Bumped from a VA flight - Red Select Vouchers offered?

[Moussemoose]

We got bumped from a transatlantic flight, 4 adults. We had to get a connecting flight in the US, it was a pain but not the end of the world.

We have been offered Red Select Vouchers.

Has anybody any experience of these? How easy are they to use? Will we get seats? My youngest son is in education so we will need to use them during school holidays?

Any tips, advice, thoughts all welcome.

I think they are supposed to give you cash.

Most airlines will try it on though and 'offer' something. If you don't know your rights and you accept then they have got away with not giving what you are entitled to.

I saw it last week on an easyjet flight. Someone was bumped and given half what the were entitled to.

We weren't actually at the gate, they phone us before we got to the airport. It wasn't presented as a choice though, we were pretty much told it was a done deal.

If the vouchers rally are what they say they are " free return flight"it sounds like a good deal. I am a little cynical though

I'm trying to get my facts together having returned from holiday and am preparing my complaint email. Just thought someone might have experience to give me some tips on how snotty/grateful I should be.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing but...

10 years ago we were asked if we'd give up our Virgin flights home as there had been an incident elsewhere and they've diverted our plane.
We agreed, they paid for alternative accommodation, food vouchers for our extended stay at the new hotel and free return flights to anywhere within the next 2 years. We went to Las Vegas with them 18 months later. By chance a family friend was there too. He agreed to stay for 3 extra nights and had 3 x return flights.

Quote EU 261. You do not have to accept vouchers, ask for cash.

If you are travelling transatlantic, I suspect you could get up to 600 euros, (depending on the distance) but if you have already accepted then it may be too late.

Speak to the airline and be firm (Google EU 261 and make notes/have it written down in front of you) and request compensation not vouchers. The airline also have to provide you with alternative flights (which they have done).

Meals and phone call also need to be provided over two hours delay and over night accommodation if you are denied boarding and the replacement flight is the next day.

Good luck!!

What is with these airlines? I’ve flown transatlantic once (VA) and they tried to find people to bump. WHY?! Why do they oversell flights? If people don’t turn up, the airline still pockets the cash. Why are they so greedy

Here is a list of your rights when bumped from a flight, from the Civil Aviation Authority: www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Resolving-travel-problems/Delays-cancellations/Your-rights/Your-rights-when-you-are-bumped-from-a-flight/

Thanks for all the info, that will certainly help.

Has anyone any experience of using Red Select vouchers? If it is what it says it is "free flight anywhere" it could be worth more than the compensation. If they pay for the flights then all we have to do next year is pay for accommodation, I just can't believe the deal is as good as it sounds.

GoJohnnyGoGoGoGo was it hard to book your flights to Las Vegas?

I am being cynical and looking a gift horse in the mouth or justifiably sensible?

If I remember correctly I just rang them up on a number on the voucher and booked it directly through them. They emailed me the e-ticket. It was very easy.

If you do a quick Google search it brings up all kinds of problems with these vouchers, which are apparently as restrictive as using air miles. I would call VA customer service when you want to use them (or pressure them into exchanging them for the cash that you're entitled to).

Read this: www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-1055123.html

Thanks for those links. I've googled it and can find some bits but not masses of information. If the vouchers were really crap wouldn't there be pages and pages of Virgin Atlantic are bastards?

Anyway, thanks for the input. I'll update the thread as when I googled it just now I got this thread!