Has anyone ever...

[mickeyforpresident]

...played travel companies off against each other. The reason I'm asking is that ive just downloaded the Virgin Ap and was looking at the florida brochure (the planning for our 2012 holiday is consuming me!!!) and they are offering a price match thing and then we went into town to get DS passport photos (just to get that sorted) and Thomas Cook are saying that if they can't match the price you get the holiday for free! So, I've emailed Complete Orlando and hoping they will be able to quote me soon with flights and then plan to see what Thomas Cook and Virgin say about it!!!

Has anyone done this and "won" ???

 

[mackay_j]

...played travel companies off against each other. The reason I'm asking is that ive just downloaded the Virgin Ap and was looking at the florida brochure (the planning for our 2012 holiday is consuming me!!!) and they are offering a price match thing and then we went into town to get DS passport photos (just to get that sorted) and Thomas Cook are saying that if they can't match the price you get the holiday for free! So, I've emailed Complete Orlando and hoping they will be able to quote me soon with flights and then plan to see what Thomas Cook and Virgin say about it!!!

Has anyone done this and "won" ???

TC small print is usually any other high st tour operator- they sometimes can't even match there own internet sites (esp some of the prices on thomascookstyle.com and sometimes some on directholidays.co.uk) I always play them off when booking a package - but to florida we usualy either end up with virgin (esp when offer for kids for £100 are out -but not this year there prices where) or book independantly.

For 2012 using complete orlando for OKW to get free dining and thomson for flights total price for 3adults and 1 14yr old =£4800 for 2 weeks in july with tickets and free ddp. just added car for 229 for SUV (thanks to londondudes tip)

 

[orangetiggs]

Most of them it has to be the same every thing, so exa t flights and everything to price match, worth a go, cabt hurt trying

 

[madmumof2]

Yes and I won

Oct 2009, had quotes ranging from £2800 (thomas cook) and £4500 (rip off virgin) for 2 weeks at pop century with flights and transfers for 1 adults and 2 children.

I went round to every travel agents with a print out and got each one to beat the price, then went on to the next one etc.

I ended up paying £1911 including deluxe travel insurance to boot Funnily enough it ended up being Thomas Cook again! So including the cost of the extra insurance that was added on or free (around £100 for all of us) I saved about £1000 doing this instead of booking with TC the first time I tried them

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Yes and I won

Oct 2009, had quotes ranging from £2800 (thomas cook) and £4500 (rip off virgin) for 2 weeks at pop century with flights and transfers for 1 adults and 2 children.

I went round to every travel agents with a print out and got each one to beat the price, then went on to the next one etc.

I ended up paying £1911 including deluxe travel insurance to boot Funnily enough it ended up being Thomas Cook again! So including the cost of the extra insurance that was added on or free (around £100 for all of us) I saved about £1000 doing this instead of booking with TC the first time I tried them

Wow! Thats an amazing story!

 

[skelfbsfb]

Yes and I won

Oct 2009, had quotes ranging from £2800 (thomas cook) and £4500 (rip off virgin) for 2 weeks at pop century with flights and transfers for 1 adults and 2 children.

I went round to every travel agents with a print out and got each one to beat the price, then went on to the next one etc.

I ended up paying £1911 including deluxe travel insurance to boot Funnily enough it ended up being Thomas Cook again! So including the cost of the extra insurance that was added on or free (around £100 for all of us) I saved about £1000 doing this instead of booking with TC the first time I tried them

Wish I could get flights for that price never mind whole package. Well done.

 

[madmumof2]

That was in 2009, prices have gone up loads now! And it was for 1 adult and 2 children.

I did the same again this year, took an online quote around lots of different travel agents and in the end the online price was the best one, my A (who beat the price last time) couldn't even beat it. This time, £3200 for 2 adults and 3 children, flights and 2 weeks in a disney area villa with car

 

[Mouseketeer1974]

"won" at this recently.

priced up dream 2012 package with Virgin this May. Came in at £7775

by phoning round other tour operators (Thomson, Thomas Cook etc) managed to get the same holiday with JetSave for £6199. Also, was quite open with them all that this was what I was doing and that I had my credit card in my hand ready to book once the price was right - had a budget in mind. Took me a few hours of time but very little cost - they were soon calling me to give me their latest prices!

i know we could have done it cheaper if we'd booked everything direct but what with ash clouds / hurricanes etc, and it being 20 years since I've been to Florida, I wanted the security of a tour operator.

 

[higgy66]

I got a few quotes for Oct 2012 but the cheapest was with Charter Travel. The only thing putting me off was they couldn't guarantee the flight prices wouldn't go up when they were released. Doesn't happen a lot but there is always that chance and the way flight prices are going I was a little unsure.

As a Frequent Flyer with Virgin I get 10% so I asked them to quote. They were nowhere near so I declined saying I have a cheaper quote. She asked if it was for the exact same details and when I said it was she asked me to forward the quote and she would send to their price match department.

An hour later they rang to say they would price match and at the time Virgin were also offering the $300 gift card so actually a slightly better offer - plus price guaranteed!

 

[tennisfan]

I tried this last year when trying to book Vegas, went to Thomas Cook, an independent travel firm & then called Virgin as I get NHS discount with them, they wouldn't got cheaper but offered to match the online price they had instead.

Works for some places but not for others

 

[misspickle]

we did it in 2006
with first choice and thomas cook

we went to thomas cook with the quote that first choice gave us and priced matched and then gave us a 10% discount..


p.s
i did this recently with park tickets got a price online and they priced matched

 

[dixonsontour]

Jetsave were more than happy to haggle on flight prices when we booked in 2010.

WDW wouldn't this year when I was booking for Oct 2012 OKW - so complete orlando got the booking.

Usually DIY book but have booked with thomas cook online this year. Flight with US airways was same price as booked direct, accomodation had a great deal on and they did an extra 10% off for booking a package.

Great thing about these boards is you become very clued up on prices.

 

[dixonsontour]

Just don't do what DH did on our 2005 trip and put on the maps on the phone then leave the phone at security at manchester airport!

We were on a road trip around the deep south - my navigational skills (not the best) were tested to the limit.

 

[dixonsontour]

sorry meant to put this on the sat nav - directions to I of a thread