Updated Schedule - Winter 2020 / Summer 2021

Surely this will be dependent on the US lifting their travel ban and the UK scrapping the planned quarantine for arrivals?

Neither of those precludes VS from operating. Whether it’s commercially viable to do so is a different matter.

What VS can’t do right now is fly passengers into MCO as that’s not currently one of the 13 airports approved for UK arrivals.

Surely this will be dependent on the US lifting their travel ban and the UK scrapping the planned quarantine for arrivals?

Neither of those precludes VS from operating. Whether it’s commercially viable to do so is a different matter.

What VS can’t do right now is fly passengers into MCO as that’s not currently one of the 13 airports approved for UK arrivals.

And the FCO would need to change its advice from All But Essential Travel in order for travellers to be covered by travel insurance etc.

July 20th would be six weeks to the day (and hence two three-weekly reviews) into the UK quarantine.

Which makes me wonder if VS has been tipped the wink about an air bridge agreement between the UK and US.

Otherwise it’s a huge gamble making such a confident statement when as things stand MCO is completely off limits.

There are no direct LHR MCO flights loaded in for July yet

Surely this will be dependent on the US lifting their travel ban and the UK scrapping the planned quarantine for arrivals?

The two are separate, as the US will decide on their travel ban, and the UK will decide on any potential quarantine.

My gut feeling is that the UK and US have agreed an airbridge deal to allow quarantine-free travel from July 20th, and the airlines have been given the heads up before it’s publicly announced.

Maybe VS has jumped the gun - otherwise it’s being utterly reckless by confidently announcing the resumption of flights to an airport it’s currently not allowed to serve.

The limited resumption is now being reported in the media... It looks like it was on twitter.

Reading the latest travel advisories for Hong Kong and Shanghai again it’s still very restrictive and one wonders if VS have inside information.

Hong Kong travel ban has been extended through Sept except for transit passengers

Shanghai all passengers entering through Pudong will be subject to a CV19 test and centralised 14 day quarantine ( including transit PAX )

From VS trade;

The first of our planned flights will be from London Heathrow to Orlando and Hong Kong on the 20th July, however, we are monitoring external conditions extremely closely, particularly the travel restrictions many countries have in place - including the 14-day quarantine policy for travellers entering the UK. We know that as the Covid-19 crisis subsides, air travel will be a vital enabler of the UK’s economic recovery. Therefore, we are calling for a multi-layered approach of carefully targeted public health and screening measures, which will allow for a successful and safe restart of international air travel for passengers and businesses.

We are planning to announce more flights to more destinations in the next two weeks for the month of August.

Virgin Atlantic planned return to flying from London Heathrow Terminal 2*
Flights will be loaded into systems over the next two weeks and are subject to change.

Restart date. Route
20th July 2020London Heathrow – Orlando
20th July 2020London Heathrow – Hong Kong
21st July 2020London Heathrow – Shanghai
21st July 2020London Heathrow – New York JFK
21st July 2020London Heathrow – Los Angeles

*Virgin Atlantic operates temporarily from Terminal 2 at Heathrow, due to LHR’s terminal consolidation. Virgin Atlantic will return to its much loved home at London Heathrow Terminal 3 as soon as the terminal is reopened.

[mitchja]

More info about the measures VS are putting in place once flights do resume:

Health and wellbeing of customers
To ensure the health and safety of our people and customers, we are implementing additional measures to offer peace of mind in the airport and when taking to the skies.

These include enhanced and thorough cleaning practices at check in, boarding gates and onboard including the use of electrostatic spraying of high-grade disinfectant onboard in all our cabins and lavatories, ensuring no surface is left untouched.

Safe distancing will also be adhered to wherever possible, particularly at check-in and boarding and where not possible, masks will be required. We will provide a personal Health Pack for the wellbeing and comfort of all customers, which will contain medical grade face masks as a requirement to be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand gel. In the short term, we will also be offering a simplified hot food service onboard to minimise contact, enclosed from preparation in a COVID-safe, monitored environment directly to customers’ seats.

Full details can be found here

It seems there was a meeting today between airlines and the government about the quarantine rule. VS was there, BA refused to go.

Given VS’s confident announcement today of the resumption of MCO flights from July 20th - something that’s currently impossible - I think it’s safe to assume the government gave VS assurances that haven’t, as yet, been made public.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52927481

Surely this will be dependent on the US lifting their travel ban and the UK scrapping the planned quarantine for arrivals?

The two are separate, as the US will decide on their travel ban, and the UK will decide on any potential quarantine.

Yes, I get that. But I doubt many UK-originating passengers on a return trip will be up for going if both of these are still in place.

*Virgin Atlantic operates temporarily from Terminal 2 at Heathrow, due to LHR’s terminal consolidation. Virgin Atlantic will return to its much loved home at London Heathrow Terminal 3 as soon as the terminal is reopened.

Not sure about much loved - nobody really loves T3 unless you have lounge access. T2 is so much better.

Had my 8th July JFK flight cancellation come through. I have to say the communication hasn't been what I'd expect of VS. Last week on social media e.g. Twitter and then in news media they announced they would start flying commercially again from 20th July. Naturally I read this that our flights would not be departing, although on VS' Flight Status tool the JFK flights were still showing as operating and the same via My Booking. By Saturday My Booking said a flight change had occured although nothing had seemingly changed and by Sunday the flight was no longer showing on the Flight Status tool. Finally today the email communication has come through and frankly unless you are 'in the know' it would be practically impossible to deduce that you can claim a cash refund.

I fully understand the financial position VS and other airlines are in but burying the route to a refund is disgusting and should not be allowed. Part of our group travelling the same route/date booked with BA who notified a week prior and although somewhat hidden in the cancellation email the detail about a refund is there.

I love flying VS but tactics like this just feel a bit dishonest to me, I'm sure there are large numbers of people receiving a cancellation and being guided to vouchers with the choice of whether they want to risk prices being a lot higher next year as a result of pent up demand.

*Virgin Atlantic operates temporarily from Terminal 2 at Heathrow, due to LHR’s terminal consolidation. Virgin Atlantic will return to its much loved home at London Heathrow Terminal 3 as soon as the terminal is reopened.

Not sure about much loved - nobody really loves T3 unless you have lounge access. T2 is so much better.

I've never used T3, but the one time I used T2 when flying on a Little Red flight to MAN just before they ended them I was impressed.

Isn't it a medium-to-long-term aspiration to expand T2 further and close T3?

It is. Very long-term though. Decades.

Hi.
Does anyone know why VS are not selling direct flights in U/C to ATL or MIA in Dec 2020?

As an example I can see VS117 and VS5 on Dec 2 to MIA with seats available in all classes except UC.
Dec 12 same with no UC to MIA .
Treid ATL on same dates and VS103 is sold out on both dates!

Also tried few other dates all show UC as sold out. Only choices are Delta one on DL direct flights!

My brother has an issue with these changes albeit indirectly.

Last year he booked a holiday with TUI to MBJ but opted not to fly with TUI Airlines and selected VS instead. They’ve now just cancelled his booking and TUI say they are ‘working things out’

Nothing like being in limbo for a holiday due in October

I’m heading to NYC with VS on the 19th December for a few days and all looks to be rosy. Looking forward to trying new UC on the 351.

Until the US opens its borders, all you will do us get yourcESTA revoked:

From USCBP site
In accordance with Proclamation—Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus, effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 16, 2020, the entry into the United States is suspended for most individuals, other than United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, who have been physically present within the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland within 14 days of travel to the United States. Proclamation 9993 regarding travel from a Schengen Area country also remains in effect. Any traveler with a valid ESTA who is subject to the Proclamation and who attempts to travel the United States in violation of the Proclamation will have their ESTA canceled. ESTA will not refund applications that are canceled due to this Proclamation. Travelers who have questions about whether they are subject to, or exempted from, the Proclamation should refer to the Proclamation language, and consult with the U.S. Department of State and the air carrier, as appropriate, in advance of travel to avoid travel disruptions. Proclamation 9984 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus and Other Appropriate Measures To Address This Risk), Proclamation 9992 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), and Proclamation 9993 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus) all remain in effect.

Routesonline updates ;

Belfast – Orlando eff 20JUN21 A330-300 replaces 747-400, 1 weekly (Previously listed from 28MAR21)
London Heathrow – Atlanta eff 28MAR21 787-9 operates 1 daily, replacing previously listed A350-1000XWB
London Heathrow – Orlando eff 28MAR21 Service operates 2 daily, instead of initially listed 1 daily (This replaces 2 daily 747 service from Gatwick)
VS135 LHR1100 – 1515MCO 332 D
VS091 LHR1330 – 1745MCO 789 x1
VS091 LHR1330 – 1745MCO 332 1

VS136 MCO1725 – 0640+1LHR 332 D
VS092 MCO2005 – 0920+1LHR 789 x1
VS092 MCO2005 – 0920+1LHR 332 1

Previously reported changes:
Glasgow – Orlando eff 31MAR21 A330-300 replaces 747-400, 2 weekly
London Heathrow – Boston eff 28MAR21 2 daily A330-300, replacing 1 daily each A330 and 787-9
London Heathrow – Cape Town Seasonal service operates until 24APR21, 3 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Delhi eff 28MAR21 787-9 replaces A330-300, 2 daily
London Heathrow – Miami eff 28MAR21 787-9 replaces A330-300 in S20, 1 daily
London Heathrow – Mumbai eff 28MAR21 787-9 replaces A330-300, 1 daily
London Heathrow – San Francisco eff 28MAR21 1 of 2 daily operated by A350-1000XWB, replacing 787-9
London Heathrow – Tel Aviv eff 28MAR21 Increase from 1 to 2 daily, 787-9 operating (The 787-9 replaces A330-300 from 25OCT20)
Manchester – Bridgetown eff 29MAR21 Increase from 3 weekly in S20 to 4 weekly, A330-200 operating
Manchester – Delhi Planned 3 weekly service cancelled (This route will not be offered as planned from late-October 2020)
Manchester – Los Angeles eff 28MAR21 A330-300 replaces A330-200 in S20, 3 weekly
Manchester – New York JFK eff 28MAR21 A330-300 replaces -200, 1 daily
Manchester – Orlando eff 28MAR21 12 weekly A330-200/-300 replaces 747-400/A330-300 in S20

London Heathrow – Antigua 01OCT20 – 22OCT20 787-9 operates 1 weekly
VS133 LHR1210 – 1555ANU 789 4
VS134 ANU1800 – 0715+1LHR 789 4

The airline also operates 2 weekly London Heathrow – Antigua – Grenada and 1 weekly London Heathrow – Antigua – Tobago service with A330-300, for the month of October 2020.

London Heathrow – Montego Bay 02OCT20 – 23OCT20 787-9 operates 2 weekly
VS165 LHR1210 – 1550MBJ 789 25
VS166 MBJ1835 – 0935+1LHR 789 25

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... 20Atlantic

Joy leaps from me. Just looked at the summer 2021 Manchester/ Orlando aircraft we have been allocated, just as I suspected all the junk Heathrow don’t want. Don’t bank on getting anything nearly new as now been put on hold for the foreseeable future. After this next holiday I think a lot of us may be looking at major flight/holiday changes. They have also shot therselves in the foot by not talking to the already bookedand paid for customerswho feel badly let down with no way of getting in touch, all customer services routes were closed down. Very bad move. Email requests would have eased a lot of worrying customers.

Joy leaps from me. Just looked at the summer 2021 Manchester/ Orlando aircraft we have been allocated, just as I suspected all the junk Heathrow don’t want. Don’t bank on getting anything nearly new as now been put on hold for the foreseeable future. After this next holiday I think a lot of us may be looking at major flight/holiday changes. They have also shot therselves in the foot by not talking to the already bookedand paid for customerswho feel badly let down with no way of getting in touch, all customer services routes were closed down. Very bad move. Email requests would have eased a lot of worrying customers.

I am just hoping that they survive as an airline - not sure what expectations that there can be on new aircraft when the airline is still in a fight for survival and to keep as many jobs going. Still making a better commitment to Manchester than other UK competitor trans Atlantic airlines.

I don't think MAN is getting the 'junk' - its allocating resources appropriately. MAN will have the 332s and 333s. 332s of which will leave in early 2022 with 339s replacing them - hardly 'junk'.

Ruby Slipper - 350 is painted and ready - I expect VS to still take delivery of new aircraft, just slower than expected. It's been widely reported that additional investors are ready to invest in VS. I for one don't have any concerns over their future. What a future VS looks like, may be different but, at it's core with the AF KLM DL JV its a strong proposition.

Not sure how comprehensive that update is as it seems to have omitted MAN-ATL (there is no way that would be suspended before some of the others that remain unless it has been handed over to DL - and I don’t think it has).

People on Twitter today asking if the flight goes as planned but FCO advice still says the same and the borders are closed to U.K. travellers are they entitled to a refund? The short answer is no from vs.
I don’t think they would willingly do that that to thousands of customers as it would completely destroy them as a brand/company. Just wish Donald Duck would give some indication of what’s going on.
I’m really concerned that no plans are currently made/announced from Manchester for the remainder of this year too .