January 4, 2014 Fantasy, Trust, and Pixie Dust!

[luv2sleep]

Ok, it must have been the way she booked (through book it or something) so she wasn't able to pick her seat til the day before. But if we book early and I see seats together than we are guaranteed those seats?

Definitely! I only book through VA's website. I've found cheaper fares on their website as compared to the discount sites sometimes. The discount sites don't get all of their available seats. They can still be found on VAs site directly. If you book far out (7mos or so) the fare is usually the cheapest. If you wait it's a gamble. The price doesn't rise too much though and it's worth it for me anyway. I'm sure if you waited until a few months before for a popular time of year, many seats will be gone and you'd be subject to splitting up and higher fares. For adults I don't think it's a big deal but sitting several seats or rows from your child is just not tolerable. I was on Delta when I had to beg that lady to switch either me or my son. She gave me a really hard time. I thought I was going to have a panic attack.

 

[luv2sleep]

Also on August 10th the giants game is giving out two for one Virgin vouchers..... I wonder If it will be worth it to wait and go to the game and use the voucher (not sure of the restrictions) to book or just book earlier when I find a good price. We are huge giants fans and go to a lot of the games so I wouldn't factor that ticket price in offsetting the plane ticket.

If you are traveling without kids I'd say go for it.

 

[Disneylandfanatic]

Looks like the vouchers expire in November so won't apply... But that would have been awesome!!!

 

[julmops]

As we're coming from the UK, we already have our flights booked with Virgin Atlantic. We have a package with flights + Hyatt Orlando Airport (as we need to arrive on the Friday to be on time for the cruise) + WDW tickets and hotel for our second week.

 

[luv2sleep]

As we're coming from the UK, we already have our flights booked with Virgin Atlantic. We have a package with flights + Hyatt Orlando Airport (as we need to arrive on the Friday to be on time for the cruise) + WDW tickets and hotel for our second week.

That's great!

 

[BonnieJG]

We've booked VA for our British Isles cruise this August and they had the best prices on their site. Looking forward to flying with them in Business Class. But since we're doing DCL transfers and the DME, we want an airline that is "approved" by them.

 

[luv2sleep]

We've booked VA for our British Isles cruise this August and they had the best prices on their site. Looking forward to flying with them in Business Class. But since we're doing DCL transfers and the DME, we want an airline that is "approved" by them.

What happens if you don't use an approved airline? Where's this approved airline list?

 

[luv2sleep]

We've booked VA for our British Isles cruise this August and they had the best prices on their site. Looking forward to flying with them in Business Class. But since we're doing DCL transfers and the DME, we want an airline that is "approved" by them.

When I booked my June WDW trip with ME it asked me for my flight info but didn't say that VA wasn't approved or that they weren't going to pick up my bags. Wouldn't they have told me that VA was not approved at that time? Just curious because I didn't realize the airline choice was an issue for the ME.

 

[luv2sleep]

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/p...air-ground-transportation-bahamian-caribbean/

Ok so it looks like virgin isn't one of the airlines that you can use for onboard airline check in. It doesn't say anything about actually using the transportation. I think you can fly any airline and use the transportation. Just not onboard airline check in. We will have seats so I won't worry. Phew!

 

[BonnieJG]

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/p...air-ground-transportation-bahamian-caribbean/

Ok so it looks like virgin isn't one of the airlines that you can use for onboard airline check in. It doesn't say anything about actually using the transportation. I think you can fly any airline and use the transportation. Just not onboard airline check in. We will have seats so I won't worry. Phew!

These are the airlines I was told participate in the onboard airline check-in:
AirTran Airway, Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airway.

So to make it easier on us, I will use one of these for the round-trip flight from LAX and back. Sorry to get you worried. Bonnie

 

[luv2sleep]

These are the airlines I was told participate in the onboard airline check-in:
AirTran Airway, Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airway.

So to make it easier on us, I will use one of these for the round-trip flight from LAX and back. Sorry to get you worried. Bonnie

Why is the onboard airline check in important?What are the benefits?

 

[BonnieJG]

Why is the onboard airline check in important?What are the benefits?

From what I understand we will not see our bags once they're taken from the hallway in front of our cabin the night before until we get home in LA. And we don't have to worry about printing a boarding pass. Also the DCL bus picks up our luggage the night before boarding and we see our luggage in our cabins. So no lugging bags around the airport, resort or to check-in at port.

And I believe once we arrive our bags are picked up by ME and delivered to our resort.

 

[luv2sleep]

From what I understand we will not see our bags once they're taken from the hallway in front of our cabin the night before until we get home in LA. And we don't have to worry about printing a boarding pass. Also the DCL bus picks up our luggage the night before boarding and we see our luggage in our cabins. So no lugging bags around the airport, resort or to check-in at port.

And I believe once we arrive our bags are picked up by ME and delivered to our resort.

Ok. Got it. I plan to use the ME to go to from the airport to WDW and then either the DCL transport or a private limo/town car to go from WDW to port. Haven't decided yet. On the way home I'm getting a day room at the Hyatt before heading to the airport. I was planning on doing carryon so the bags so it might not be an issue. I haven't decided yet. My son is old enough to cart around his own carryon now.

 

[Disneylandfanatic]

Oh boy I have such a hard time packing I usually jut end up bringing like 3 different outfits a day... No way is be able to only do carryon!! My suitcase is like up to my hip! Plus I'll have a carryon and personal item... You can call me an overpacker

 

[luv2sleep]

I have been working on paring back for a while because I have no other adult help. Bringing less helps. I also have to pack, load the car, unpack the car, and get the bags to the airport all before we take off. Then at the resort ill still have to deal with the bags although once there the CMs are wonderful I'm sure. On the way back I still have to deal with the bags at the airport, to the car, home and get them out of the car. The less bags and weight the better!

 

[BonnieJG]

Oh boy I have such a hard time packing I usually jut end up bringing like 3 different outfits a day... No way is be able to only do carryon!! My suitcase is like up to my hip! Plus I'll have a carryon and personal item... You can call me an overpacker

I'm more your type of packer! I suffer from "you never know what you'll need" kind of thinking! Plus hubby is 6'6" and everything he has is gigantic! I'm planning on 3 bags for the 2 of us and 4 for my son/DIL/granddaughter!

 

[luv2sleep]

The worst was dealing with a screaming tired, child alone at LAX baggage claim with 4 bags and one car seat and everyone just staring. I vowed to carryon after that. Way easier.

 

[Pikezh638]

For those that have to fly, when are you purchasing your airfare? I'm booking virgin america out of LAX. I think the fares should be coming out soon. They are pretty cheap when they come out. Usually less than $400 pp RT for a nonstop flight.

I book the first day they come out if i see them... Southwest is only out to September right now. I would rather have them and not worry than not get them and try to save a few bucks

 

[luv2sleep]

Posted a question about what to see during the holidays at WDW to narrow down my travel time frame. Looks like 2 nights is enough. We will go to MK and HS on each might and AKL and to the GF to see the gingerbread house during the day on our full day there. So I'm going to book a flight leaving Jan 2nd so that I only have to use two nights worth of DVC points vs 3. I'm ready for Virgin to open up their schedule now!

 

[phxdryheat]

Posted a question about what to see during the holidays at WDW to narrow down my travel time frame. Looks like 2 nights is enough. We will go to MK and HS on each might and AKL and to the GF to see the gingerbread house during the day on our full day there. So I'm going to book a flight leaving Jan 2nd so that I only have to use two nights worth of DVC points vs 3. I'm ready for Virgin to open up their schedule now!

Virgin America is quickly running out of money. They had $70 million cash on hand at the end of the third quarter 2012. They burned through $99 million in cash in the last four quarters. They have burned through approximately $600 million since they started up in 2007; rumor is that Richard Branson isn't going to put any more money into the airline.
Unless they get a BIG cash injection, they'll likely be out of business around April Fool's day 2013. Be careful.