Likely missed connection - EY/VA <start rant>

[Virgin Bart]

So, my girlfriend is on a LHR-AUH (EY)-MEL (EY)-SYD (VA) flight, all under one PNR and ticketed by VA.

The AUH-MEL flight gets in at 1920, and the MEL-SYD flight departs at 2100. Those times will work no doubt, however, the AUH-MEL flight has been delayed by an average of about one hour for the last four days.

Since it's the last flight out of MEL to SYD on a Sunday evening I decided to give VA a call and ask what happens if she misses that flight.

The rage started when I got told that "if you miss the MEL-SYD flight sir you will forfeit the rest of the ticket and the remainder of the ticket will be cancelled". Clearly misunderstood.

So I explained again and again. I finally got told "don't worry, sir, we will not leave you stranded in MEL, will will book you onto the next available MEL-SYD flight, free of charge!". Oh the generosity!

I then informed him it would be at least 8 hours til the next available MEL-SYD flight. He was unphased and informed me that "that's interesting sir".

So, whilst my call centre experiences are far from good, I find VA fantastic on the ground, hence my loyalty to them. Could anyone inform me what would happen if this connection was missed? Namely:

- hotel for the night? process for this?
- will she have a choice or be put on literally the next available flight?
- is there then any scope of changing it to a MEL-CBR flight, since at that stage the flight will be exclusively VA's?

Those were my original three questions to VA, I couldn't even get to asking them. Grr. 36 minutes wasted.

Thanks in advance!

 

[markis10]

They will look after the mis-connects with accommodation and another flight, and you can choose that flight in most cases, something most people are not aware of.

 

[mella2007]

Don't stress. The important thing is that she is on the one PNR and VA will certainly do the right thing. They are also aware with connections and delays when people should be on certain flights and normally have someone to assist upon arrival if/should it happen

 

[chrisb]

I've had family miss VA/VA connections and they were treated as you'd expect. Buses, hotels, food, etc.

I'm not overly surprised that VA isn't willing to discuss hypothetical situations. It really does depend on what happens on the night.