Pleased to say I am posting this from home.
Probably the most stressful week of my life following one of the happiest time in life seeing my daughter get married in Camps Bay ,South Africa.
About a week ago received a blunt email from Virgin telling us our flight had been cancelled on the 26/3. No offer of another flight just a link for them to contact us whilst away.
When travelling like most people I always use Whatsapp to keep int touch obviously needing WiFi to do that. This was the first time in an emergency that I have needed a phone. Virgin not answering email or texts so had to purchase a phone and credit from Vodacom. Spent more time and money on trying to get in touchwith Virgin than anything else on the holiday across the Garden Route.
With the announcement of South Africa shutting down at midnight tonight the stress levels were rising. Freinds in the UK were also trying to contact Virgin. They after 2 hours got through but call Center wouldn’t deal with them as they where not travelling
On Sunday I gave up with Virgin and booked flights with Emirates at our own expense. The next morning an email arrived telling us it was cancelled. No other flights to the UK where available.
On Tuesday for some reason I looked at my mobile Virgin app which I don’t regularly use. Great news
I found they had booked us on the last Virgin flight out of SA on Wednesday night. Never thought to look at the app as I was looking for an email like the cancelled flight.
Our last week had been spent travelling across the Garden Route stopping in Hermanus, Knysna, Natures Valley and last night in Port Elizabeth. I must add what a beautiful country South Africa is .Just a pity we couldn’t really enjoy it due to the worry. But I would most defiantly return again.
So ready to fly from Port Eliz airport and went to do online check in the day before for our BA connecting flight to JNB. Stress levels rise as it will not let us do it and tells us to check in at airport. No problems checking in with Virgin though.
Flight from PE was at 1530 but we arrived at 9am to hope to get on an earlier flight if possible just so we could ensure we would get to JNB as our afternoon flight was the last one out. At the checkin stress level rose again and near panick for wife when told they could see us on the system but Virgin had not re booked us, and I needed to speak to Virgin myself
I explained and pleaded for help that I cannot get in touch . The agent said he would send a WhatsApp message to a contact he had at Virgin and we would have to wait. I gave it 10 mins
and chased him up, he had received a reply which said the person who was originally dealing with it was not in till 1pm
I tried the other airlines and no seats available.After more pleading and Coffee and Cake for the 4 staff members this seemed to move it on and he received a reply and all was sorted. Fantastic, another scare pre boarding when the boarding cards they issued us kept being rejected. We where told to stand to one side as everyone else boarded and a manager came to resolve it. Never been so happy to get on a flight.
We were checked right through to LHR but on arrival into JNB I thought I would check with the Virgin staff everything was okay as I didn’t want any last minute issues at the gate. Check in was really busy and our tickets were checked and given thumbs up at the ticket desk. Unfortunately their were a lot of people at the ticket desk who had like myself not been able to make contact with Virgin and had obviously panicked on hearing this was the last flight out and just turned up hoping/expecting to get on the flight. A lot of shouting and abuse was being directed at the staff as their where no seats available.
So onto the flight. Great feeling to get onboard, was supposed to be in PE but was more than happy in Economy Delight which I thought was a good product , just good to be going home in any seat.
Usual good standard flight home, Heathrow relativity quiet but busier than I thought it would be , bit of a wait at Passport Control more down to everyone having to stand 2m apart.
To sum up you don’t need me to say we are in unprecedented times and the travel industry is taking a major hit in this, airline and travel staff are obviously inundated with stranded travellers. For me though I would like to have had some sort of resolve with my cancellation email such as a new flight date or we will confirm a new flight for you in the next 24 hrs etc. If you know what the plans for you are you can accept this and stop stressing rather than being left in a very vulnerable position.
The airlines are uncontactable and the travel insurance company send you back to the airline .
Anyway, all now resolved as sitting back at home. A big thank you to VFlyer and those that have made comments etc, believe me it is a great help
For anyone still stranded best of luck to you and don’t forget to check your app if you don’t use it.
