2006 bookings, how soon?

[fizz13]

We are planning a trip for october half-term 2006. I want to book accomodation for Disney (POFQ) but am unable to do so past 2005 with disneyworld.co.uk and Dreams Unlimited. Just wondered when 2006 might become available online. Anybody have experience with this?

Also, is it cheaper to DIY and book parts of trip seperate or just go with a package? First Choice prices aren't bad, compared to Virgin, but there is nothing like flying Virgin.

Any help/advice would be gratefully received.
Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[wendye]

Claire

Virgin are already doing their bookings for 2006 right up to October I would have a look if I were you. Also if you aren't already a member of the Virgin Flying club I would recommend you join before you book because although you can't get discount for booking online with it you can get 10% off when you book by phone but you must be a member at the time of booking. You do get a discount for booking online but it's only 5%. I missed out on the extra because I didn't find out about it until after I had booked (for July 2006) but I got the 5% so at least I got something.

 

[trevorsem]

Fizz,

I looked at doing it independent this time around. Compared to brochure price I could save about £150, but would have to paid up front.

In the end I went with Funways. Compared to Virgin Holidays, it was the same hotel, same dates, flying with Virgin into Orlando International. Only difference is the car hire is with Alamo rather than Dollar. Overall price was £400 cheaper and I only had to put down a deposit.

 

[SEVANS2208]

Claire

I missed out on the extra because I didn't find out about it until after I had booked (for July 2006) but I got the 5% so at least I got something.

Claire - I think if this is your 3rd holiday booked through Virgin Holidays and you've registered on their frequent virgins club that you should be able to get them to apply the 10% discount? Might be worth asking at least.

 

[wendye]

Claire - I think if this is your 3rd holiday booked through Virgin Holidays and you've registered on their frequent virgins club that you should be able to get them to apply the 10% discount? Might be worth asking at least.

Hi Sarah - It was me that missed out not Claire (btw we share the same surname ). This will only be my second trip but last time I booked through a TA and not Virgin (although I flew with Virgin) so it won't count toward Frequent Virgin membership but the Flying Club is a different one (you don't need to have been 3 times) but (I think) it gets the same benefits but with different rules. I checked the terms and conditions you have to have it at the time of booking.

 

[SEVANS2208]

Sorry - getting everyone muddled up!!

I thought that as long as you gave Virgin your previous dats of travel (& it was a VH holiday!), it didn't matter whether is was booked directly or through a TA? But that's purely for Virgin Holiday frequent virgins club & I think we were getting our wires crossed between frequent fliers (VA) and frequent virgins (VH).

Just a muddly day for me..........................................best I stop now before I get myself and everyone else even more confused

 

[wendye]

To be honest I don't know if the accommodation was booked through Virgin Holidays or not I suppose it could have been! We stayed at the Masters Inn which was one of Virgin Holidays hotels so it could have been. Hmm you've got me thinking now I might ask them since I was going to ring them to get my Flying Club membership added on so that I get the Miles (yes that one is Virgin Atlantic btw). Hmm I'll dig the dates out and might ask when I ring up.

Thanks for that!

 

[uktigger]

hi

could anyone explain the flying club membership please i have been with virgin holidays twice before but for next years holiday i have booked through thom cook but am flying with virgin,

thanks eve

 

[wendye]

hi

could anyone explain the flying club membership please i have been with virgin holidays twice before but for next years holiday i have booked through thom cook but am flying with virgin,

thanks eve

Eve

Virgin has two different flying clubs:

Frequent Virgins - this is the one through Virgin Holidays which you can join when you have booked 3 times through Virgin Holidays.

Virgin Flying Club - this is through Virgin Atlantic and you can join this straight away (no previous travel with Virgin is required). You can get 10% booking discount and flyer miles from this one but not from an online booking and you must be a member at the time of booking to get the discount. If you join now you can get your membership added to your booking so you can still get miles.

I don't qualify for Frequent Virgin membership yet but could join the flying club but unfortunately I didn't find out until after I had booked about this. I got the online booking discount but if I had known I would have booked by phone after I had joined the flying club so I would get the 10% instead of the 5% online booking discount.

Does this help?

 

[Dead-metal]

Fizz,

I looked at doing it independent this time around. Compared to brochure price I could save about £150, but would have to paid up front.

In the end I went with Funways. Compared to Virgin Holidays, it was the same hotel, same dates, flying with Virgin into Orlando International. Only difference is the car hire is with Alamo rather than Dollar. Overall price was £400 cheaper and I only had to put down a deposit.

Can you post the link for Funways please. I cannot find anything about them!

Thanks

 

[uktigger]

hi wendy
thank you for explaining that to me one more ? if i join now for the flyer miles do my last trips with virgin count or would it i only get miles for this trip?

thanks for your help eve

 

[wendye]

hi wendy
thank you for explaining that to me one more ? if i join now for the flyer miles do my last trips with virgin count or would it i only get miles for this trip?

thanks for your help eve

If you're quick you may be able to get the ones for last October because it says you can claim them from 6 months previous but I can't be certain as it might depend upon when in October you went. Have a look on Virgin Atlantic's website you can join on there and then you can try it. You won't be able to get ones for 2001 though.

 

[uktigger]

thanks wendy i'll have a look today

eve