BA + car ?

[chmurf]

Hi,

I was playing around with airfares, and I came upon the flight + car offer with BA.

Car rental is with AVIS (which I don't usually use) and the insurance policies are not really clear (or at least they're not what I'm used to with Alamo)

the only thing they say is :

Inclusive

Rates include Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection / Additional Liability insurance (where applicable).

Inclusive car rental
Includes Unlimited mileage, CUSTOMER FACILITY FEE, STATE SURCHARGE, TIRE & BATTERY FEE, VEH. LICENSE FEE, Additional Liability Insurance (ALI), Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

First questoin : could anyone advise about those insurance policies vs. alamo for example ? How does Avis compare with Alamo ? (car is self serve or pre-assigned ?, I like to be able to choose my car )

what's nice with this offer is that I can book with a deposit, and balance is due 10 weeks out.
But I'd like to know if it's worth it.


Second question : would you book the N°1 Lounge at LGW (North Terminal)
Worth it or would it be best to have breakfast at our hotel (premierinn or hampton by hilton) and do without the lounge ?


thanks.

 

[Elise79]

We did BA flight plus car last year.

Have to say I really like AVIS - the car we had was far better than the ones we have had with Dollar or Alamo. Insurance is everything you need and if you join AVIS Preferred you get spouse as an additional driver plus you can go straight to the garage. You get allocated the car - it should be displayed on the preferred board but as out flight was late ours wasn't but we just went to the desk in the garage and were on our way in 5 minutes.

I know have a preference for car hire for either AVIS or Hertz both to me are worth a small premium over dollar or Alamo. Hertz Gold or AVIS preferred are both great and cars in our experience are nicer.

As for BA well wouldn't touch them with a barge pole

 

[chmurf]

As for BA well wouldn't touch them with a barge pole

I've read so on a few Hi&Lows

that's what still bothers me. And it might swing me towards VA, even for a slightly higher airfaire.
747 vs. 777 is also difficult choice to make

VA's Flydrive does seem quite expensive if you go for the fully inclusive insurance.

I stil have a couple of months to decide before actually booking, but that's a tough one
We usually go with United/US Airways/AA so we don't have high expectations. But BA and VA are airlines we never flew with.
would BA really be terrible compared to regular US carriers ? Or is it just on par ( = average)

 

[Elise79]

I would never book a VH flydrive as they usually very expensive.

BA in economy is on a par with other airlines my issues were the fact we paid for PE and the service is just no where in the same league as VA for exactly the same money. I also had issues with customer service prior to departure. It's also not the first time I have had issues with BA but I have a friend who only flys with them so I have the chance.

 

[magicgirl]

I am more than happy with Ba Last year I flew to China and Canada PE and to Florida economy with car hire. Our flight to China was cancelled on the day, we were on an organised tour and were on another flight leaving 4 hours later but a longer travel time. On our return I claimed the compensation and it came through very quickly with no fuss.

Prior to our Florida flight I spent a lot of time on the phone to customer services as our young grandson had his leg in plaster and we were not sure if he would be allowed to fly in which case not all of us would be able to go. they were very helpful offering lots of suggestions and worked with us. Luckily he ended up with a below the knee cast and had permission to fly. The help we had at the airport and on the plane was excellent.

Will definitely use them again for our flydrive to Florida unless they are stupidly expensive. My elderly father flies to Canada on his own most years and is always very well looked after by the staff.

 

[chmurf]

Thank you both

anyone used the N°1 Lounge at Gatwick ?

 

[Sam1]

This year the VH flydrives were coming in cheaper than the VA flight alone for our dates. I know people say they're expensive, but it's worth not writing them off until the sales in January. We paid under £600 for economy and I know a lot of people struggled to get that low over half term this year with Virgin. Having said that, their prices are very high at the moment.

As for the lounge I can't comment on it, but I don't think any lounge is really worth it because you're on the plane before you know it. The breakfast at Premier Inn is fine and if you've already done twilight check-in it's relaxing enough without the need for a lounge. I'd save my money.

 

[Pootle]

I also can't comment on the lounge, but have been very happy with BA fly-drives and their service (PE and CW only). We like Avis and use them when in Europe too, often booking via the BA website when they have offers on price, even if flying with easyJet!

We also like that additional driver is included. I'm in Florida as I write and decided to try the Alamo Savetime as it was a good price. Both flight (Virgin PE) and hire have been good (it's my third trip this year and am happy with both BA and Virgin). The Alamo experience was not quite as straightforward as I expected, since I was approached as I made my way to the garage, and the employee tried to send me back to the terminal desk. I stood my ground and she asked to see my paperwork. Maybe when she saw I had a minivan booked for 2 of us she realised an upsell wasn't going to happen and directed me to the kiosk in the garage.

I think the BA/Avis combo is very good, and gives the extra benefits of a package, deposit only as you mention, but also a bit more flexibility and assistance if things go wrong. And additional Avios points

 

[chmurf]

thanks

the only thing that's holding me back now is that I only have a debit card
AVIS is not quite clear on the holds on debit card with prepaid rentals and 3rd parties (and I would assume BA qualifies as a 3rd party)
some of their T&Cs state $100 hold, some mention credit checks (whatever that means on a non credit, foreign account) and some say pickup could be denied

never had any issue with alamo and debit but always booked directly with alamo

so with AVIS that's a huge question mark ...

 

[zippy99]

If it helps Chmurf - they hold a $100 deposit on your card (my CC was declined - no idea why - so I used my work CC) I asked the amount and if I could pay with an alternate on return was told $100 hold and was ok to pay any fees by alternTe method on return.

We hired full size (category E ford focus was example car) using BA Avios 50,000 miles - when we collected car we got a 7Seater SUV Ford Explorer - loved the car. We even checked the number plate against our voucher incase we were in wrong car!

When I returned to Avis with 1/8 tank I was charged $9 a gallon - $150!! I explained I was not informed of this otherwise of course I would have refuelled myself. They were very helpful and simply reduced to $4 a gallon - I was happy - don't mind paying a bit extra for convenience but don't want to be ripped off. My last trip with Avis saw us charged $10 a day upgrade but rather like the fuel they could not prove that I had agreed to any such terms so I was not charged extra.

Whilst I have had an attempt by Avis on each occasion to charge extra I have found them courteous and they have resolved with little opposition and I have never felt I was being forced to pay for extras.

I would recommend them - probably due to a lovely properly free upgrade this year and how well they dealt with my concerns about unexpected charges.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi

I used no 1 lounge gatwick north last year. For me who hates flying I found it quite relaxing. There is offer at moment inc champagne

We flew BA last year and EVERYONE was so helpful and kind, especially with my fear.

We booked flight, hotel and car hire with them. We booked a mustang for dh and when we arrived I asked for mustang rather than similar make and they made it happen

Did not take out extra ins an pre paid petrol tank