Can you help please!!!

[mickeyforpresident]

It's not disney but trip related and I post on here a bit and you're all so nice and I hope you can help.

I'm planning surpise birthday trip for DW to Washington DC. Finally decided to book it on Wednesday (2 days ago). Booked VIRGIN package, upgraded to first class and the cost is £5000 (I've saved for years secretly!)

Virgin Atlantic have announced sale and if I moved the trip to first week of summer hols (we're both teachers!) from the October break and book hotel and flight sep it works out at out £3,500!! OMG that's £1,500 cheaper for same flight and same hotel! I could get a suite at the still for less than the package.

Is there anything I can do. All i've paid is deposit (£240). Can I cancel the original booking within so many days because it was only 2 days ago!!!!!!

HELP!

 

[Claire L]

Not sure if you can cancel, but if you transfer the deposit to another VH booking then you only pay £50 admin fee (£25 per person), so wait until just before the balance is due and move it to another holiday, that is if you have another planned. If not then £240 to lose is not too bad consdering the saving you will make.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

Not sure if I have read it correctly, I am tired. I think you have booked with Virgin holidays and want to change to Virgin Atlantic is that correct?
If it is then you will no doubt lose your deposit of £240 to cancel with VH. Then you can rebook with VA. They are 2 different companies and can't transfer bookings between them.

We rarely book a package anymore, DIY trips usually work out about half the cost of package, but not always.

If saving £1,500 worth losing £240.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

wayneg - you have it right.

I guess losing the £250 deposit is still saving me money.

Is there no "change your mind clause" like there is with insurance within so many days............

 

[wayneg]

Have you booked by phone or by website?

How I understand it is if you have booked by website you will have ticked the box to accept you have read terms & conditions of the booking contract(even though you probably didn't )

If you booked by phone you recieve the T & C's thru the post then you have 7 days to read and cancel. This is from Virgins Site.

If you had not seen these terms and conditions at the time of booking and you do not wish to proceed with your booking now that you have seen them, please return all documentation to us or to your travel agent, within 7 days of receiving your confirmation invoice. Your booking will be cancelled and your monies will be returned in full, provided you have not commenced your travel.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Oh no!!! Yeah booked online and didn't read T+C!!! What a wally!

 

[wayneg]

I am sure you will have ticked a box to accept them. Doubt they will refund.

I once had to cancel because school changed the dates of Oct half term. We booked as soon as holidays were released them a few months later dates changed on the education website . I always print them off now.
Worked out well as I then did DIY and saved a lot more than I lost, they did me a favour as I almost always book DIY now and saved £1000's over the years.

You will be mad losing the £240(for us it was £360 for 3 of us) but think of the savings.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Thanks for all your help.

I rang Virgin today and they have reduced the package price by £1000 and changed the dates. I'm now only £500 pound from the DIY price and in reality that's only £250 if I cancel now i'd loose the deposit. I guess it's all right now then! I've learnt from my mistake (but saying that I didn't know Virgin Atlantic would have an UC sale!!!)

VH and I are currently arguing over the 5/10% online discount. When I tried to book over Christmas when it was 10% they had server problems so I booked when it was 5%. I'm trying to argue a point with them, but it was hard to get my point across as the operator didn't have great English.

Thanks once again!

 

[wayneg]

Maybe you would be better trying to get thru to a UK agent. I have never rung VH but hear they are not the best to deal with.

Its a nightmare knowing, when and how to book. Our next trip(Aug school hol) is Business class with Delta, £465pp, I will eat my hat if I see them cheaper, they are £1,220 today, Expedia special fare which is lowest I have seen them since we booked in Oct.