A honeymoon flight cancellation left one traveler grappling with frustration and uncertainty. The writer's flight to Barbados was abruptly canceled due to an impending hurricane, a day before their planned honeymoon. Having paid £1,932 for the flight, the writer opted for a refund rather than rebooking. What followed was an exasperating series of events involving Virgin Atlantic's refund process.
Initially, Virgin Atlantic confirmed that the refund would be processed. However, the writer later learned that the refund request had been inexplicably closed a month earlier. This revelation prompted the writer to make numerous calls to Virgin Atlantic in hopes of resolving the issue. Each call brought new insights into the mishap; the refund had not been processed due to an error. The writer's account was erroneously marked as "no shows," which halted the refund procedure.
Virgin Atlantic swiftly processed the refund within hours once the error was identified. In a gesture of goodwill, the airline also extended an apology to the customer.
"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delay," – Virgin Atlantic
The writer felt aggrieved by the experience, describing Virgin Atlantic's handling of the situation as insouciant. The ordeal was particularly distressing given that the £2,000 refund was for their honeymoon—a significant sum and a crucial part of their plans. The writer endured over three weeks of waiting before receiving confirmation that the refund would be fully paid.