My LGW VS15 flight changed to LHR VS91 is this a significant change ?

[kadiekaismummi]

Hi, my flight from LGW flight VS15 to Orlando as now been changed to LHR FLIGHT VS91 So would I be entitled to a free cancellation ? I’ve just been on the phone to Virgin Holidays! Yes got through after nearly two hours of trying after getting cut off 1st time at 8 in the queue I said I’m sure this is a significant change due to the flight numbers being different but aparently, told No it isn’t! 😢. I read that it was somewhere! & haven’t even Planned anything for months thinking it would be cancelled, but I really don’t want to lose my hard earn £700! Can have a voucher but has I live next to gatwick I’d rather go from Gatwick, anybody else had a free cancellation Who have had a change of airport & flight number please ? Feel so fed up! It doesn’t take a lot these days xx

[Egon]

i thought an airport change was classed as 'Significant' ?

[meegraine]

I believe if your flight number has changed then you are entitled to a full refund, I would try contacting them again or whatsapping them and challenge them on this!

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) state that "Where an airline has made a change to your flight, it is known as a schedule change. If your flight number has changed, this may mean that the flight has been cancelled and you might therefore be eligible for compensation or a refund."

[DisneyDose]

message deleted.

[johnb]

The OP says they rang Virgin Holidays, which presumably means that it is a package. From other threads on here, I have read that the rules quoted above are for flight only, and not for packages.
Perhaps someone else can confirm one way or the other?

[lemmiwinkles]

You aren’t entitled to a refund if you booked with Virgin Holidays for a flight number change and/or a change of LONDON airports.

If you had booked flights only direct with Virgin Atlantic, then yes, a new flight number would constitute a cancellation of your original flight and you would be entitled to a refund on that basis.

Virgin Holidays were allowing you to cancel and receive a full refund if you were staying at a Disney Resort with Disney tickets booked through them, but that’s all and for the minute it’s very much a “gesture of goodwill.” Otherwise there has to be a flight departure change of 12+ hours, or your holiday length being shortened by that amount to constitute a breach of contract AND/OR a change of UK airport that IS NOT between the London airports. So those that were moved from Manchester to Heathrow were entitled to a refund, for example.

[steve30]

I don’t agree with the above, I think this would be described as a significant change under the package travel regulations (2018).

Which says:

“Can I cancel my package holiday?

If any essential part of your package holiday is changed significantly, except the price, you can cancel without paying termination fees.

An essential part of the package could be any one of the following:

the precise accommodation, standard of accommodation and accommodation facilities
the type and standard of transport
the place of departure and destination
any facility or service advertised or promoted as forming a part of the package
If you want to cancel for any other reason, you can terminate the contract but you’ll have to pay a ‘reasonable and justifiable’ termination fee.

You can read more about how to cancel your package holiday and whether you can transfer it to someone else in our guide.”

which/consumer-rig...el-regulations

I’d certainly be pushing this if it were me and I didn’t want to travel...

[planecrazi3778]

It was on virgin holidays website that a change of London airports doesn't class as a major change therefore wouldn't be able to be refunded. I presume it will be in their t&cs.

[lemmiwinkles]

It is literally in the booking conditions agreed to that a change of airports within London does not constitute a significant change. There’s no interpreting it.

[kadiekaismummi]

Thank you guys xx I did challenge her stating that I can literally walk to Lgw from where I live. ( 9 min walk) now I have to pay for us all to get to & from Heathrow wont they lay on a coach at the least two & from & it was a definate No! 😢 also challenged the the original flight at LGW. Must have been cancelled as I now have a different flight number changing from VS15 to V91 but still she said, I could either cancel lose my deposit or have a ticket For future Holiday or just go in Oct or wait & see if it actually gets cancelled, also this morning, I can see a new intinery that has now updated to LHR, but my complementary VRoom has obviously gone as it’s at LGW, but wouldn’t they replace with LHR version? I’m sure others have been upgraded to LHR lounge? & looking at seats on the plane think there are only 6 empty scattered seats available there are 6 of us going on two separate bookings! 😥 xx Oh the thought of sitting waiting for someone to answer the phone again! But if I can find some proper evidence that suggests about the flight change I.e VS15 to V91 maybe I could try again to see if they would budge, I’m not very good on the phone & yesterday she was saying, well we’re are you reading about change of flight from, if I sounded. More professional & knew what I was actually talking about she might change, what do you all think? Thank you all for any help you can give xx 😘