Virgin Holidays or Virgin Atlantic?

[EvertonCJ]

We returned from SSR about 2 weeks ago and had a wonderful time. We are looking to book again for next August. We are going to book the accomodation direct through Disney as it is much cheaper, so that just leaves the flights and car hire. Last year we booked a flydrive through Virgin Holidays when booking SSR through Disney. If I wait for the Virgin Atlantic flights to become available for August 2010 would we save any money by booking direct with them or should I just book the flight with Virgin Holidays (car included)? Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[wayneg]

Just checked VH flydrive for our dates next August 2 adults and 1 teen £2782.50, £927.50pp before adding car.
Never paid more than £533 with VA or around £400 indirect for August flights. Always find offers or misprices, this Aug was indirect Biz class for £465, doubt that will be repeated but will never pay £927 for economy flights.
Watch for Miles and money offers, not as easy to get as they were but always a chance.

 

[EvertonCJ]

Thank you for the information Wayne. I hope you had a good holiday. We were staying at SSR whilst you were at OKW this year. My wife and I are both members of the flying club and have about 13000 miles each. Can we use this to get a discount on any flight or just the flights that Virgin choose?
Last year we paid about £850 each for our flight and any savings would be very welcome.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have been checking/watching Miles & Money prices too, at the moment they only go up to end of July but even with M&M it's £1081 each, admittedly that is Premium Economy.

The alternative price with Virgin holidays was over £1000 more, for a 'fly-drive' - but choosing basic car as we were looking at an independant booking.

Either way isn't cheap, though naturally Economy is better priced.

 

[wayneg]

You only need 2,000 miles for a Miles and Money fare(economy) but you have to be lucky to get them in August, we have a few times but only by chaining myself to the computer for hours every day until they released them, you have no idea if they will be available from being released in Sept or once it was as late as Xmas day we booked. Checking every day from Sept to Dec is very time consuming.
You could get a PE miles and money fare for 7,500pp or upper class for 15,000pp, http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/spendmiles/milesplusmoney/index.jsp
offers might not be good but always worth checking.

 

[orangetiggs]

we paid 365 each for economy this year going our 27th aug comeing back 11th sept with VA

was looking at flydrive with VH for next year as only have to pay deposit but its so much more expensive than what we could do with VA and car hire company

 

[grannyed]

I've been watching flights as well........our outward flight is now showing but the homebound flight is not out yet...though we can be a little flexible.

There are 7 of us though and we're concerned that if we don't book straightaway that we may not get anyhting when (and if) offers occur....the plane may have filled up!

Anyone else going in a largish party?

We REALLY want to fly direct since we have an infant with us and also go for 4 weeks....none of the charter airlines will do 4 week duration.....

 

[mitchfishguard]

i find that you can go nuts checking and comparing. the minute the flight date becomes available, i book it. i did this for our trip in april 2010. i looked on the site, saw how many miles i needed for leander and myself, which i had, the cost was £1500 total for us both. i phoned flying club, i tried to beat the price down unsuccessfully, and booked it there and then. seats 80 h and k upstairs, im sorted!!!!!!!! end of. now deals can come in at anytime, i dont care, im going when i want. like you i booked disney pofq and fairfield i-drive, independently. ive been with vh 3 times and am a big supporter, but after 3 times you can certainly do it yourself for cheaper. va only for me

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The August flights are starting to appear now (up to Aug 4th)

also check Continentals Uk web site as they code share and have seats on the virgin planes and can be cheaper than Virgin direct
https://www.continental.com/web/en-US/default.aspx?POS=GB&SID=20B561A1EEE54EDF921759519931517D

same 336 day limit applies however

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think one of the reasons possibly against booking with Virgin Atlantic direct is you have to pay the whole amount there & then. Whereas with Virgin Holidays it's just a deposit and you could spread the cost over a longer period of time and use direct debit if you wanted to.
However, at the moment I would always consider the cheaper option, and certainly the likes of Saratoga Springs Resort is appealing given the discounts on offer.

 

[~Piglet~]

I've booked holidays with both VH and VA, and if you can afford to pay your flight all at once I would say VA.

For our holiday next year I priced flights (VA) & fly drive (VH) and at first the prices were quite similar, but after holding on and looking at prices every week or so VA's flights came down and we saved just under £600 compared to VH's prices

We have booked our Hotels separately through Disney UK and will sort out car hire nearer the time.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

The August flights are starting to appear now (up to Aug 4th)

also check Continentals Uk web site as they code share and have seats on the virgin planes and can be cheaper than Virgin direct
https://www.continental.com/web/en-US/default.aspx?POS=GB&SID=20B561A1EEE54EDF921759519931517D

same 336 day limit applies however

Obi - don't know if I can pick your brains! I've looked at the flights for the dates we want and Continental come up over £400 cheaper than VA for the 4 of us, it states its VA's flights (judging by the times and location its VS075 & 76, the ones we've been on before). If I book them what happens at the airport. Do you go to a Continental airline checkin desk or VA's - may seem a daft question but just wondering about being able to do DTD check in on return journey. I've very tempted to book even though we don't know DH's annual leave yet even with the cancellation fee it still wouldn't be as dear as VA's prices. sorry to waffle!!!!

 

[wayneg]

Wendy, you check in with the carrier you are using. If its a Virgin flight you check in with Virgin whoever you have booked with. We have just been with AirFrance but it was a Delta flight so we checked in with Delta.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Wendy, you check in with the carrier you are using. If its a Virgin flight you check in with Virgin whoever you have booked with. We have just been with AirFrance but it was a Delta flight so we checked in with Delta.

Thanks for that, I knew I could count on someone for the answers. I'm in the process of trailing through T&C's and it looks as if it would cost £300 if we needed to cancel (if DH didn't get the dates we want) which would still be less than VA's charging. DH wants to go for it I'm tend to be more careful with our hard earned cash, just want to make sure we get a seat though!!!! Good job I'm at work in a hour or I'd probably end up booking it!

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for that, I knew I could count on someone for the answers. I'm in the process of trailing through T&C's and it looks as if it would cost £300 if we needed to cancel (if DH didn't get the dates we want) which would still be less than VA's charging. DH wants to go for it I'm tend to be more careful with our hard earned cash, just want to make sure we get a seat though!!!! Good job I'm at work in a hour or I'd probably end up booking it!

Surprised its only £300 to cancel, usually with low cost economy fares you lose the ticket price, all you can claim back is tax.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Surprised its only £300 to cancel, usually with low cost economy fares you lose the ticket price, all you can claim back is tax.

Maybe I've read it incorrectly (wouldn't be surprised)! There is a contact us button on the web page (would have liked to have had written confirmation of their policy) but just lists a load of telephone numbers. T&C's are never easy to understand. I know you know what you are talking about so will probably end up leaving it. Worst case scenario we don't go next year will just have to wait a little longer, but I'm not the most patient of people. Thanks for your help.

 

[wayneg]

Just did a Dummy booking, it said the fare was M class. If that code is for Virgin then M is non refundable.

M
Discounted Economy/MilesPlusMoney (Orlando only) Flying Club Miles and Tier Points will be earned on this fare. 100% of mileage flown earned (125% for Flying Club Silver and 150% for Flying Club Gold members). 4th highest level of fare class for Economy, restricted in regards to changes, and changes will attract a fee. Non-refundable and Advance Purchase will be required. This fare class is also one of the qualifying fare classes for Economy for the MilesMoreFriends promotion, so if the person you refer flies on a ticket booked in this class you will earn the 3,000 mile referral bonus. During the peak months, this class is sometimes used as a MilesplusMoney fare class on the Orlando route, these tickets will not earn miles or Tier Points.

 

[JulieSharp]

Continental appears to show only Economy and First Class/Business, I cannot see PE.

I am looking to book for early Aug 2010 outbound, which are not yet showing. When our dates are out I think I may ring them, nothing to lose.

I found $957 (£584) for July 22nd 2010, Economy on Virgin plane from Manchester, which is not bad for someone at start of school hols.