As far as cancellations go VA have to comply with the following EU article, (apologies for the long post but the following is the text from the EU regs. Hope it helps.
Article 5
Cancellation
1. In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall:
(a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8; and
(b) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 9(1)(a) and 9(2), as
well as, in event of re-routing when the reasonably expected time of departure of the new flight is at
least the day after the departure as it was planned for the cancelled flight, the assistance specified in
Article 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c); and
(c) have the right to compensation by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 7, unless:
(i) they are informed of the cancellation at least two weeks before the scheduled time of departure; or
(ii) they are informed of the cancellation between two weeks and seven days before the scheduled
time of departure and are offered re-routing, allowing them to depart no more than two hours before
the scheduled time of departure and to reach their final destination less than four hours after the
scheduled time of arrival; or
(iii) they are informed of the cancellation less than seven days before the scheduled time of departure
and are offered re-routing, allowing them to depart no more than one hour before the scheduled time
of departure and to reach their final destination less than two hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
2. When passengers are informed of the cancellation, an explanation shall be given concerning
possible alternative transport.
3. An operating air carrier shall not be obliged to pay compensation in accordance with Article 7, if it
can prove that the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been
avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
4. The burden of proof concerning the questions as to whether and when the passenger has been
informed of the cancellation of the flight shall rest with the operating air carrier.
Article 8
Right to Reimbursement or Re-routing
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between:
(a) - reimbursement within seven days, by the means provided for in Article 7(3), of the full
cost of the ticket at the price at which it was bought, for the part or parts of the journey not
made, and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in
relation to the passenger's original travel plan, together with, when relevant,
- a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity;
(b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest
opportunity; or
(c) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at a later date
at the passenger's convenience, subject to availability of seats.
2. Paragraph 1(a) shall also apply to passengers whose flights form part of a package, except for the
right to reimbursement where such right arises under Directive 90/314/EEC.
3. When, in the case where a town, city or region is served by several airports, an operating air carrier
offers a passenger a flight to an airport alternative to that for which the booking was made, the
operating air carrier shall bear the cost of transferring the passenger from that alternative airport either
to that for which the booking was made, or to another close-by destination agreed with the passenger.
Article 9
Right to Care
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered free of charge:
(a) meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time;
(b) hotel accommodation in cases
- where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, or
- where a stay additional to that intended by the passenger becomes necessary;
(c) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other).
2. In addition, passengers shall be offered free of charge two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or
e-mails.
3. In applying this Article, the operating air carrier shall pay particular attention to the needs of
persons with reduced mobility and any persons accompanying them, as well as to the needs of
unaccompanied children.
Article 7
Right to Compensation
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall receive compensation amounting to:
(a) EUR 250 for all flights of 1500 kilometres or less;
(b) EUR 400 for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres, and for all other flights
between 1500 and 3500 kilometres;
(c) EUR 600 for all flights not falling under (a) or (b).
In determining the distance, the basis shall be the last destination at which the denial of boarding or
cancellation will delay the passenger's arrival after the scheduled time.
2. When passengers are offered re-routing to their final destination on an alternative flight pursuant to
Article 8, the arrival time of which does not exceed the scheduled arrival time of the flight originally
booked
(a) by two hours, in respect of all flights of 1500 kilometres or less; or
(b) by three hours, in respect of all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres and for all
other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres; or
(c) by four hours, in respect of all flights not falling under (a) or (b),
the operating air carrier may reduce the compensation provided for in paragraph 1 by 50 %.
3. The compensation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be paid in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank
orders or bank cheques or, with the signed agreement of the passenger, in travel vouchers and/or other
services.
4. The distances given in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be measured by the great circle route method.
Bearing in mind the compensation you are entitled to, i would think VA would bend over backwards to let you into CH to while away those hrs if that's what you wanted. It would save them some money, and remember you won't be the only affected passenger.
