Booking VA flights via TA

[thehails]

Can anybody tell me if I lose any benefits / options if my travel agent books our virgin atlantic flights rather than me booking them directly from the virgin website?

 

[TraceyL]

Depends who you book with.
We couldn't access our booking online at all - not even for online check in. The TA told us seats had been requested & even gave us the numbers - but they hadn't.
The TA told us we could access our boking online - we couldn't
The TA then told us we could access our booking once we had been ticketed - we couldn't.
We requested child meals & seats 'togther' & gave our API by phone ourselves.

 

[thehails]

Thanks for your reply.

Looked on VA website again and noticed that it says that you cannot access your booking if booked with TA. I can get a discount of approx £70 if I book with the TA rather than direct, not sure whether to do that or whether I'd prefer to be in full control and pay £70 more. How far in advance did you call to book your children's meals and request seat together? and did you have any problems getting seats together?

 

[TraceyL]

Some TAs are OK - just check when you book (and don't use Kenwood Travel )

You can request seats etc 11 months before as long as the TA has released your booking details to Virgin Atlantic

We were travelling with children & the check in staff were great at making sure we were together - even fiddling the children's ages so the adults in our group could have emergency exit seats

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I booked through Expedia as they offered a massive saving on my holiday, and literally 10 minutes later I had the Virgin reseration number emailed to me by them, then went straight on the virgin website and booked my seats!

 

[tttessa]

Online stuff depends on the travel agent - were booked via going places they would not divulge the number, - then Thomas Cook took over we asked TC for the Reference No to access our details online, they rang virgin there and then and gave it to us....

Tessa

 

[wicket2005]

We booked with TCS last year for a Virgin flight. We just rang Virgin and got the correct code to use on the site and checked in online no problem. We found our seats had already been booked 3 together and one across the aisle which was fine for us.

 

[barbarah]

If you join Quidco.co.uk £5 membership you can get 1% cashback on Virgin Atlantic flights. It just takes you through to the Virgin website and you book with them direct.

A couple of months later you get the 1% cashback paid to you.

Great for lots of companies including Virgin Holidays.

 

[thehails]

Decided to book without TA and also changed carrier to BMI!! Thanks for all your replies.