Miss connection: UA to VS?

Hello-

Although I've left several hours for an upcoming connection at IAD from United to Virgin, Washington is subject to thunderstorms at this time of year. I'm wondering what will happen to me if my United flight is so late that I miss my Virgin outbound flight? I'm assuming that I would have time before departure to call Virgin (it's a short flight from RDU) and let them know, but are they under any obligation to help me?

thanks

quote:Originally posted by casey0999
but are they under any obligation to help me?


If this is a single, through-ticketed itinerary, should you mis-connect, you will be reaccommodated on the next available flight.

If the next flight with the same carrier will cause an excessive further delay, you may be reaccommodated on an alternative carrier.

For example, if you mis-connect to the VS flight, there are later flights with UA and BA usually from IAD, though they would have to rebook you onto such an alternative flight.

One issue you may find is that if the inbound from RDU is sufficiently late and the Virgin flight is gone, there may be no Virgin Atlantic staff left on duty at IAD, if that was the last flight of the day, to handle this.

If it is multiple, seperately booked itineraries, end-on-end, neither carrier are obliged to do anything to help you in this instance. That would be a risk you accept when booking what is effectively a single journey as two seperate itineraries.

Mike

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
quote:Originally posted by casey0999
but are they under any obligation to help me?


If it is multiple, seperately booked itineraries, end-on-end, neither carrier are obliged to do anything to help you in this instance. That would be a risk you accept when booking what is effectively a single journey as two seperate itineraries.

Mike


Thanks for your reply. Yes, as I thought. (I've booked separately on the carriers) It does bring up the point, to me anyway, about how can Virgin attract more US flyers who wish to use their preferred carriers here in the US and yet give Virgin the business when crossing the pond. Perhaps VS would be well served to have some kind of re-accommodation policy even if it's simply on the next Virgin flight.

Reminds me of a trip I did a couple of years ago to Toronto via JFK. I left a 5 hour gap between flights just in case. The american eagle flight that was going to take me back to JFK arrived in toronto on time so I was hoping all would be ok. Apparently a wheelchair they were offloading clipped the plane and they'd have to get it checked over. My 5 hours gap was eating away and they assured me all would be o.k. 2 hours before my VS flight was due to leave they said the flight was cancelled.

I asked them what if I missed my VS flight (I'd booked both flights independantly). They said dont worry, they could fly me back with AA in economy! I had an upperclass ticket so wouldnt be to happy flying back in economy.

They managed to get me on a flight to La Garde and got me a taxi to JFK where I just made the flight with seconds to spare!

I will never travel with connections again as the outbound flight was eventful aswell!

If you are booking ex-US, Virgin has usually quoted me the same fares I got online with the carrier directly. I've done MPS-LHR via ORD, and a number of other connections through ORD. Buying with VS got me the exact same price I would have had if I had purchased the two tickets separately. With the advantage that, with the flights on the same ticket, everyone is suddenly a lot more helpful.

The time I did the MSP thing, I got to the airport in Minneapolis and there was trouble in ORD with winds (quite common), so UA rebooked me on the earlier flight out just in case, through checking my bag, etc etc, all very seamless except I lost my First Class seat and free G&T [:)]

For some reason (as has been noted on the forum before) VS won't give you the same deal if you book a connection into Europe, but for US flights they seem to be helpful and flexible, so it's well worth putting your flights on the same ticket.

quote:Originally posted by MarkedMan
If you are booking ex-US, Virgin has usually quoted me the same fares I got online with the carrier directly. I've done MPS-LHR via ORD, and a number of other connections through ORD. Buying with VS got me the exact same price I would have had if I had purchased the two tickets separately. With the advantage that, with the flights on the same ticket, everyone is suddenly a lot more helpful.



That's good to know - perhaps I'll try that next time! Thanks

[mcmbenjamin]

I would consider going standby on the earlier RDU-IAD then going to the Air and Space museum or shopping at Dulles Towne Center; both are well within a ten minute cab.

[Scrooge]

Good idea Ben, also it should be pointed out that if there is a storm at IAD then nothing flys, including the VS flight, delays all around.

[mcmbenjamin]

Random note on IAD interline bag transfer: Bags are transfered airline to airline using bag carts. Airline A employee puts your bag on an patrolled bag cart in an remote area of the airfield. The airline who gets the bags must pick them up. Very bad system. I would suggest claiming then rechecking.