What happened to this flight? ( VS603 LHR-CPT )

Hi there,

Bit disappointed with Virgin as was hoping to fly VS603 from LHR - CPT on the 24th February next year. Have been looking on the web site and all seemed well, VS603 LHR - CPT is one the schedules listed, leaving at 5.00pm. I phone Virgin reservations a few days ago who then told me the flight actually leaves at 8.30pm now. Even today, the web site schedule still shows 5.00pm......... not good.

Then today I check - and the flight is gone! Mail customer services to ask what is going on and get:

"Thank you for your email.

I have checked availability for the flight you require but it appears we do not have a flight operating on the 24th February.

I am sorry to disappoint you on this occasion."

Is there some reason why this is? It's on the schedule, has been available to be booked and now just doesn't appear at all. I'm perplexed and also highly annoyed to be given the run-around twice for a flight I was ready to book. The service has been wrongly advertised and is now pulled with no good explanation.

Sorry to be unhappy but this isn't a good situation. Does this happen often with Virgin?

D.

Hi cpt & welcome to V-Flyer

How strange - I wonder if it's because that route is suspended over over the British Summer months (see http://www.iflyvirginatlantic.com/main575.htm)? That said, since they plan to resume operations in November, you'd think they'd be able to take a booking for February next year [?]

Cheers

Michael

[HighFlyer]

That is vey odd, as CPT should still be running thrice weekly in Feb, i could understand if it were an error during a month when the do not fly to CPT, but flights are supposedly bookable in Feb.

Maybe for some strange reason they have cancelled that flight?

What else did Virgin offer you? have you been placed on another flight?

I would certainly try Virgin for a proper explanation of this at any rate.

quote:What else did Virgin offer you? have you been placed on another flight?

I would certainly try Virgin for a proper explanation of this at any rate.

Hi, and thinks for the ( similarly bemused! ) response.

I hadn't already booked, as I'm trying to organise about 6 people for a group holiday, so I've been gathering info and presenting the group with options. The Friday 25th flight is too late unfortunately as have to be there for the Saturday for someone's wedding anniversary ( I know the flight gets in early Saturday but wanted a day or two to recover from travelling )

Checked the availability tool and it too shows no flight on that day.... [:(] We could go via JNB I guess but the point of flying BA, VS or SAA was that we could go direct.

I'll try and chase Virgin again but the email was the only 'explanation' I received. Looks like ( sadly ) BA will be getting extra business. Having flown Virgin many times before I'm really really disappointed to have to go with someone else. I just wonder what happens to all those people who have already booked on this flight?!?! It definately was available for booking as I ran through the booking screen a few times to get prices.

Thanks,

D.

Further.... just phoned Virgin and the guy couldn't find any flights before the 25th [:(]

He says that the Cape Town route flys before Christmas and through New Year, then stops again (!) for a while before resuming again, and thinks that the 25th is the date when the service starts again.

BUT - Just checked on the web site and the 20th Feb is flying, as is the 25th Feb - so just looks like the Thursday has been dropped. Another phone call to Virgin coming up.....

OK, definitive statement - the Thursday flight is dropped as from 31st October this year.

So then Virgin will only fly to Cape Town on Friday's and Sunday's.

BA here we come.....

D.

Enjoy!!!

I believe BA use rather old metal for CPT. I'd personally put up with a transfer through JNB, but then I am biased when its comes to the delights of VS.

At the end of the day Virgin obviously had good reasons for needing to revert to a twice a week service during the period of this seasonal service.

Anyone booked on the cancelled Thursday flights are probably re-booked on the Friday flight or if they need to go on the original date, can route via JNB with a free onward connection.

quote:BA here we come.....

I flew to CPT with BA a few years ago down the back, never again[:(!] last time I opted for SAA(no VS service @ the time.Have fun:D.