August 08 flights sold out already with Virgin

[disneyannie]

Tried to book 18th August 08 economy seats, but they were sold out already, I can't believe it. I had to book a week earlier at a much higher price.

But I'm going to Disney again, so I'm happy really.

A x

 

[Claire L]

No way would they be sold out totally, either the website is playing up or the allocation has been used up wiht who ever you booked through. The actual seats direct from the airline do not go on sale more than 335 days before the flight, after this date an extra allocation may be given out to various companies who take block amounts of seats to sell, VH being one of the biggest.

Claire

 

[oceanscape]

I agree with Claire, there is no chance whatsoever that the flights will be sold out already. VH may have filled their allocation, but there will certainly be seats available when they are released by VA 335 days before.

 

[disneyannie]

The request was through Virgin Holidays on the phone. I asked whether any more seats would be available in the future, but she said no, that they had had a really busy weekend. It is possible as you say that she was mistaken, but i didn't want to risk it so booked my second choice dates.

A x.

 

[BingsingsWaltDisney]

Tried to book 18th August 08 economy seats, but they were sold out already, I can't believe it. I had to book a week earlier at a much higher price.

But I'm going to Disney again, so I'm happy really.

A x

very strange i've just tried and it wont let you book for the 18th
but it will for dates either side

 

[disneyannie]

The 18th is pretty much the latest you can go to get a fortnight before the children go back to school, but the begining of the cheaper prices.

 

[Claire L]

The 18th is pretty much the latest you can go to get a fortnight before the children go back to school, but the begining of the cheaper prices.

If I were you I'd keep an eye on availability mid September and see if extra allocation is given it will only cost an amendment fee at the most of £25 per person and you may save a fair bit.

Claire

 

[waltfan1957]

The request was through Virgin Holidays on the phone. I asked whether any more seats would be available in the future, but she said no, that they had had a really busy weekend. It is possible as you say that she was mistaken, but i didn't want to risk it so booked my second choice dates.

A x.

they tell you whatever makes them the most money Virgin have gone way down in the last couple of years the booking system is turning into a farce at times with some of the rubbish they tell you when trying to book, but strangely it always seems to be to their benefit not the customers

 

[UKDEB]

As others have pointed out, Virgin Holidays gets an allocation of seats on Virgin Atlantic flights and so, whilst that allocation may be sold out, it doesn't follow that the flight is full.

 

[kristieuk]

As others have said, it is because you were booking a holiday package - no-one will be actually booked onto that flight until it is released 300 and whatever days before departure (and likewise the return flight, 300 and whatever days before that flight departs). Obviously, Virgin Holidays will have an allocation on that flight so that when the flights are released, their bookings will be made, but if you were to book independently, you would be able to book the flight only when it released at the end of August / beginning of September.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[wifey]

We came across the same issues with the Virgin website last weekend when DH was trying to price up 2 weeks in August, we have those same weeks off from work and it would not let us book unless we chose the 17th Aug from Heathrow or Manchester (I think) and it would only select PE sets both ways. Not surprisingly it put the total cost up significantly even without the DDP etc.
I think we'll just keep a watch on the other tour operators for now and wait to see if they alter the prices etc. If we are unable to go again next year due to costs we can wait until May 2009 it will give us time to save up