Question about booking a Virgin Atlantic flight

[minniemouseuk]

Hello,

We're now planning December, 2009 trip.

We are considering booking the tickets and accommodation with the Walt Disney Travel Company, and booking the flights with Virgin Atlantic.

How soon in advance can you book the flights? For example, for a trip in December 09, when should you be able to book?

Any information would be really appreciated.

 

[CustardTart]

Fly drives for December 2009 available through VH now and VA flights available from Jan 2009...

 

[wayneg]

You can book now as a flydrive Just looked at 3rd Dec 09 for 2 weeks £436 each just take basic free car and use your own rental company. If you tell them you dont want the car then there is a £30pp fee.
If you want to wait for flight only they are available 336 days before your return date.
Booking Flydrive ties you in at the price now but you only pay a deposit, rest due 10 weeks from flying. Book a flight only and it is all payable up front.

 

[minniemouseuk]

I'll be wanting just a flight (not a fly-drive), and the holiday will be 9th - 20th December 09, so I'll have to wait till 336 days before 20th December to book the flight.

Will have to figure out when that is

Thanks for your replies - much appreciated

 

[wayneg]

I'll be wanting just a flight (not a fly-drive), and the holiday will be 9th - 20th December 09, so I'll have to wait till 336 days before 20th December to book the flight.

Will have to figure out when that is

Thanks for your replies - much appreciated

Booking a flydrive with Virgin Holidays and not collecting the car is a flight only, just sometimes it works out cheaper than flight only thru Virgin Atlantic.
Your dates are £454 each, if you are Frequent flying club memeber you get an extra 5% (join if not) and book via Quidco for another 4% cashback. You should be able to get price down to about £400 each.
Leaving it for flight only is a gamble with gas prices rising like they are, you might get a better price you might not. Personally at £400 I would be tempted to book now with VH flydrive

 

[minniemouseuk]

Booking a flydrive with Virgin Holidays and not collecting the car is a flight only, just sometimes it works out cheaper than flight only thru Virgin Atlantic.
Your dates are £454 each, if you are Frequent flying club memeber you get an extra 5% (join if not) and book via Quidco for another 4% cashback. You should be able to get price down to about £400 each.
Leaving it for flight only is a gamble with gas prices rising like they are, you might get a better price you might not. Personally at £400 I would be tempted to book now with VH flydrive

I didn't realise I could book a Flydrive, but opt not to have the car. That's really helpful, thanks alot.

Like you say, this means I can book now, rather than leave it and risk an increase in prices.

Can I ask how you found the £454 each price? Was this on the Virgin Hols website?

 

[minniemouseuk]

I've just thought, can I still go for a flydrive (even if I don't opt for a car) if I don't have a driving licence?

Will they ask for licence details as part of the booking?

 

[wayneg]

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/

Its 2nd down the list after complete holidays.
Many of us do it this way. Like I say if you tell them you are not collecting the car there is a £30pp unpackaging fee but don't tell them and you won't be charged.
No you don't need to enter licence details, thats only needed when/if you collect a car, its done locally in the airport.

Its simple to set up a Quidco.com account if you don't have one. They give 4% cashback on all VH bookings.

 

[minniemouseuk]

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/

Its 2nd down the list after complete holidays.
Many of us do it this way. Like I say if you tell them you are not collecting the car there is a £30pp unpackaging fee but don't tell them and you won't be charged.
No you don't need to enter licence details, thats only needed when/if you collect a car, its done locally in the airport.

Its simple to set up a Quidco.com account if you don't have one. They give 4% cashback on all VH bookings.

You're a star - thanks for all your help

 

[wayneg]

Its also worth looking at a complete package sometimes and not taking the car or hotel. I have booked for Xmas, fly Xmas day. booked flight and hotel for £580 each. The flight only is £900 as its peak time. Its cheaper for me to take the package, luckily the hotel I included is the Fairfield Inn, LBV which we have stayed at twice and like but if we wanted a different hotel it would still have been better to pay for the whole package.
You have to look at every option with Virgin.
Have you registered for their flying club? you get about 8500 miles for a return trip, they have saved us about £5,000 in last 3 years with discounted or free flights.

 

[minniemouseuk]

Its also worth looking at a complete package sometimes and not taking the car or hotel. I have booked for Xmas, fly Xmas day. booked flight and hotel for £580 each. The flight only is £900 as its peak time. Its cheaper for me to take the package, luckily the hotel I included is the Fairfield Inn, LBV which we have stayed at twice and like but if we wanted a different hotel it would still have been better to pay for the whole package.
You have to look at every option with Virgin.
Have you registered for their flying club? you get about 8500 miles for a return trip, they have saved us about £5,000 in last 3 years with discounted or free flights.

I haven't registered for the flying club, but given your information, I'm definately going to look into it. Thanks again for everything