Virgin Atlantic Car Hire - Booking - Painful ....

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Finally Booked the flights on line, no problem.

Booked car hire on line, the form was obviously in error because the pickup times were up to 12:00 so you could not pick a time say 4 pm in the afternoon, when we arrive, not a problem I thought, will ring later...

Booked it. Medium car for 2 weeks about 250 quid, bargain I thought.

Then the problems, the E Ticket comes and says no insurance, yet when I booked the car it has the box at the top saying Virgin All Inclusive, or Virgin Platinum, the Fully Inclusive is ticked by default.

So the E ticket comes and says no insurance. Right, fair enough, firstly I ring up, and try to get the lady to understand I want to change the times on the phone for when I pick up the car. It took 10 minutes, I kid you not to get the woman to understand that it was the car hire I wanted to change not the flights. After 20 minutues of her trying to find the reservation, the computer system is not working, can you ring back in the morning.!

I ring today, lady kindly changes the times, to pick up at 4, although we did get that wrong to start with as I said 4, she thought I meant 4 am , not 4 pm !

So the times are changed.

The car does not include the insurance, your covered only for third party, so the fully inclusive package was not in the booking form so maybe I missed something, but I can't say I did, but that explains why it was so cheap !

Anyway I said lets have the insurance please, can you debit the same credit card, Yes no problem, 5 minutes later, there is a problem with the computer system, can you ring back tomorrow.

Very very poor service, I get the impression they are cutting corners everywhere to save cash.

I thought I would share my experience with you all.

:confused3

[irongirlof12]

sounds like a right ordeal. :upsidedow

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I'd book it separate next time - not much consolation I know! How frustrating for you:eek:

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I just checked the booking,
I have now have 2 cars booked !!


Muppets !

[CustardTart]

I just checked the booking,
I have now have 2 cars booked !!


Muppets !

:scared1: :scared1: :scared1:

Good luck sorting that out... :confused:

[wayneg]

Thankfully never had to ring Virgin, so many people have problems with them.
Almost sure your car will work out expensive with them, my quote for 24 nights in August was over £800 for fullsize. Can get SUV on USrenatcar for £450.
Hope you get it sorted.

[penlanspice]

Why don't you cancel it and re-book with someone else? I'm sure it would work out much cheaper than virgin.

[Rodents R Us]

Hi there,

Ii also don't like the recent Virgin customer service. They are quick on cash uptake but not customer care. Having said this, my holiday booked with Virgin Holidyas gave me a car that i couldn't beat online? I don't know why but it may be due to the discounts Virgin gave me at booking that can't be beaten on a seperate basis.

[wayneg]

Having said this, my holiday booked with Virgin Holidyas gave me a car that i couldn't beat online? I don't know why but it may be due to the discounts Virgin gave me at booking that can't be beaten on a seperate basis.

Not heard that for a long time, give us some details, what you get out of them?

[Rodents R Us]

Hi, I looked at my holiday on its own- i.e just flights and hotel. I then went online and looked at adding my own car to the above. This came out to be more than having the complete package. If this is wrong i'm happy to be corrected. My booking shows a discount £337.00 for being a frequent flyer and a further discount called a premium discount of £240.00 and another discount of 160.00. Apparently, someone in previous threads said that you should accept a car on the quote even if you don't pick it up when you get there?? The discount is bigger if a car is included?

Look it up, it may still be on here somewhere.

[Shooby doo]

I would cancel your Virgin car & book seperately,I normally use www.holidayautos.co.uk -this time we got a I4 fully inclusive for £380 for 3 weeks.How they get away with giving a so called free/cheap car then stiffing you with insurance I don't know!
SD:thumbsup2

[Jakey Rowling]

I would cancel your Virgin car & book seperately,I normally use www.holidayautos.co.uk -this time we got a I4 fully inclusive for £380 for 3 weeks.How they get away with giving a so called free/cheap car then stiffing you with insurance I don't know!
SD:thumbsup2

I'd agree in principle, but don't cancel the car, just leave it on the booking with the minimal insurance.

Virgin Holidays have been known to adjust the package price as they don't do flight only and obviously the car insurance it very profitable for them.

It's simpler to leave alone and not pick up the car.

[Cyrano]

I'd agree in principle, but don't cancel the car, just leave it on the booking with the minimal insurance.

Virgin Holidays have been known to adjust the package price as they don't do flight only and obviously the car insurance it very profitable for them.

It's simpler to leave alone and not pick up the car.
This seems to be the common advice :)

[wayneg]

I would cancel your Virgin car & book seperately,I normally use www.holidayautos.co.uk -this time we got a I4 fully inclusive for £380 for 3 weeks.How they get away with giving a so called free/cheap car then stiffing you with insurance I don't know!
SD:thumbsup2

Try USrentacar next time they have same size car fully inclusive 3 weeks £315 and no excess for accidents or theft, I believe Holidayautos is $100 excess. They also sometimes have free upgrades.

[Rodents R Us]

My cost for insurance by virgin is 224 for two weeks based on the compact car. Don't know if thats too much compared with direct. I suppose it might be. Also, is it easy to pick up cars pre-booked with virgin or not?

Where do we pick up with them?

Kul

[wayneg]

My cost for insurance by virgin is 224 for two weeks based on the compact car. Don't know if thats too much compared with direct. I suppose it might be. Also, is it easy to pick up cars pre-booked with virgin or not?

Where do we pick up with them?

Kul

2 weeks compact rental fully inclusive starts from £189 for weeks I looked at so not a massive saving. I used VH car Xmas 06 because there was no difference in price(only time ever) their rental desk was dead, straight to front. So many book elswhere I guess.

[Shooby doo]

Wayne thanks for that:thumbsup2 I'm a creature of habit by & large & holidayautos had always seemed quite reasonable but £315 is excellent:)
SD:thumbsup2

[Rodents R Us]

So i guess i should be reasonably happy with my deal on this occasion.

Kul

[penlanspice]

My cost for insurance by virgin is 224 for two weeks based on the compact car. Don't know if that's too much compared with direct. I suppose it might be. Also, is it easy to pick up cars pre-booked with virgin or not?


How much are you paying altogether? is it just the £224? you stated in your first post you were paying £250 just for the car with no insurance? If it's just the £224 you didn't get a bad price.

[Rodents R Us]

How much are you paying altogether? is it just the £224? you stated in your first post you were paying £250 just for the car with no insurance? If it's just the £224 you didn't get a bad price.

Yes just 224 for the car incl insurance. All other costs on my booking are for flights and hotel.

Kul

[Jakey Rowling]

Yes just 224 for the car incl insurance. All other costs on my booking are for flights and hotel.

Kul

For info, is that Virgin's fully inclusive or platinum insurance package you have booked.

https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flydrive/insurance/

[Rodents R Us]

For info, is that Virgin's fully inclusive or platinum insurance package you have booked.

https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flydrive/insurance/

The fully inclusive option.

K