Report about LAS-LGW cancellation on 1 Dec

Hi

Not sure if any other v-flyer was on the cancelled flight from LAS to LGW.

We never take a laptop on holiday so wasn't aware of the snow problems in London and turned up to the airport 3 hours ahead and informed that the VS44 was cancelled and we were allocated the Tropicana as our hotel overnight and check with them at 9am the next day for an update. After staying in the Encore, mention of the Tropicana was a little scary but I was surprised as the rooms were not too bad and the casino was cleaner and brighter than others on the strip. Rooms were basic but had recently been refurbed so looked fresh.

We were given dinner and breakfast vouchers for a deli cafe, which had the most basic food and were allowed 1 main with no sides and a drink. Not the best but filling I supposed. Breakfast was a similar affair.

Advised at 9am by the Virgin rep that the flight was to go ahead but late. Late check out was arranged at 3pm and we were to meet in reception at 3.30pm for a bus to the airport at 4pm.

We checked in and were advised it was a Gatwick plane instead of Heathrow plane so had less upper seats. We managed to get 9 and 10a and my nieces got 80HK in PE. We were very lucky to get our originally booked class as I understand there were a lot of downgrades on this "rescue" flight.

On check in, the previously delayed flight time we were advised of at 9.45pm then was delayed until 11pm, so were left waiting in the airport from 4pm. Virgin did give us $20 worth of food vouchers, but with Burger King and Pizza Express to choose from, not the best.

Got on board but 10.45pm and flew at 11.30pm so no one wanted any food and everyone just went off to sleep. It must have been the quietest flight for the crew as we were so late.

Can't fault Virgin for the help they gave us and we were looked after and given updated information when they knew what was going on. Also, because we were travelling upper they gave us a 10 min phone voucher to call and advise people of our delay.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone else was caught out by the snow.

Trip reports to follow separately.

[buns]

Thanks for sharing your experience

It does look like VS have learnt from last year and it seems as though a pre-arranged contingency plan was put in place

hope you Gatwick experience was better than Willd's

buns

Lynne I was caught up in the snow.

Just posted a TR for my return on Thursday night.

I was lucky in the fact that the 28 out of MCO did not get cancelled but the 16 did.

I believe that VB was crew on your flight also.

Sadly our experience on arrival at LGW was not the best.

good to see you were looked after and VS did their best - they would have been limited to what hotels they could get in a short space of time.

Sounds like you were very well looked after given the circumstances.

Just a further update, the $20 issued was a "one shot" purchase so you had to grab as much as you could from one vendor.

The crew advised there would be no duty free or alcohol served as it was not loaded but were very generous with some alcohol they had with the downgraded people giving them wine and beer to take home with them.

In LAS, if you were at the airport early enough on the day of cancellation, you were asked if you would like to fly to LA and catch the LAX to LHR flight which I imagine a few people took. We couldn't due to our car being at Gatwick.

Wiild, I think our flight must have arrived after yours and the Ground staff must have got their act together as we waited for a belt for 10 mins and the luggage arrived after a further 10 mins, so no issues really. We were in our car by about 5.30pm for a long drive to the Midlands until 10pm due to the freezing foggy weather. The crew kept us advised constantly as we were landing saying we could have a wait at the bridge but we were lucky and got off fairly quickly, just having one hiccup when they had to stop everyone and put salt on the jetbridge due to it getting icy.

On the whole, I think the LAS flight was better handled than the MCO flight, with the only exception being stuck at the airport from 4-11pm.

Thank you for writing about your experience.