What is Virgin Atlantic Cancellation Policy?

Virgin Atlantic’s cancellation policy applies to both refundable and non-refundable fares. The airlines also allow cancellation exceptions for bereavement reasons, provided passengers opt to cancel within 24 hours. 

The Key Aspects of The Cancellation Policy Include:

Refundable fares: Passengers can receive a refund for the unused flight tickets, subject to the Virgin Atlantic cancellation fee.

Non-refundable fares: Refunds are only available for airport taxes and government fees. A cancellation fee is still applicable. 

24-hour cancellation: It allows a full refund within 24 hours of purchase for flights to/from the U.S. and Canada.

Flight disruption: The airline offers rebooking or a refund for significant delays or cancellations. The additional protection is offered for US-bound passengers. 

Bereavement: The airline offers refunds under special circumstances, like the death of a passenger or an immediate family member.

What Is Virgin Atlantic’s 24-Hour Cancellation Policy?

Passengers can cancel their Virgin Atlantic flight ticket within 24 hours after purchase. Specific conditions apply:

• The cancellation has to be made by midnight on the day after the initial ticket purchase.
• Applicable to all classes of service and fare types.
• If the ticket is issued and the departure is on the same day, the flight itinerary must be cancelled. Also, the ticket must be canceled before midnight on the same day to claim a full refund. 

How Much is the Virgin Atlantic Cancellation Fee for Different Fare Types?

Virgin Atlantic cancellation fee applies differently to the refundable as well as non-refundable fares. Below is the overview of the cancellation penalty, as well as the table summarising the details:

Fully flexible fare: Offers a 100% refund on ticket value. No cancellation fee is assessed. The fare, fuel surcharge (YQ), and all taxes are fully refundable.

Refundable fare: It offers a refund minus the cancellation fee. The deduction can also be a percentage of the base fare and YQ surcharge or a flat fee. A service fee of 35 USD may apply in addition to the cancellation fee. 

Non-refundable fare: This fare allows a refund for the government taxes and airport fees. Apart from that, no component of the fare is refunded to the passenger. A 35 USD cancellation fee may apply. 

Special Cases: If the cancellation fee exceeds the fare value, the penalty is deducted from the YQ component. For instance, if the price of the ticket is 400 USD, YQ is 200 USD, and the Virgin Atlantic cancellation fee is 500 USD, the refund would be 100 USD after applying the penalty.

Below is the overview of the cancellation fee:

Fare Type	Cancellation Fee	Refundable Components	Service Fee
Fully Flexible	Free	Fare, YQ, taxes	Free
Refundable fare with a percentage-based fee	10-20% of the base fare value YQ	Remaining balance	35 USD per passenger
Refundable fare with a flat fee	200-500 USD, depending on the fare	Remaining balance	35 USD per passenger
Non-Refundable fare	Not applicable	Taxes only	35 USD per passenger
24-Hour Cancellation	Free	Fare, YQ, taxes	Free
Bereavement/Death	Free	Fare, YQ, taxes	Free

How to Cancel Virgin Atlantic Flight Booking?

To cancel the Virgin Atlantic flight booking, you can request online cancellation or contact the guest centre.

Cancel Online: Passengers can only cancel the Virgin Atlantic flight ticket if they haven’t completed the check-in for their flight. Here are the steps:

• Visit Virgin Atlantic’s official website and click on the My Booking tab.

• Now go to the Virgin Atlantic Manage Booking page.

• Enter the flight reservation code (6-digit alphanumeric code) that is provided at the time of booking. You can also find this on the booking confirmation mail sent to your registered email address at the time of booking. 

• Enter the passenger’s first name and last name. 
• You can also add the 13-digit ticket number to retrieve your flight booking.
• Click on the Search button to continue.
• Choose the flight segment or the itinerary that you want to cancel. 

• At the checkout page, you will see the refundable component and the cancellation fee applied to your booking.
• Click on the cancel button. You will get the confirmation email summarizing the details of the refund. 

Contact the Guest Contact Centre: Passengers calling from Australia call 13 67 89. If you’re outside Australia, visit the Virgin Atlantic website to find out the relevant number. 

Contact Your Travel Agent: Passengers who have booked the travel through an online travel agency need to contact them directly for any cancellations and changes. 

How Does Virgin Atlantic Handle Refunds for Refundable Fares?

Virgin Atlantic’s refundable fare offers greater flexibility for passengers who have a sudden change in their travel plans.  The Virgin Atlantic cancellation policy for refundable fares is subject to the following conditions:

• The airline offers a refund for the segment that is not used by the passenger. No service fee is charged.
• The airline reimburses the difference between the entire fare value and the cost of the unused portion of a partially utilized ticket.
• Refunds for these fares are processed through GDS for tickets that are issued by the travel agents. The refund is offered to the passenger who paid for the flight tickets. Refunds are issued in the same currency as the original flight booking was used. 

What Are the Refund Options for Non-Refundable Virgin Atlantic Fares?

Non-refundable fares are issued by Virgin Atlantic at discounted rates and offer low flexibility and are restricted in nature. Below is the guideline for Virgin Atlantic’s policy for non-refundable fares:

• For non-refundable fares, a refund can be claimed on the airport taxes and government surcharges.
• Fare and fuel surcharge (YQ) are non-refundable. 

• A fee of 35 USD would be deducted from the refunds for non-refundable fares. The service fee is not applicable if the cancellation is requested due to the death of the passenger.

Note: It is recommended to purchase travel insurance for non-refundable fares that mitigate financial risks. 

When Can Virgin Atlantic Refuse Passengers a Refund?

Virgin Atlantic denies its passengers a refund under certain conditions:

• If the flight cancellation is requested after the expiry of the ticket validity period, which is 12 months from the date of purchase. 
• If the passenger uses their Virgin Atlantic ticket as evidence to immigration to show they plan to leave their country, but they don’t take the flight. 
• Refunds may be refused if Virgin Atlantic denies boarding due to the improper conduct of the passenger. 

Passengers must ensure that the ticket remains valid and comply with the travel requirements to avoid refund denials. 

How Are Refunds Processed by Virgin Atlantic?

Virgin Atlantic processes refunds based on how the flight booking was purchased and the circumstances in which the passenger requested a flight cancellation:

GDS Processing: For bookings made through online travel agencies (OTA), refunds are managed by the GDS.

BSP link: Agents can also process the refund for Virgin Atlantic bookings via the BSP link, especially for flight tickets that are 12 months old. 

Direct flight reservation: Passengers who book directly with Virgin Atlantic can submit a refund request via the online form.

As per Virgin Atlantic’s refund policy, the airline processed the refund within 3-5 days. In certain conditions, the refund may take up to 2 weeks. 

What Compensation Is Available for Flight Delays?

Virgin Atlantic offers compensation for flight delays, especially when the arrival at the final destination is delayed:

• If the flight delay is for 4 hours or more, Virgin Atlantic offers food, drinks, and two short phone calls. In case the flight is delayed overnight, a hotel accommodation is offered to the passenger.
• In case of a flight delay for 5 hours or more, passengers can rebook the flight to a later date or cancel to request a full refund. 
• For travel to/from the US, the airline allows refunds for flight delays exceeding 6 hours or more on international flights. 

What Compensation Is Available If Virgin Atlantic Cancels a Flight?

As per Virgin Atlantic’s cancellation policy, if the airline cancels the flight, passengers can rebook at the earliest opportunity. In addition,

• The airline rescheduled to a convenient date in a comparable seat and with an equivalent class of service.
• The difference is reimbursed if the new fare is less expensive than the old one.
• The airline offers rebooking to another destination.
• Passengers can also request a full refund for a canceled flight. 

In all the above cases, passengers are eligible for compensation if the flight cancellation occurs within 14 days of the scheduled departure. 

Below is the overview of the compensation for canceled flights:

Time Before Departure	Compensation Range	Conditions
Within 7 Days	575 USD	No compensation if rebooked within 1 hour of the original departure time- Up to 575 USD if arrival is 4+ hours late
7–14 Days Before Departure	575 USD	No compensation if rebooked within 2 hours- Up to 575 USD if arrival is 4+ hours late

What Are the Rules for Partial Refunds and Ticket Changes?

For passengers who have already used the outbound flight or the first flight segment, Virgin Atlantic’s cancellation policy includes:

If the passenger uses one or two flight segments and cancels the remaining fare, they must pay the one-way fare for the used flight segment. If the one-way fare exceeds the original cost, no refund is issued. 

Conclusion

Virgin Atlantic’s cancellation policy offers flexibility to the refundable fares, and certain restrictions ot the non-refundable fares. The 24-hour cancellation window allows risk-free cancellations. On the other hand, this guide also shares instructions for passengers who want to cancel their Virgin Atlantic reservations online. Also, the airline’s cancellation fee varies with the fare types, with full flex fare incurring non-cancellation fees. 

For further details or to initiate a refund, contact the Virgin Atlantic Customer Centre. The 24/7 trained staff help passengers review the booking conditions and empower them with the right information. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)