If miss connection virgin say we'll be charged to change ticket.

[Halsteragain]

I've had an email exchange with Virgin Atlantic about what happens if we miss our connection at JFK en route to Tampa.

They are saying that if it's their fault they will of course put us on the next available flight and put is up overnight if necessary.

However, if we miss the connection due to, say, long queues at immigration/security then we will be charged to change our ticket - £150/person plus any difference in fare.

"If the flight isn't delayed and you miss your connection normal fare rules would apply to the booking and you would be charged to change your ticket -- a fee of £150 per person, plus any difference in fare"

I'm pretty gobsmacked by this to be honest. Can this be right?!

[billbarbara229]

Probably not as US Airlines are used to it Virgin are tight and they would but as it's not their flight they have no say.
Make sure you tell security if things get close at JFK it's much more efficient than Orlando
Happy Christmas

[bighal]

As long as you have abided by the airlines minimum connection times then they should be liable if its all booked as one ticket.

[Halsteragain]

Originally Posted by bighal

As long as you have abided by the airlines minimum connection times then they should be liable if its all booked as one ticket.

See more...

You would think so wouldn't you? All booked as one ticket. Connection longer than minimum connection time.
However Virgin are saying they are absolutely not liable if we miss it.

[lucylou]

I was delayed at Dallas once and missed my connection due to queues at immigration. I had to pay for my own overnight accommodation but was booked on the next flight free of charge. My booking was a through ticket with American Airlines.

I am again travelling on 23rd, strike permitting, and have a 3 hour layover in JFK. Fingers crossed that this will be enough time.

[baboons]

I'm afraid you've been fed a load of rubbish there. Never, ever seen anyone on here charged despite numerous missed flight posts. Unless anyone has an example of this happening to them?

[Guest]

caa/Passengers/Res...-a-connection/
interestingly there is a line that says "the cause of you missing the connection must be within the airlines control"...& I suppose they could argue that immigration/security isn't in their control however if they are selling this as a through ticket ,I really cant imagine that they wouldn't just re-book you on a later flight,particularly in USA as journeys involving connections from regional to hub airports are so common. was this a direct booking with VAtlantic ?I am always nervous about short connection times (& a lot of 3rd party agents seem to sell these tickets) but as u've said u r abiding by their minimum connection times. I do hope its just an agent getting mixed up with separate ticket booking rules! there are people on here who've done the north-heathrow-Gatwick-usa route & I've always wondered how airlines view this route as the potential for delays getting between heathrow & Gatwick must be huge.

[duchy]

Is it a code share e.g. a Delta flight that also has a VS number?
Sounds like just another reason to avoid Virgin if they have any intention of trying to enforce this (which I seriously doubt)

So long as you have a through ticket under one reservation number you'll be fine. If you have seperate tickets it'd be a different matter.

[toonarmani]

Not sure what they would constitute their fault v yours?

e.g. if a flight was delayed or you had a long wait in immigration that's pretty much out of your control V someone wasting time in duty free and missing a flight, how they could prove either way? for the latter someone could just say they were delayed in immigration (or similar excuse)?

[duchy]

Originally Posted by toonarmani

Not sure what they would constitute their fault v yours?

e.g. if a flight was delayed or you had a long wait in immigration that's pretty much out of your control V someone wasting time in duty free and missing a flight, how they could prove either way? for the latter someone could just say they were delayed in immigration (or similar excuse)?

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You'd be surprised even when I worked at Heathrow airside years ago we got constant updates on if there were hold ups or not for passengers both coming through and transiting. With the better technology now I'm sure they can tell.

Most people are covered under insurance anyway but with years of indirect flights I've never had to pay to rebook (even on seperate tickets when I should have paid I've always put on my best British accent and got rebooked for free)