Booking flights with Continental instead of Virgin

[Twilight Terror]

I just have a quick question for those of you that have done this before. We usually book PE with Virgin. However, when I try to look at prices via Continental, I only get the option of Economy and Upper Class. How do I go about getting prices for comparison on PE class online? Or are these prices only available via the phone lines??

Thanks

 

[MarkF0wle]

Poking around the Continental website, seeing the fleet they own & what would likely be the aircraft they would be opeating on transatlantic flights it would appear that the planes are only set up into 2 categories.

There doesn't appear to be any PE class seats available on their aircrafts.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Continental code share with Virgin. You actually fly on the Virgin Atlantic flights from LGW to MCO. Its just you can book that flight either via VA or via Continental. So, that's what Im trying to figure out - how to get PE price via Continental website, otherwise I will have to call them for a quote.

 

[orangetiggs]

i would call them as they will be va's planes as they codeshare so maybe they dont sell them as its not part of thier contract

 

[Goofyish]

Perhaps they only get allocated a certain amount of PE seats and they are all sold

 

[Twilight Terror]

i would call them as they will be va's planes as they codeshare so maybe they dont sell them as its not part of thier contract

You might be right. I managed to pull up the seating plan, and their seating plan does not display the bubble and row 13 to 28 are missing from their map! *assumes these are the rows between UC and Economy*

 

[MarkF0wle]

Sorry, I misunderstood.

If I am familiar with the way codesharing works is that if Continental only offer Upper Class & Economy tickets then VA will only allocate them seats in those areas of the plane. The Continental website will only be able to fill their quota on the particular plane which may be only a few Upper Class seats & economy.

I would call & speak to somebody, they will be able to book you if there are seats available to them.

 

[steve_rob]

It's the same thing with United Airlines flights that are codeshared with Continental.

United do a section called Economy Plus (not a patch on Virgin's PE, just a few inches extra leg room) that you can pay extra for on their website, but if you were to look at the same flight on Continental's site, you can't book it - only Business or Economy are available. I just guess their ticketing procedure just isn't geared up to sell anything they don't offer on their own flights.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We are looking into this again, since the prices are still cheaper than what VA offer for the same flight! I now have a few other questions about booking with Cont. instead of VA.

1) Do we get access to the seating plan to request seats straightaway, or just before check-in?

2) Can we use Downtown Disney check-in? VA's site implies that as long as you have a ticket, you can (at cost of $10pp) but it doesn't specifically mention codeshare?

3) Can we use our Silver Flying Club membership to use the PE check-in desk at Gatwick/DTD?

4) Can we use our Silver Flying Club membership to join the priority line at the gate (when doing second security check, where UC and PE normally go in ahead of economy)?

Thanks guys, I know you are all a wealth a knowledge!

 

[2Tiggies]

We are looking into this again, since the prices are still cheaper than what VA offer for the same flight! I now have a few other questions about booking with Cont. instead of VA.

1) Do we get access to the seating plan to request seats straightaway, or just before check-in?

2) Can we use Downtown Disney check-in? VA's site implies that as long as you have a ticket, you can (at cost of $10pp) but it doesn't specifically mention codeshare?

3) Can we use our Silver Flying Club membership to use the PE check-in desk at Gatwick/DTD?

4) Can we use our Silver Flying Club membership to join the priority line at the gate (when doing second security check, where UC and PE normally go in ahead of economy)?

Thanks guys, I know you are all a wealth a knowledge!

I booked with CO this year instead of VA. I will point out that we are flying from Edinburgh and it is a CO plane, not a VA one - I don't know if this makes a difference.

I don't know about using the VA Flying Club cards for any benefits as I didn't ask about it, but I did sign up to CO's OnePass Reward Programme in case I decide to fly with them again in the future. There was no option to redeem VA miles on the website booking if that makes any difference. I don't know if this would be an option if you rang them up.

Yes, I got to pick seats when i booked and can access the seating plan at any time and have moved us around a fair bit too

 

[Twilight Terror]

I booked with CO this year instead of VA. I will point out that we are flying from Edinburgh and it is a CO plane, not a VA one - I don't know if this makes a difference.

I don't know about using the VA Flying Club cards for any benefits as I didn't ask about it, but I did sign up to CO's OnePass Reward Programme in case I decide to fly with them again in the future. There was no option to redeem VA miles on the website booking if that makes any difference. I don't know if this would be an option if you rang them up.

Yes, I got to pick seats when i booked and can access the seating plan at any time and have moved us around a fair bit too

thanks for the info but i dont thinkit fits our situation. the flight we get is a codeshare with va and cont. it is a virgin flight no matter if u book virgin or cont. just want to know if as cont passengers we can use va membership perks