VS028 Cancelled 18/06/2006

We were coming back from Orlando on Sunday on VS016, and when we arrived at the airport, we found out that the earlier VS028 flight had been cancelled. Virgin were saying that it was due to 'technical difficulties', but as there were still empty economy seats on VS016 even after all the VS028 passengers had been moved over, I started wondering, were there really 'techical difficuties', or was it just so empty they decided to merge the flights? I know there are a few people 'in the know' on these forums, so thought I'd ask. Fortunately we were booked on the flight that wasn't cancelled, and got our assigned PE seats, but we heard that some people who were booked into PE on VS028 had to be downgraded when they were moved on to the VS016 flight. I'd have been really unimpressed if I'd been one of them [:(!]

G-VTOP had a tech problem which needed sometime to be fixed and resulted in the outbound VS27 (I think) and the inbound VS16 being cancelled.

This was not due to light flight loads (though thankfully as the loads were light the two flights could be combined).

Meant I ended up in Economy rather than Upper but was a good flight anyway.

[fozzyo]

My understanding, and I could be wrong on this is that to cancel a plane like that just because of light loads doesn't happen. If for no other reason then it is in the wrong part of the world for the next scheduled flight. And getting all the planes in the right place can be a bit of a headache.

Mat xxx

Don't know if one of our VS staff can shed some light on this.

Looking at the Gatwick Aircraft Movements, VS027 operated normally with G-VLIP on Fri 16th but didn't return as VS028.

VS then operated normally to/from MCO on the Sat but then only operated VS15 / VS16 on the Sunday.

So I guess they were still catching up from an aircraft defect?
and where is G-VLIP?

[?]
could answer my own question - G-VLIP operated back to Manchester!

Originally posted by V-Ben

Meant I ended up in Economy rather than Upper but was a good flight anyway.

Just out of interest, what compensation was offered to downgrade ?

Originally posted by KenJohn

Originally posted by V-Ben

Meant I ended up in Economy rather than Upper but was a good flight anyway.

Just out of interest, what compensation was offered to downgrade ?

Hmm perhaps as V-Ben is staff ...

Originally posted by slinky09

Originally posted by KenJohn
Just out of interest, what compensation was offered to downgrade ?

Hmm perhaps as V-Ben is staff ...

Indeed, none was offered to me as I have to willingly give up my seat when travelling on duty if a revenue pax requires it.

I flew back from MCO on Monday and was on VS016. VS028 was cancelled on this day due to "technical difficulties" too. Plus, VS016 was over an hour late, meaning I had to spend another hour in the Delta Crown room. Darn it! [:w]