What happens if a flight is cancelled?

If my VS flight from LHR to LAX were cancelled for any reason and that in turn caused me to miss my flight from LAX to HNL which in turn made me lose my accomodation cost who pays for it?

Do VS pay or do they just refund me the money I paid them for the flights and then leave me to claim the rest from my travel insurance?

Is your LAX-HNL flight on the same ticket as your VS7?

If yes, it's up to VS to get you to HNL somehow, if you still want to travel. You might be entitled to compensation under EU261/2004 depending on how much notice you're given of the cancellation and how delayed you are by being re-routed.

If no, VS are only responsible for refunding/compensating you for the cancellation of the VS7. You'd need to claim on your insurance for the onward flight (although check the small print for the excess and the minimum delay they'll pay out on).

You'd also have to claim on your insurance for other out of pocket expenses such as accommodation.

No, everything is separate...

LHR to LAX with VS (return)
LAX to HNL with Delta (return)
Accomodation separate

Ok, then no - VS would not refund the cost of the LAX-HNL flights or the accommodation. You'd have to claim on your insurance, provided you qualify.

How much time is there between your arrival at LAX and departure to HNL?

A delay rather than a cancellation is probably the biggest risk you trip.

This is the wiki page for EU261/2004 and it might be worth familiarising yourself with its provisions re delays and cancellations.


Booking trips as separate flights has benefits (could be cheaper / more flexible options) but also severe risks (lack of protection if things go wrong)

Two words: travel insurance.

Get some decent cover.

Two words: travel insurance.

Get some decent cover.

mrsw is the person to ask about that. I believe quite recently she frazzled her brain reading through T&Cs and policy wording from various travel insurers to find the best options.

Agree 100% with others - travel insurance is vital, especially if going to the USA. (I bet a lot of those people who complain about a certain Irish low-cost carriers delays had chanced it with no insurance and lost out £££ wise).

I took out an annual policy last November for our Dubai trip. This, naturally, came up for renewal this November - as we already had flights & accommodation booked for Florida next May, we just let it renew (they even gave us 20% discount for no-claims / renewing... and it includes volcanic ash disruption & no-excess). So we are covered for the next year for a shade under £80 a head, worldwide, including Winter sports. Sure, cheaper insurance is available, but this is an annual policy with no excesses & volcanic ash - we almost got caught out when the Iceland Volcano blew a few years back.

I'll refrain from naming the insurer on here - but if anyone wants the name, drop me a PM. (I have no connection with them & have never made a claim on ANY travel insurance).

we have an active policy through our bank (as im sure many others do) however have never actually read the small print and perhaps should now have a read and see if it is actually any good.
Not wishing to hijack this thread but just want to see what do others think about that kind of travel insurance policy?

Two words: travel insurance.

Get some decent cover.

mrsw is the person to ask about that. I believe quite recently she frazzled her brain reading through T&Cs and policy wording from various travel insurers to find the best options.

Thanks John!

I sure did, and here's the thread: http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=5&t=286842&rb_v=viewtopic

Please read at your own peril

It wasn't the most enjoyable of my life but after choosing one policy as it simply wasn't quite as bad as the others, I found the Nationwide Flex Plus account (and cancelled the other policy within the cooling off period) which, for £10 a month, gives you decent travel insurance cover plus other things (mobile phone, breakdown cover, additional year warranty on appliances). And as we set it up as a joint account, the covers apply to both of us. We've also since done a remortgage with Nationwide, as their exclusive rates for Flex Plus customers were extremely competitive.

I arrive at LAX at 2:25pm on Saturday and then depart for HNL at 8:40am on Sunday.

I have worldwide family cover with my Barclays Premier Account. I read the T&Cs last night and then asked a few questions on live chat, I got no answers literally so I gave up.

I arrive at LAX at 2:25pm on Saturday and then depart for HNL at 8:40am on Sunday.

I have worldwide family cover with my Barclays Premier Account. I read the T&Cs last night and then asked a few questions on live chat, I got no answers literally so I gave up.

If it's really bothering you then pm me with your questions and I'll take a look when I get a chance...

I arrive at LAX at 2:25pm on Saturday and then depart for HNL at 8:40am on Sunday.

You should be absolutely fine then. In the extremely unlikely event that the VS7 is cancelled, VS would rebook you on to a later flight with another airline - maybe DL, NZ, BA or another US carrier - there's no shortage on that route. Chances are you'd only be 2 or 3 hours late arriving so making your HNL flight the next morning wouldn't be a problem.

Anyone got opinions about the travel insurance provided when booking with the BA Premium amex card. Got another worldwide one but never claimed and I doubt it will be great, so might consider one of worth.

I arrive at LAX at 2:25pm on Saturday and then depart for HNL at 8:40am on Sunday.

You should be absolutely fine then. In the extremely unlikely event that the VS7 is cancelled, VS would rebook you on to a later flight with another airline - maybe DL, NZ, BA or another US carrier - there's no shortage on that route. Chances are you'd only be 2 or 3 hours late arriving so making your HNL flight the next morning wouldn't be a problem.

If the flights are booked separately as in the OP's case, VS wouldn't rebook if he missed the DL flight I don't think?

I arrive at LAX at 2:25pm on Saturday and then depart for HNL at 8:40am on Sunday.

You should be absolutely fine then. In the extremely unlikely event that the VS7 is cancelled, VS would rebook you on to a later flight with another airline - maybe DL, NZ, BA or another US carrier - there's no shortage on that route. Chances are you'd only be 2 or 3 hours late arriving so making your HNL flight the next morning wouldn't be a problem.

If the flights are booked separately as in the OP's case, VS wouldn't rebook if he missed the DL flight I don't think?

They would have no legal obligation to but might as a customer service recovery measure given the VS/DL ownership and Joint Venture. Even then it would depend on how full the flight to HNL.

Even if they do it will be more than likely to be on their own metal and they would be very loathed to pay to put you on another airlines / alliance flights

If the flights are booked separately as in the OP's case, VS wouldn't rebook if he missed the DL flight I don't think?

No, I meant VS would - if requested - rebook the OP on to another carrier's LHR-LAX flight that day, ensuring they'd still make the HNL flight the next morning.

If the VS7 is cancelled VS have to get you to LAX as soon as possible. They might try and put you on tomorrow's VS7 but you could ask to be rebooked on another airline that gets you there sooner. It's unlikely they'd refuse.

Back on the travel insurance subject - I specifically asked my bank (HSBC) about volcanic ash cover on the "packaged" travel insurance a couple of years ago and it was a definite NO. Even with our current annual policies, there is an additional premium to pay for "travel disruption" that brings the volcanic ash cover.

As others have said, if you have two connecting flights on separate itineraries, neither airline has any obligation to make sure you make your connection in the event of a cancellation. All each airline has to do is get you from A to B as per your ticket. If you want an A to B to C ticket, book it all one one itinerary as you are then covered in the case of delays / cancellations - the airline(s) then HAVE to help you.

If the flights are booked separately as in the OP's case, VS wouldn't rebook if he missed the DL flight I don't think?

No, I meant VS would - if requested - rebook the OP on to another carrier's LHR-LAX flight that day, ensuring they'd still make the HNL flight the next morning.

If the VS7 is cancelled VS have to get you to LAX as soon as possible. They might try and put you on tomorrow's VS7 but you could ask to be rebooked on another airline that gets you there sooner. It's unlikely they'd refuse.

Gotcha. Might take a bit of arm twisting to get them to book on another carrier but the point is valid :-)