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Forums Frequent flyer programs Virgin Flying Club Overbooked flight—asked to volunteer for cabin downgrade

  • Author of the Seas 18 posts

    I recently received an email from Virgin Atlantic that my upcoming LHR to JFK ‘flight is overbooked in our Upper class cabin due to recent changes in our flying programme. As a result we’re unable to accommodate all booked passengers on this service.

    ‘To prevent disappointment at the airport we are looking for volunteers who would be prepared to accept a downgrade to our Premium cabin.

    ‘If you are able to help us out by accepting this change we will be pleased to offer you a choice of one compensation package per person from the below options for the inconvenience this will cause.’

    The compensation options are:
    – a voucher exchangeable for a free round-trip ticket, inclusive of tax, in Upper Class, subject to reward seat availability and valid for 3 years;
    – 100,000 Flying club points.

    I wondered if a change in aircraft is the case, but since there is only one less Upper Class seat in the A330-300 & B787-900 than in the A330-900neo, and the A350-1000 has 12 more Upper Class seats, I’m unsure.

    There are two people in my party, both of us being Red members, and the aircraft is an A330-900neo. The original booking was cash payment for Premium Economy last summer, then I used points to upgrade to Upper Class (paying taxes, fees & surcharges in cash) shortly afterwards.

    Based on the above, does anyone have an idea how likely it would be for my travel party to be bumped down or otherwise not be able to take the flight if not enough people volunteer for the downgrade to Premium?

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 1,714 posts

    They usually get enough volunteers plus taking into account people missing connections and others deciding not to fly that they don’t need to downgrade anyone involuntarily.

    And I know some have had success asking to be put on other flights so they can stay in Upper

    Author of the Seas 18 posts

    They usually get enough volunteers plus taking into account people missing connections and others deciding not to fly that they don’t need to downgrade anyone involuntarily.

    Thank you for your reply. That’s reassuring. Something I just remembered is there are A350-1000 aircrafts with a reduced Upper Class cabin. I just hope things work out—no downgrade, aircraft change or denied boarding.

    phantomchickenz 220 posts

    Compensation looks pretty tasty though for a relatively ’short’ long haul flight. Are you tempted?

    Travel Strong 223 posts

    The flight vouchers *inclusive of fees* would sound mighty appealing to me. £1k value in the fee element alone. I’d want the PE vs Upper fee difference and points difference also refunded, though.

    Otherwise you’re essentially being offered equivalent to a premium trip for free, not an upper trip.

    100k flying points would be a hard pass.

    ekposh 136 posts

    I’d take that personally.

    thewoat 9 posts

    I’d be taking the offer in no time….. and then going to LAX with it. I’d also get the offer would of been accepted by enough already.

    Author of the Seas 18 posts

    Many thanks for the additional replies.

    Tempting indeed, especially the first option.

    One would hope they would refund the Premium vs. Upper difference in points and fees.

    Since most of you would accept one of the compensation packages, I imagine a few who received the same email have already jumped at the downgrade, especially since I noticed the email two days after it had been sent.

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