Just watched a recording of today's Rip Off Britain where they had a segment on Virgin Atlantic / Delta codeshare.
To be fair, it wasn't actually a described as being a Rip Off but described to the 'unknowing' one of the potential pitfalls of flying a codeshare even when the whole journey booked with one airline.
Couple and granddaughter booked round trip MAN to MCO with VS, outward leg was direct on VS (VS metal) while return was VS internal US flight (VS/DL codeshare, DL metal) to pick up a VS TATL back to MAN (VS, VS metal).
Problem came on the return when the DL flight was delayed by weather meaning the VS TATL was missed by PAX. Eventually they got back a couple of days late via another DL and VS combination at no extra charge and while DL didn't provide meals or accommodation for the couple of days they did provide a hotel discount voucher and did sort out the flights back as soon as they could find matching seats with DL/VS to get them home. PAX reckoned they were out of pocket around £340 for meals and accommodation so thought they would contact VS on their return to see if they could claim.
EU261 wasn't mentioned (and of course would not have applied as DL is not an EU carrier, and on top of that the delay was on an internal US flight anyway) but what did come out was that even though the whole thing had been booked with VS they were passed back and forth between VS and Delta rather than VS taking 'ownership' of the customer complaint. In the end they got nothing, by the rules that is probably quite correct for an internal US flight that is weather affected as Delta were not even obliged to give them the hotel discount voucher it would seem.
So, not really being described as a Rip Off, but just a warning to viewers that rules on a codeshare can catch you out so allow some serious time for changing from Domestic back to International and have decent travel insurance (essential for travel to USA, IMHO, for medical cover anyway) !
One of those PR blips where although VS and Delta were legally correct VS maybe now wish they had bunged the couple a £500 VH or VS voucher towards their next trip.....
To be fair, it wasn't actually a described as being a Rip Off but described to the 'unknowing' one of the potential pitfalls of flying a codeshare even when the whole journey booked with one airline.
Couple and granddaughter booked round trip MAN to MCO with VS, outward leg was direct on VS (VS metal) while return was VS internal US flight (VS/DL codeshare, DL metal) to pick up a VS TATL back to MAN (VS, VS metal).
Problem came on the return when the DL flight was delayed by weather meaning the VS TATL was missed by PAX. Eventually they got back a couple of days late via another DL and VS combination at no extra charge and while DL didn't provide meals or accommodation for the couple of days they did provide a hotel discount voucher and did sort out the flights back as soon as they could find matching seats with DL/VS to get them home. PAX reckoned they were out of pocket around £340 for meals and accommodation so thought they would contact VS on their return to see if they could claim.
EU261 wasn't mentioned (and of course would not have applied as DL is not an EU carrier, and on top of that the delay was on an internal US flight anyway) but what did come out was that even though the whole thing had been booked with VS they were passed back and forth between VS and Delta rather than VS taking 'ownership' of the customer complaint. In the end they got nothing, by the rules that is probably quite correct for an internal US flight that is weather affected as Delta were not even obliged to give them the hotel discount voucher it would seem.
So, not really being described as a Rip Off, but just a warning to viewers that rules on a codeshare can catch you out so allow some serious time for changing from Domestic back to International and have decent travel insurance (essential for travel to USA, IMHO, for medical cover anyway) !
One of those PR blips where although VS and Delta were legally correct VS maybe now wish they had bunged the couple a £500 VH or VS voucher towards their next trip.....
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