VH - a bit of a moan...

[Pinklepurr361]

We've booked a VH Fly Drive for March 08. There will be two children who will be aged 8 and 6 when we go.

VH recommended the Platinum Package for the car hire as it included car seats. At the time of booking we though this was a great idea as it would reduce the luggage we'd need to take. I've just been on the phone to VH to check this (as brochure states "child seats included" on one page and "baby seats included" on another) and they tell me that car seats are only included up to age 6 (no mention of this anywhere in the brochure) We can request a booster for our 8 year old but we'd need to pay an extra supplement locally. Likewise, my 6 year old is small for her age and needs a booster with a back, but she couldn't confirm if this type of seat could be provided by Dollar. I know my daughter would be mortified to be sat in a baby seat with a harness!

Does anyone have any experience of the child seats provided by Dollar, or indeed of the supplements to pay for a booster cushion or seat? I've looked on the Dollar and VH website but cannot find any more info about this.

My feeling at the moment is to downgrade to the Fully Inclusive package and take our own car seats with us. Mind you, they'll probably charge me an admin fee which wipes out the reduction in the cost!

NB: We've got a C4 car if that makes a difference but we're hoping to upgrade to a Full size

[luke]

We had a bit of a moan concerning cars with VH/Dollar too - in that they took my card details at MCO and said it was just for any damage or whatever - then they billed us for an extra driver despite the fact that only one of us drove - without telling us leading me to wonder months later why £80 had been taken from my account!! Never did get it sorted out either

[DISWolves]

Quite a few people who book VH fly drives....do not pick up the car and make alternate car hire arrangements. Car Insurance with VH is stupid cost :scared1:
Have been recommended to try Airline Networks for car hire with Dollar, but would also suggest that you get Dollar Express car, to save on long waits at rental booking desk :thumbsup2

[wayneg]

We had a bit of a moan concerning cars with VH/Dollar too - in that they took my card details at MCO and said it was just for any damage or whatever - then they billed us for an extra driver despite the fact that only one of us drove - without telling us leading me to wonder months later why £80 had been taken from my account!! Never did get it sorted out either

They did the same for me at Easter, charged me about $160. Partly my fault for not reading the contract I was signing well enough. After numerous rentals with them I thought nothing of it, just expected it to be same as always. I was on the way home and read the return printout before I saw the charge. In our case I had prepaid in UK for DW to drive.
Thankfully my experience getting it back was great. I had a problem because I cancelled the card I had paid with but they sorted it all for me.
How long since is it you were charged? I am adding the contact details of the person that dealt with my case if you want to try him if you can't get anywhere with Virgin. Did you only give 1 driving licence details? if you gave both I doubt you have a case but if you gave 1 then I would insist on refund.
Booking thru VH is the most expensive way of booking a Dollar car. For us next August for 24 nights Airnet is about £500 VH is about £800:scared1:
Wayne

Ian Davison
International Account Representative
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
Tel: (813) 286-6723
Fax: (813) 286-6733
Ian.Davison@DTAG.Com

[Freaky]

We booked a VH flydrive last Christmas and booked it well in advance with the extra insurances. A few months before our trip we changed our booking as we had decided not to pick up the car and get a car via another site at a lot better price. To save being charged the admin fees (which are per person!) we added a few park tickets to our booking (getting the 10% off for Virgin Flying club members) which meant the total cost to VH was not reduced. VH then didn't charge the admin fees as the cost did not reduce so we were all happy :goodvibes

[luke]

exactly the same Wayne, didn't read it til we got home. Sadly we gave both licences, as they asked, so it's a lost cause

[Pinklepurr361]

Quite a few people who book VH fly drives....do not pick up the car and make alternate car hire arrangements. Car Insurance with VH is stupid cost :scared1:
Have been recommended to try Airline Networks for car hire with Dollar, but would also suggest that you get Dollar Express car, to save on long waits at rental booking desk :thumbsup2

Thanks for the advice. We're due to pay £220:scared1: for 10 days Platinum car insurance which supposedly covers every additional cost (though now without 1 car seat as we learnt today). The car we have is currently part of the FD cost but we want something bigger. I will check out Airline Network and get some quotes to book something separately.

I do feel a bit of an idiot in believing that VH were selling me something I actually needed. I will do my homework now and see what I can come up with.

Thanks

PP

[wayneg]

exactly the same Wayne, didn't read it til we got home. Sadly we gave both licences, as they asked, so it's a lost cause

oh well you live and learn. My Brother rented in Vegas with Dollar last month after my recomendation. Told him to use Airline network but he thought he would save money as he saw a great deal on Dollar.com, when he got there the price trippled with all the insurances etc.
They have lost his business because of it, going back to using Hertz in future.

[wayneg]

Thanks for the advice. We're due to pay £220:scared1: for 10 days Platinum car insurance which supposedly covers every additional cost (though now without 1 car seat as we learnt today). The car we have is currently part of the FD cost but we want something bigger. I will check out Airline Network and get some quotes to book something separately.


10 days rental for Full size(Dodge charger) should be around £170 then upgrade to Platinum another £20 total about £190 but don't think any child seats are included.
This is from T&C's
Child Seats (forward facing for children weighing 20 - 40 lbs) US$7.00 per day + local taxes

You will have to compare with VH it might be no cheaper.

[Pinklepurr361]

10 days rental for Full size(Dodge charger) should be around £170 then upgrade to Platinum another £20 total about £190 but don't think any child seats are included.
This is from T&C's
Child Seats (forward facing for children weighing 20 - 40 lbs) US$7.00 per day + local taxes

You will have to compare with VH it might be no cheaper.

Thanks. I've just been checking Airline Network and have just come up with the same. I think we will take our own booster seats to be sure the kids are safe. This is definately cheaper than taking the car with VH. I will read the small print and then decide in the next day or so.

[wayneg]

However you book, like DISWolves, I recommend registering with Dollar Express on Dollar.com. Saved me about 2 hours in the last 2 visits, just walk right to the front:)

[angel659]

I was reading on TGM that children over 4 do not need a car seat????

I am still taking my booster seats for my children dd will be 8 in December just to be safe.

[Pinklepurr361]

I was reading on TGM that children over 4 do not need a car seat????

I am still taking my booster seats for my children dd will be 8 in December just to be safe.

I agree completely. My son is average weight and height but my daughter is small and light for her age and I'd never go anywhere without a seat for either of them.

[Pinklepurr361]

However you book, like DISWolves, I recommend registering with Dollar Express on Dollar.com. Saved me about 2 hours in the last 2 visits, just walk right to the front:)

Great advice, I will register with Dollar Express. Thanks for all your help.

[catherine]

Quite a few people who book VH fly drives....do not pick up the car and make alternate car hire arrangements. Car Insurance with VH is stupid cost :scared1:
Have been recommended to try Airline Networks for car hire with Dollar, but would also suggest that you get Dollar Express car, to save on long waits at rental booking desk :thumbsup2

That is exactly what we do

When our DD's needed a car seat or booster seat we used to take our own. We would use the car seat for our youngest DD on the plane and put the booster seat in a suitcase!

[Babyboo]

Does anyone have any experience of the child seats provided by Dollar, or indeed of the supplements to pay for a booster cushion or seat? I've looked on the Dollar and VH website but cannot find any more info about this.

My feeling at the moment is to downgrade to the Fully Inclusive package and take our own car seats with us. Mind you, they'll probably charge me an admin fee which wipes out the reduction in the cost!

NB: We've got a C4 car if that makes a difference but we're hoping to upgrade to a Full size

When we went in January the only seats they had were the bigger baby seats. No boosters available. I got the impression they do not provide them.

Our DD was 4 but she is small so fitting in the seat was not a problem. However when we went in June we took our own booster as carry on and will be doing the same next week.

HTH

[scojos]

we too found no boosters so drove to local walmart. It is cheaper to buy than to rent if your child like ours was "borderline", we took our own car set for the baby - I know where its been and how it has been treated. I know i am sad, but my child safety comes first.

Tracy