Virgin have cancelled my Car Hire Only Booking

**buzzbuzz** · 15 Jun 21, 06:30 PM

Hi all,
as the title reads, all Virgin can say is
"Sadly, we are unable to honour your car hire booking as under our policy update we are cancelling all bookings to the USA up to 15th July 21, which is in line with government restrictions both here in the UK and the USA.
I appreciate how frustrating this must be, but as a UK based tour operator we will base our policy updates information issued by the UK government and the foreign and commonwealth office."

I have asked them how can they do this when it is not linked to a flight booking etc. We are considering travelling to Mexica for 15 days prior to gaining entry to the USA for another 2 weeks, so we will legally be allowed to enter.
just wondering if anyone else has had their cars cancelled without a warning first?

munmun · 15 Jun 21, 06:53 PM

Try Andy he will be cheaper anyway

**buzzbuzz** · 15 Jun 21, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by munmun

Try Andy he will be cheaper anyway

Hi, thanks, and i did want to use him but he wasn't cheaper on this occasion. I have 3 bookings with Virgin as they were the cheapest by a long way for all 3. Probably why they have cancelled one of my bookings!

**buzzbuzz** · 16 Jun 21, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by buzzbuzz

Hi all,
as the title reads, all Virgin can say is
"Sadly, we are unable to honour your car hire booking as under our policy update we are cancelling all bookings to the USA up to 15th July 21, which is in line with government restrictions both here in the UK and the USA.
I appreciate how frustrating this must be, but as a UK based tour operator we will base our policy updates information issued by the UK government and the foreign and commonwealth office."

I have asked them how can they do this when it is not linked to a flight booking etc. We are considering travelling to Mexica for 15 days prior to gaining entry to the USA for another 2 weeks, so we will legally be allowed to enter.
just wondering if anyone else has had their cars cancelled without a warning first?

just as a heads up for anyone with a booking that may be entering the USA via other avenues. Virgin will still cancel your booking! here is their reply:

Thank you for the email.

I appreciate this was a car only booking but due to the government restrictions both here in the UK and the USA, we have not restarted holidays in the USA and as such would not have the in resort support for you, should anything happen. As a tour operator we have a duty of care to ensure your safety in resort, and with our resort support currently suspended is a factor in our policy has been extended. Based on the current guidelines we have made the company decision to cancel all bookings up to the 15th July 21, with dates passed this currently under review.

Whilst I understand you will be able to enter the US, as previously advised we are not able to offer you the car hire and we’re in the process of refunding the cost paid to us.

I’m really sorry for the inconvenience caused, and the car hire would now need to be rebooked independently with a car hire company.

munmun · 16 Jun 21, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by buzzbuzz

just as a heads up for anyone with a booking that may be entering the USA via other avenues. Virgin will still cancel your booking! here is their reply:

Thank you for the email.

I appreciate this was a car only booking but due to the government restrictions both here in the UK and the USA, we have not restarted holidays in the USA and as such would not have the in resort support for you, should anything happen. As a tour operator we have a duty of care to ensure your safety in resort, and with our resort support currently suspended is a factor in our policy has been extended. Based on the current guidelines we have made the company decision to cancel all bookings up to the 15th July 21, with dates passed this currently under review.

Whilst I understand you will be able to enter the US, as previously advised we are not able to offer you the car hire and we’re in the process of refunding the cost paid to us.

I’m really sorry for the inconvenience caused, and the car hire would now need to be rebooked independently with a car hire company.

Annoying but understandable I suppose

**Claudette** · 17 Jun 21, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by buzzbuzz

just as a heads up for anyone with a booking that may be entering the USA via other avenues. Virgin will still cancel your booking! here is their reply:

Thank you for the email.

I appreciate this was a car only booking but due to the government restrictions both here in the UK and the USA, we have not restarted holidays in the USA and as such would not have the in resort support for you, should anything happen. As a tour operator we have a duty of care to ensure your safety in resort, and with our resort support currently suspended is a factor in our policy has been extended. Based on the current guidelines we have made the company decision to cancel all bookings up to the 15th July 21, with dates passed this currently under review.

Whilst I understand you will be able to enter the US, as previously advised we are not able to offer you the car hire and we’re in the process of refunding the cost paid to us.

I’m really sorry for the inconvenience caused, and the car hire would now need to be rebooked independently with a car hire company.

It seems quite reasonable to be honest.

**buzzbuzz** · 17 Jun 21, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Claudette

It seems quite reasonable to be honest.

i have never seen a Virgin rep at an Alamo pick up point as 'In Resort Support'. just thought it was strange that they wouldn't honour a booking that was via Alamo. it is not as if Alamo have stopped trading! by this rationale, everyone would need to go direct to the car hire company. I also thought it would be helpful for those that might also be looking to enter the USA via other countries, to get around the 14 day policy

**Claudette** · 17 Jun 21, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by buzzbuzz

i have never seen a Virgin rep at an Alamo pick up point as 'In Resort Support'. just thought it was strange that they wouldn't honour a booking that was via Alamo. it is not as if Alamo have stopped trading! by this rationale, everyone would need to go direct to the car hire company. I also thought it would be helpful for those that might also be looking to enter the USA via other countries, to get around the 14 day policy

What seems reasonable is that they want to cancel US bookings considering that most people are not going to be able to get there. It is possibly better for them to do that now than at the last minute or survey all bookings to identify a very small fraction that might go via two weeks in Mexico.

15 Jun 21, 06:53 PM	#2
	15 Jun 21, 06:53 PM munmun Imagineer
munmun Imagineer Join Date: May 10	Try Andy he will be cheaper anyway