VAA Commercial Policy due to ComAir (BA) suspension of services

1. If your flights are still operating

Affected Cities

(To/From/Through)

Any VS ticketed itineraries involving a ComAir (BA) operated flight; ComAir flights BA6000-6999 only.

Bookings from

Any

Bookings until

Any

Impacted travel date(s)

01 Jun-31 May 2023

New travel must be completed by

31 May 2023

Change fees

Waived; for date and flight changes

Where available, passengers may be rebooked onto alternative VS or Airlink (4Z) services where the following conditions are met;

- The original trip origin and trip destination are the same;

- The departure and arrival dates are within 14 days prior to or after the original departure and arrival dates;

- The booked cabin is the same as the original booked cabin;

- Bookings are made where possible in the original booking class, or where the original booking class is not available, the lowest available booking class for each sector of the journey;

- If original booking class isn’t available on connection, re-book in the lowest available class in the same cabin;

- No change fee or fare difference applies

Change of Travel Dates to VS services

If new travel date is within 14 days (prior to or following) original travel date, no fare change/fees will be applicable providing the same trip origin, trip destination, and operating cabin are booked, and the booking meets the terms as per above.

If new travel date is outside of 14 days of original travel date, fare difference will be applicable, but change fees will be waived.

Fare difference

Waived; must be the same trip origin/destination and operating cabin as originally booked

Change of Origin or Destination

Change fees are waived.

Fare difference applies.

Refund

Full refunds on unused sectors are permitted for departures through 31 May 2023, irrespective of whether the flights are cancelled or not, if the itinerary includes a Comair (BA) operated flight and the ticket is issued by Virgin Atlantic (VS).

General Guidelines

Is it allowed? Yes/No

Notes

Travel on earlier date than ticketed

Yes

Travel is permitted on an earlier date, with no fees, if the date is within the guidelines of this bulletin 

No-Show

Non-refundable and non-changeable unless fare rules allow changes and/or affected by legitimate change in circumstance (including ‘events beyond control’), please contact Virgin Atlantic or your travel agent to discuss your options.

Waive minimum/maximum

stays

Yes

Travel as per new booking dates 

Change origin or destination  

Yes

Change fees are waived.

Fare difference applies.

VAA is not responsible for airport/ground transfer costs.

Refund  

Yes

Full refunds on unused sectors are permitted for departures through 31 May 2023, irrespective of whether the flights are cancelled or not, if the itinerary includes a Comair (BA) operated flight and the ticket is issued by Virgin Atlantic (VS).

Rebooking Carrier Priority  

VS or;
VS/4Z (Airlink 4Z) or;
VS/SA (South African Airways SA)

VS/4Z Rebooking Guidelines:

Rebook onto 4Z-operated services in the lowest available 4Z RBD in the same cabin, as detailed below.   If the same cabin is not available on 4Z services, rebook in the lower cabin.

Between JNB and CPT/DUR/PLZ/HRE/LVI/WDH/MPM:

Business Cabin on 4Z

RBD: D/Z

Economy Cabin on 4Z

RBD: X/W/G/L/V/Q/S/T/O/M/B

VS/SA Rebooking Guidelines:

Rebook onto SA-operated services in the lowest available SA RBD in the same cabin, as detailed below.  If the same cabin is not available on SA services, rebook in the lower cabin.

VS/SA ticket must be issued by 31 Jul 22, and travel must commence from 11 Jun 22. Travel must be completed by 30 Apr 23.

The ticket must be using, and shall be identified by the presence of:

a.)   the text “INVOL” or ‘”SKCHG” in the fare basis area, or  
b.)   the text “INVOL” or ”SKCHG in endorsement area, or
c.)   “I” or “S” indicator at the beginning of the fare construction or fare component, or
d.)   any other evidence that a ticket has been re-issued from an original VS/BA Comair service

Business Cabin on SA

Between JNB and:

• CPT – Z
• DUR – Z
• MRU – D
• HRE – D
  

Economy Cabin on SA

Between JNB and:

• CPT – W/Q/H
• DUR – W/Q/H
• HRE – V/S/M
• MRU – V/S/M

Please add in an OSI:

a.)   INVOL or SKCHG reroute due Comair CXL as per SA/VS Agreement, or
b.)   Passenger/agency telephone number

Rebooking must only take place with knowledge of the impacted customer(s).

Rebooking to different cabin

No

Same cabin only

Cabin upgrades

Yes

Fare difference applies

Changes on Award bookings

(Virgin Atlantic flights only)

Yes

• Changes are allowed AND must be in the same cabin

• Upgrades are allowed subject to additional award points and/or costs

• Changes are strictly subject to award availability

• No rebooking options via another carrier