Virgin Atlantic passengers in 'nightmare' 33-hour delay from Las Vegas to London

Holidaymakers are demanding compensation after a flight from Las Vegas to Gatwick, London, was delayed by 33 hours.

Virgin Atlantic Flight 44 was meant to take off at 4.30pm local time on Monday.

But the plane did not leave Las Vegas until Wednesday morning after a string of "nightmare" delays.

Passengers were put in a hotel on Monday night, but then ended up sleeping o the terminal floor on Tuesday following continuous delays.

Travellers said they were initially told the delay was caused by an air-conditioning fault but were then told it was a problem with the plane's rudder.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, banker Michael Jazanovich, 30, from Crouch End, north London, who was returning from a stag do, said: "It was an absolute nightmare for everyone involved. The delays were unacceptable and excruciating as they were pushed back and back and people had to sleep in the airport."

According to the Mirror, a Virgin spokeswoman said: "We'd like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

"The flight was initially delayed due to a technical issue and the delay was then extended because of strong winds around the McCarran airport area which hampered the use of the high level machinery required to complete the repair."

It has been suggested passengers will receive around €600 compensation for the return flights, which cost around £1,000.

The spokeswoman said: "All our customers were provided with hotel accommodation and meals while they waited, and they will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

"In addition we will be providing eligible customers with EU compensation to the equivalent of €600 per person.

"Customers should visit www.virginatlantic.com/euclaimapplication for advice about eligibility, details of the claims process and to download an application form."

But some are not happy with that idea, and a group of passengers have now set up a Facebook page to help them take joint legal action against Virgin over the incident as, according to Jazanovich, they are "expecting a lot more".