Bumping....

Hi there,

A question prompted by a conversation and the fact that flights over the next week or so are filling up - one of my flights is showing 0 availability in J class. What is Virgin's 'bumping' policy. I'm kinda slightly worried as I'm on a G and figure that if anyone is to go it will be the G's first ... (for reference the whole of the flight looks sold...)

Anyway, any thoughts by anyone? Thanks

[Neil]

Involuntary bumping/downgrades are very rare. They will always try and find people who are happy to go on a different flight, with compensation offers first, and don't forget not everyone always turns up for flights, which is why overbooking happens.

If that doesn't happen then it is those who are last to check in that tend to get bumped or more likely involuntary downgraded to another class.

Do OLCI and don't worry to much about it, chances are you will not be affected at all.

Neil

Thanks Neil,

I really enjoy flying its just all the paraphernalia that surrounds it that gets me worked up (hence tears have been known at the check in desk....). And don't worry T-24 will find me at a computer logging in .... (just so I don't forget to do it later...) *rolls eyes*

M

I wonder what brought this on!?!
The first thing to go is staff travel and space available upgrades as these are hardly ever on a confirmed basis anyway. For customers in confirmed seats, pretty much everyone is treated the same and as Neil says, it is in the airline's interest to keep everyone happy so switching their flights or downgrades with the customer's permission and suitable remuniration (miles/money) usually moves enough people around. There will always be someone who will be flexible enough to change their plans if the right incentive is given.

A fair few business people will have been forced to buy fully refundable tickets at the front of the plane at the last minute because of the BA strike but once BA have announced which flights they are operating then they may well move back to BA and we see the flights open up again.

I wonder what brought this on!?!

I wonder! :w

My nightmare is I get all the way down to LHR on mon am and find that I'm bumped or even worse (for Hubby in Blighty as he has childcare duties :w ) that I get bumped at Dulles on the way back...

But I always do OLCI as soon as possible after it opens so...

If you are unfortunate enough to be bumped then it is really bad luck but believe me it has nothing to do when you check in - rather your status with the airline. I never OLCI and am prone to turn up late or just i time for a flight and have yet to be bumped but have witnessed others being less fortunate (even when on board!). I was informed by my relationship manager at Virgin that if/when that have to off load it is done for various reasons but they would look at those with low status first and that time of checkin was not a variable in any calculation. In J it is when the flight closes I belive.

However it is a rare occurance so your chances are fine I would say.