Going in Oct 2010 with VH - flights going fast

[tttessa]

Hiya all ,

have just booked for Oct 2010!!!

With Virgin Holidays once more..... Was a very hairy experience - no flights available on our return day would you believe- 29 Oct 2010!!!!! Well, we did it through our travel agent - yep, I am a wimp! - and they rang and got some flights for us, so we are going 15 to 29 Oct 2010!!. Planning phase now - never been there for that long before.

So, anyone planning on booking through the VH website - be aware that flights are disappearing fast for next year's October half term - Sat 16th (Gatwick) has gone already.

Tessa

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

tessa,
I'm afraid you have been misinformed

Whilst Virgin holidays might not have any seats left, the scheduled airlines such as Virgin Atlantic have yet to release their flights for that time.
They do not release their flight details until 330 days from the date of your return flight, so no flighst from any of the main airlines, Virgin, BA, American etc are yet available on the system.

Virgin holidays etc book your holiday and then tell Virgin Atlantic who will fill their allocated seats on the plane once the flights are released.

 

[wayneg]

VH allocation might be selling fast but plenty of seats still available on the plane. They don't start selling them until end of November. Limited availability but they are still available for this Oct half term, less than a month away.
I am suprised they don't increase allocation to VH.

 

[tttessa]

Oh, ok, thanks guys -

I did think it was weird that there wouldn't be seats left when I tried to book online, but then the Travel Agent rang them and suddenly there was..... I guess VH had an advance allocation from VA that wasn't big enough.... If you try to book through VH it is definitely saying unavailable.

They could lose customers that way.... if I hadn't gone through the travel agent I would have just given up and gone through a different on line company. I HATE ringing to book.

Ta,
Tessa

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

It will be VH initial allocation "egg" I am sure they go back for more.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

funnily enough Travel city Direct are showing available packages with flights for those dates and they of course are Virgin holidays....

 

[wayneg]

It will be VH initial allocation "egg" I am sure they go back for more.

Maybe they do but why risk losing customers now? VH get OTT prices for flights, why show sold out? why not just leep selling? They must have a reason.
Just looked at next Oct half term for our dates, Flydrive (before adding car so flight only) £971pp, If they can get that why keep them for a later allocation?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

At least you are booked Tessa and have something to look forward to that's the main thing.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Maybe they do but why risk losing customers now? VH get OTT prices for flights, why show sold out? why not just leep selling? They must have a reason.
Just looked at next Oct half term for our dates, Flydrive (before adding car so flight only) £971pp, If they can get that why keep them for a later allocation?

perhaps thats all they are allowed to have first off? I suppose Virgin atlantic have to allocate out more than just VH, TCD, Thomas cook? etc etc?

 

[fleurbie]

Hi, I'm looking to book between 22nd and 25th of april, for 14 nights PE virgin is it possible to see how booked up those dates are at all.
Thank You

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Hi, I'm looking to book between 22nd and 25th of april, for 14 nights PE virgin is it possible to see how booked up those dates are at all.
Thank You

Sorry, I am having internet connection problems and its very slow.

can you give me some more details? from where?

 

[fleurbie]

Sorry, I am having internet connection problems and its very slow.

can you give me some more details? from where?

:

rolleyes1

Yes can see that would help
I'm flying from gatwick 2 adults, and poss another 2 adults as well, the 24th or 25th look more likely for us now Thank you

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

:

rolleyes1

Yes can see that would help
I'm flying from gatwick 2 adults, and poss another 2 adults as well, the 24th or 25th look more likely for us now Thank you

Well,
24th April
VS 27 all "9" (i.e fully open) However, in open PE only 1 seat upstairs and 6 downstairs, so agin it looks like VH have a lot of seats avaiolable upstairs (only 2 people in UC by the way...)

VS 15 all 9"s VS 15 wide open! only two seats booked in PE, all others open. Even economy much less filled

25th april
VS 27, all "9"s 7 PE seats available upstairs (non VH held back section) 8 downstairs

VS15 all "9"s, ZERO seats taken in PE (only 7 taken in economy!) 1 seat only taken in UC

 

[fleurbie]

Well,
24th April
VS 27 all "9" (i.e fully open) However, in open PE only 1 seat upstairs and 6 downstairs, so agin it looks like VH have a lot of seats avaiolable upstairs (only 2 people in UC by the way...)

VS 15 all 9"s VS 15 wide open! only two seats booked in PE, all others open. Even economy much less filled

25th april
VS 27, all "9"s 7 PE seats available upstairs (non VH held back section) 8 downstairs

VS15 all "9"s, ZERO seats taken in PE (only 7 taken in economy!) 1 seat only taken in UC

thank you, do you mind looking at the 22nd for me, on the 11.15 flight please very greatful

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

thank you, do you mind looking at the 22nd for me, on the 11.15 flight please very greatful

VS27
All "9"s again
seat map shows two in uc only
PE however in non VH blocked seats only one seat upstairs and whole of downstairs unblocked row free (the other is held back for disabled pax and released nearer the take off time)
Economy is also busy with the 40% held back released and the cabin aroound 60% full.

the VS15 however (13;00 dep) is virtually empty
Zero pax in UC
2 pax only in PE
24 pax only in econ and the row 61 (two seats at back on side) also free.

 

[fleurbie]

thank you,

 

[RobinHood's merrymen]

I know the feeling Tessa. I am aware of the way Virgin Atlantic only release a number of seats this early but I also am amazed at how quick the flights are selling. I enquired yesterday for November 2010!!! (I would have booked it back in April but things are not going to plan for me this year.) I can not get the flight I want from Manchester as it is 'fully booked' so it looks like I'm having to go from Gatwick. What did surprise me was that Virgin have also 'sold out' of their allocation of the hotel I want too. I am currently waiting on them getting back to me as they've had to go to Disney to request the room. I think I'll be slapping my deposit down as soon as they get back to me........assuming it's good news!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I know the feeling Tessa. I am aware of the way Virgin Atlantic only release a number of seats this early but I also am amazed at how quick the flights are selling. I enquired yesterday for November 2010!!! (I would have booked it back in April but things are not going to plan for me this year.) I can not get the flight I want from Manchester as it is 'fully booked' so it looks like I'm having to go from Gatwick. What did surprise me was that Virgin have also 'sold out' of their allocation of the hotel I want too. I am currently waiting on them getting back to me as they've had to go to Disney to request the room. I think I'll be slapping my deposit down as soon as they get back to me........assuming it's good news!

Again, the flight is NOT fully booked, indeed, its not gone on general sale yet and will not until 330 days from the date of your return flight, so somewhere in december.