Always verify the specific circumstances surrounding your delay or cancellation, and double-check the information given by the airline.
Read more: Virgin Atlantic Strike Compensation
Can You Get Delay Compensation in Case of Technical Problems with the Airplane?
Yes, if your Virgin Atlantic flight is delayed due to technical issues with the airplane, you may be entitled to flight delay compensation.
In most cases, these issues are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
However, exceptions might exist in certain situations, such as if the technical problems were caused by hidden manufacturing defects.
Featured photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels