Virgin Atlantic to New York - are bookings 'safe'? Don't mind a change in dates.

[Pan2]

I'm having trouble getting to the right office at V.Atlantic for a simple question.
Do we know if we book a flight to NYC for September, and we cant go for COVID-related restrictions either U.K. or U.S. led, would we be eligible for flights to be delayed until it IS okay to fly? Don't mind delays if needs be.
Anyone? tia.

I have been watching prices creeping up for a few days now, and don't wish to be swamped when all restrictions are lifted and the prices shoot up...

What does the website say? It’ll be stated clearly on there.

The airlines I’ve been flying with over the last year (or dealing with due to cancelled flights) are committing to a free change of dates only for the next few months, on new bookings. They update this regularly but most can’t promise anything for September yet. It’s a case of ‘if you’ve booked before X date to fly before Y date, you’re able to change your booking for free until [...]’.

All airlines are obliged to offer change of dates or reimburse you if they cancel either flight.

What do you exactly mean by Covid restrictions? Quarantine or tests required on return? Not the airline’s problem. They will be going with what the situation was at time of booking. So right now you have to quarantine coming back from US, if that’s still in place in September, you’ll be treated as having booked knowing there was a quarantine requirement in place.

A travel ban issued by either government? Yes, they’ll offer alternatives in that case.

That said, many airlines offer one free change of dates, and all this information will be on their website. I don’t specifically know about Virgin but I’m off to their website to look.

This was a click away from their front page. So yes, it seems like you can change the date, several times, for free. You will only need to pay the fare difference (which can be anything from £10 to £1000).

Yes, I'd seen this thanks, but I am aware how things can change from 'policy' to actual practice. And I know we are trying to 'future proof' at a very insecure time. Thank you for making the effort.

Sadly that’s all their office will be able to tell you at this time. It’s a pretty good policy and it will be in your booking’s terms and conditions, so it’s as safe as it can be.

I’ve taken about 20 flights in the last year and the airlines have always honoured their Covid policies. Virgin Atlantic are a reputable company and their policy seems solid. Good luck with your trip, I hope it happens!

Thank you Eileen We're also hoping to get to Washington D.C. on the same trip, so it will be a busy few days. Hoping all will be well.

The key is the price difference if you choose to change the date/quarantine restrictions still in place.

I booked Upper Class for May a few months ago. Flight is likely to still go but there are too many restrictions in place so I can change the date but the fare has shot up from £1k to £3.5k if I went in say July.So realistically I will change the flight to a credit.

It’s this bastard CV19 that is doing all of this.

The US travel ban for European and UK citizens remains very much in place and there is still no indication as to when that will be lifted. I have read sources stating that it may well not be lifted until some time in 2022.