Amending flights after bereavement....

Hi,

I'll try to keep it brief!

We lost our eldest daughter (15) last month. Totally unexpected and out of the blue.

We have flights booked MAN to MCO for July this year.

Both my husband and youngest daughter (13) are still eager to travel.

We have/had 4 Econ Delight seats booked.

I contacted VA by email just to ask what our options were in terms of cancelling, postponing etc and they were very sympathetic and helpful and said to ring through when I am ready.

If we do decide to travel I would like to change things up a bit so that (as silly as it sounds) we are in different seats or a different cabin etc

I am due to ring VA in the next day or two and am going to see if we can upgrade to PE and not pay too much more if anything. Our dates are flexible by a few days but we are tied to trying to include some of the school summer holidays in July. Our current dates are 16th July to 3rd Aug.

I would prefer for us to sit in the bubble if possible (perhaps a bit quieter and more private for us)...

My question is this, will VA be able to tell me which dates are the quietest for them (I understand this can change in the meantime) and do you think the person who takes my call will be as helpful as possible in terms of finding us the best deal, best seats on the quietest date?

I do have some miles and/or upgrades on my account that I could also try to utilise?

It's just that this is not a call I want to have to make twice and so am conscious of trying to get through to the most helpful person possible first time around...

Any advice welcomed.

Thanks.

Ali x

sorry cant help but am so sorry for your loss, my heart go's out to you

Terribly sorry for your loss. I am sure everyone here will do whatever they can to try and help.

How many miles do you have? Please detail whether they're all in 1 account or spread across multiple accounts.
When you say you have an upgrade on your account, can you please clarify that?

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. We are obviously completely heartbroken and devastated but we are talking the talk about pressing on with our lives, moving forward as best we can and so I now need to see if we have the courage to do so....

I paid approx. £3k plus 36k miles for 4 Econ Delight seats. VA have said the fact that they are M&M does not matter in terms of making any alterations, cancellations etc

I still have 71k miles in my own FC account and also have:

One upgrade to PE if I purchase an Econ reward seat or One Econ reward companion seat.

Thank you.

Ali x

Unfortunately, this is the busiest time of the year on the flights you have booked. In all honesty, it is pretty pointless asking which flights will be quietest for 2 reasons; 1 All flights around this time will be busy and 2 The agent has no way of predicting what will happen in the next 2 months.

Your flight out on July 16th looks to be totally sold out in economy already. There are no seats in either economy or the premium in the bubble to get 3 people sat together. The only option there would be to get to the airport early and hope for an exit seat which are allocated on the day of departure. This is unlikely to be successful in my opinion.

Most seats are chosen on both flights (74 and 76) on your return indicating they're pretty full too. The 76 does have economy seats for 3 in the bubble available, but that's it. No premium seats on either in the bubble.

I have little doubt that VS will be accomodating in terms of moving dates for you where it's possible (i.e. your new preferred dates not already sold out). I have had friends/family with similar circumstances and VS have always been willing to waive change fees etc as far as I'm aware.

As far as upgrading is concerned, VS might bend a few rules here you never know, but I wouldn't personally hold my breath. I think the upgrade certificate is useless for you because it is for upgrading reward seats and you have bought revenue tickets.

You can use https://rewardflightfinder.com to find upgrade seats much easier than on the VS website.

You are travelling in peak season, so upgrading to PE would be 33,600 miles each way for all 3 people, plus the difference in tax. Upgrading to Upper would be 106,800 miles each way for all 3 people, plus the difference in tax.

Best advice before calling is to know exactly what you want before doing so, e.g. know which days have reward seats available. All the agents should be equally knowledgeable and sympathetic. I've rarely had a bad experience (apart from wait time).

Sincere condolences. I hope you are able to sort out something that works for you.

I know Virgin were very sympathetic and extremely helpful when I had to cancel due to the death of my mum, so I am sure they will do what they can.

Firstly I am very sorry for your loss.

When I had to fly back from Florida last year when my Father was gravely ill, I had booked in Premium Economy but was given a middle bulk head seat with no one next to me - the only empty seat on the plane. The crew were wonderful - kept checking on me and asking if I needed anything. Everyone we dealt with was so kind and caring.

Just wanted to add my condolences. I can understand your wish to carry on with your holiday, but make it a bit "different"

Would it be possible for you to explore changing route and travel via Atlanta, which several folk here have said is straight forward, and MAN-ATL may have more availability

You may even look at LHR-MIA-MCO as something totally different, not even looking at a 744 which may be going to MCO.

I hope you get something suitable sorted out...

So sorry for your loss.
Your concern about finding the right person to deal with your request as effectively as possible is understood and I wonder if, since you already have an email contact, you could email a reply and ask that person to arrange a call back (at a time to suit you) to discuss the way forward.
That way the agent would already have an understanding of your loss and have the booking details to hand.

I am sure they will be as helpful as they can be.

Firstly thank you for all your replies, much appreciated.

Finally got everything sorted with VA today. They could not have been more helpful, such a relief.....

I have replied today to a 'survey' email they sent me regarding the service I received. I do hope that my feedback is read by a human! as I really would like both the business as a whole and the particular person I spoke to know that their attitude and actions really do go a long way in making a truly terrible situation that bit more bearable.....

Thanks again.

Ali x

Sorry for your loss.

When my adopted Grandpa was ill and then finally passed away VA were also exceptionally helpful in free flight changes, on,y once requesting a doctor's certificate which was waived later.

Likewise when my Dad was taken into surgery at short notice they went out of their way to ensure I was in the next flight as cheaply as possible - taxes only and miles. Again they changed my return flight FOC when he didn't recover as quick as expected.

Things may not be as good as the glory days of VA but they sure as hell put themselves out to help people in time of trouble.

W.