LHR Strike Action 05/06 August - LHR to LGW flight switch

Due to strike action at Heathrow on 05/06 August, VS has announced that some flights will be switched to operate to or from Gatwick:

Monday 5th August

These flights will now arrive into Gatwick
VS138 – New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing 4 August)
VS154 – New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing 4 August)
VS104 – Atlanta-London Heathrow (departing 4 August)

These flights will now depart from Gatwick
VS3 – London Heathrow-New York JFK
VS153 – London Heathrow-New York JFK
VS1 – London Heathrow-New York Newark
VS157 – London Heathrow-Boston

Tuesday 6th August – To be confirmed

These flights will now arrive into Gatwick
VS4 – New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing 5 August)
VS138 – New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing 5 August)
VS2 – Newark-London Heathrow (departing 5 August)
VS158 – Boston-London Heathrow

These flights will now depart from Gatwick
VS3 – London Heathrow-New York JFK
VS153 London Heathrow-New York JFK
VS1 - London Heathrow-New York Newark
VS157 - London Heathrow-Boston

Full story - https://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/travel-news.html

I have a friend booked on VS 158-- her first flight with VS (on my recommendation). What assurance can I give her that VS will see her transported to her Heathrow hotel from Gatwick? I feel that I have let her down as she is not a happy flier and I had assured her VS would be a point to point smooth experience.

You’d have to call and ask but I don’t think VS are obliged to do anything in that respect as there is no delay, no cancellation and the reason for the move is out of their control.

Can’t your friend just move to a LGW hotel instead?

You could also ask VS if they’d be prepared to let your friend switch to the Delta flight to Boston, if it’s still operating.

VS will likely organise transport back to LHR.

They still have the duty of care elements of EU61 to meet even if the move isn’t their fault.

Actually it’s better that they switch to LGW than just cancel the flight at least people will be in the country and on their way home or to their destinations even if there is disruption.. and the same for the flight back to Boston

Otherwise the easiest way to get from one to other is either taxi or national express.

VS will likely organise transport back to LHR.

They still have the duty of care elements of EU61 to meet even if the move isn’t their fault

It seems to be a grey area, and will be interesting to see what happens.

EC261/2004 duty of care responsibilities would certainly apply if the VS158 had been cancelled and its passengers had been rerouted to LGW on an alternative flight. But in this case it’s the original flight.

It’s conceivable they’ll lay on coaches between LGW and LHR but with potentially 16 flights affected over the 48 hours I can’t see them paying for taxis for 3,000-odd passengers.

But yes, credit to them for not just cancelling the flights and rebooking passengers on to alternative JFK services which would certainly be BA’s strategy.

I did ring and VS said as they have not confirmed the sixth flights being changed to Gatwick yet, no plans have been made. Was also told if she arrives Gatwick and has to be at Heathrow (surely there are transfer pax equally affected) she is on her own to do so and perhaps VS will reimburse.
I feel so badly for her as she is not an experienced traveler, whe will be arriving 7:30 pmGMT/ 12:30 pm EST and faced with finding the shuttle, traveling an additional hour plus, and has to be collected first thing in the morning by a work colleague at Heathrow. Thus far VS have not contacted her to make her aware of this possible snafu.

I will perhaps advise her to see if she can be transferred to either the Delta or shuttle to JFK. Thanks.

[mitchja]

All airlines will be impacted by this, not just VS so there's not going to be much benefit by trying to switch to a different airline unfortunately.

Delta has also issued an advisory for LHR on Monday / Tuesday.

177 flights cancelled affecting 91 airlines as you say at least VS are rerouting rather than just cancelling. BAA advise each airline the percentage of flights they have to cancel

Thanks James and Mitchja,

I do understand that it is good VS have re-routed in advance, and assume they need the aircraft as it is a very light passenger load as far as I can determine. Will wait to see how things are tomorrow and if the strike seems inevitable, advise her to buy a flexible ticket on the shuttle and to not be shy about asking for help from VS staff.

If she pays for the additional Hotel Hoppa on the Gatwick shuttle, is that a change of bus?

I feel badly for those whose work and holiday schedules are disrupted by the strike but overall am in favor of paying people a living wage.

It will indeed be interesting to see what VS do for passengers who end up at LGW when they had expected LHR. But as has been said above, some kudos is due to VS for not just cancelling the flights outright. I would be interested to know how they suddenly managed to get some slots at Gatwick too. Gatwick, whilst not "Heathrow 98% full", is also pretty full - and it's a peak travel time due to school holidays.

I suppose you could look back and see what VS have done for passengers in the past when a JFK flight gets switched to EWR or vice-versa due to circumstances beyond VS's control. Both airports share the same IATA city code (like LHR & LGW) so technically Virgin have got you to the city you intended to fly to. Can only assume they look at it on a case-by-case basis - as for many EWR or JFK would be no different if heading to Manhattan, it's a [same] fixed price taxi ride from either airport.

She's been notified the airport change is confirmed and they will update her flight details in a 'few hours'--

Tomorrow’s strike has now been called off, however VS are sticking with the flight moves to LGW from LHR which were published a few days ago.

Really well done VS-- They apparently re-booked all pax with LHR flight connections to direct LHR flights, so VS158 was very, very light re load and, upon asking at bag drop BOS, was told VS have laid on a transfer bus for passengers needing to travel on to LHR. Of course as none of that was shared at online check in, (or not that my friend noticed) she had already purchased a National Express ticket... hoping they might be kind enough to refund her fare.