How far in advance can you book Virgin

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Okay I'm going to sound somewhat obsessed here but hey I'm sure I'm in good company on The Dis.:dance3:

Question: We're planning our next trip for end Jun 2009. I want to fly direct out of Glasgow with Virgin and we're planning to book a package with them. I know that the direct flights out of Gla when the Scottish schools break for summer have filled up pretty quickly for 2008 and what I want to know is when is the earliest next year we can book our 2009 package with Virgin to ensure we get flights the Sat that the schools break up?

Thanks in advance for any info :flower3:

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

Brochures for 2009 don't come out I think until around next May, so you probably will have to wait until then.
If you want clarification from Virgin, give them a call on 0871 222 5825.

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Thanks Johnny, that's exactly what I needed to know. Your a star.

[luvtinkerbell]

:thumbsup2 Just spoke to virgin, the brochures for 2009 are out at the end of november :cool1:

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks Johnny, that's exactly what I needed to know. Your a star.

No problem. ;)

[JohnnySharp2]

:thumbsup2 Just spoke to virgin, the brochures for 2009 are out at the end of november :cool1:

hmm, I actually rang them myself after I originally posted and was told like I thought "brochures out in May".
Just 6 months difference then speaking to 2 different people, no wonder their Customer Service levels drop!

[2ScottishPrincesses]

:thumbsup2 Just spoke to virgin, the brochures for 2009 are out at the end of november :cool1:

Oh Luvtinkerbell, now you've got me too excited for words:yay:

My DD11 has just been looking over my shoulder and now considers me the craziest mum on the plant '*** I was showing her the ticker and pointed out that in three weeks times our count down will be into the teens (thats months not weeks unfortunately). :confused3

[JohnnySharp2]

Oh Luvtinkerbell, now you've got me too excited for words:yay:

My DD11 has just been looking over my shoulder and now considers me the craziest mum on the plant '*** I was showing her the ticker and pointed out that in three weeks times our count down will be into the teens (thats months not weeks unfortunately). :confused3

Best bet is probably to wait a month then give them a ring, if they say "brochure will be out in March", then that's 3 different months!!
Maybe if we ALL ring and speak to a different person we will have our own DIS calendar of months. :rolleyes:

[PhilUK]

We've managed to book 15 months in advance the last 2 Years !

Phil

[fizz13]

will be watching and waiting with interest as i am planning for october 2009, its so nice that someone here is always watching for me:goodvibes

[fccabs]

Hi everyone

I'm new to the Uk forum and just wondered if people found it cheaper to book using Virgin Holidays or direct with Disney themselves???

[juliebrooks35]

We booked for 30/6/07 with Virgin on 6th March 06 when the Florida 07 preview brochure came out if this helps.

My opinion of Virgin has really gone downhill in recent years and I certainly won't use them again, we used to rate them highly but now feel like their customer service can be appalling and the cabin crew downright rude at times. On our last trip, they ran out of kids packs & although I have 2 kids of 'kid pack' age that were looking forward to getting theirs, I realise these things happy and would have been more than happy with an apology but the cabin crew really couldn't really have cared less and didn't even bother to hide it. Some people on board didn't get pre-ordered meals etc, the car hire booked with them was all messed up........ I could on but I'll spare you all the details. :headache: To cut a long stort short, unless you get a really good price with them, I'd suggest you have a good look at all the other options before booking. It's only my opinion of course but as a company they are very overpriced when they don't appear to offer anything worth the extra money and in my opinion that money is better spent in all those Orlando shopping malls.:banana:

Re: getting excited about your upcoming trip, I too spend many hours thinking about my summer 2009 trip. It's just so hard to wait that long.........I really wish I could afford it next year.:yay:

[2ScottishPrincesses]

We booked for 30/6/07 with Virgin on 6th March 06 when the Florida 07 preview brochure came out if this helps.

I'd suggest you have a good look at all the other options before booking. It's only my opinion of course but as a company they are very overpriced when they don't appear to offer anything worth the extra money and in my opinion that money is better spent in all those Orlando shopping malls.:banana:

Re: getting excited about your upcoming trip, I too spend many hours thinking about my summer 2009 trip. It's just so hard to wait that long.........I really wish I could afford it next year.:yay:

Hi Julie, thanks for your input. To put you in the picture until this summer I worked for BA at GLA apt and used staff travel for my holidays (intensely stressfull but also v cheap!!). I am now planning my first holiday which will not involve the stress of staff travel and going via London. I realy want to fly directly to Orlando on the weekend that the schools break for the summer and the only other company I can think of who also fly direct would be FlyGlobespan whom I've also heard bad reports about. Also there is the problem of buying flight separately from accomodation, my eldest DD will be 13 at the time and so would have to pay an adult fare, if we get a package she would only pay the teenager rate incl. accomodation. Sorry this is becoming a bit of a saga isn't it. If you know of any good companies or other ways of doing this I would be over the moon to hear about it. We're wanting to stay at WL as we stayed there this summer and all fell head over heals with the place:love: .

I know I'm sounding realy pickey about what I want but to be perfectly honest '*** the trips for my big 4 Ohhhhhh, I want it to be just perfect. You would not believe the planning that's going into this holiday, I've even planned the schedule for the actual day...well if I don't no one else will!!!

Thanks again...Kirstie (now sounding very obsessed and in need of some kind of support group:rotfl: )

[wideeyes]

In november 2006 a brochure came out in november for departures up to April 2008, and the full 2008 brochure came in 2007. This may explain why VH have given two different dates. The brochure that is out in November may only include the first months of 2009 if it is like what happened last year.

[Jakey Rowling]

Also there is the problem of buying flight separately from accomodation, my eldest DD will be 13 at the time and so would have to pay an adult fare, if we get a package she would only pay the teenager rate incl. accomodation.

I sympathise with the wish to fly GLA to MCO and if you want a package deal then go for it, but the difference for an adult flight price is about £150.
I'm not sure if you want to stay onsite or offsite regarding accommodation costs.

I know the trouble is that the price Virgin charge for the flight only can make a private accommodation option not that attractive when compared to a package and it's not a coincidence. :(

Not sure if your package includes a car, you should definitely look at the cost of a private car, just don't pick it up the virgin one in Orlando.

I'd spend some time between now and the time of booking to investigate a DIY holiday flying from GLA to see if you can get better value for money.
At least you'll know you got the best deal to suit your circumstances and you'll learn a lot of good stuff along the way.

[juliebrooks35]

I agree with Jakey, it's great fun researching all the options. :banana:

Virgin may well be your best bet if you are keen to fly direct to MCO from Glasgow (and I can see why you would be after the stress of recent years:) )
Is Sanford an option? Lots of the charter airlines fly from Glasgow to Sanford and can often have some good deals.
I think in 2009 we are going to try Continental on the day after the schools break up as the prices seem quite good but you do need to transfer in Newark and I know you would prefer a direct flight.
I completely know where you are coming from on the packages being cheaper than doing it independently but sometimes you can get some bargains both ways so it's definitely worth pricing all the options before making a decision. We usually stay in timeshare accomodation so we have no choice but to book independantly & it hurts to pay an adult fare for my oldest daughter who was 14 this year. Sometimes on a package, you can also get a free child place for the young ones which you don't get in booking just airfares but I reckon the packages recoup their money elsewhere so it's worth investigating.

I reckon that if the holiday is part of a special occasion though then it's worth just doing things exactly the way you want them regardless of cost:)
Have fun working it all out :dance3:

[sharon78]

Ill be watching and waiting too, not sure yet tho April 09 or Oct 09 depends on school holidays. :goodvibes