Questions ref Monarch

[A whole new world]

Hi,

I'm currently booked with Disney direct to go for 2 weeks next year. We have flights with them booked with Virgin. Weve decided to go for 3 weeks instead so will have to change our booking. Disney are no longer booking flights with Virgin for next year. Every search on the online system has come up with Monarch. I would prefer Virgin as the flight times are better and they flight to Orland as appose to Monarch flighting to Sanford. I will ask Disney if we can still have a Virgin flight but if i can't I have a few questions about Monarch:

- Does Magical Express go from Sanford?
- Do you get a personal TV set with several Channels on Monarch?
- Is the food nice on the flight?
- Do they cater for Kids?

Thanks

 

[2Tiggies]

I know nothing about Monarch, but can tell you that ME does not go to Sanford, so you would need to find your own way to your resort.

Have you tried putting in another airport to see if they offer another airline as an alternative? And have you looked at the possibility of booking your own flights or is this not a route you want to go down?

 

[A whole new world]

The package we had with Disney included everything, and we got the free dining included. Were hoping that as we already has flights with Virgin they might let us keep Virgin, for at least the way out. It would be a pain if we had to pay extra for a taxi.

Thanks

 

[Kath2003]

Hi,

I'm currently booked with Disney direct to go for 2 weeks next year. We have flights with them booked. Weve decided to go for 3 weeks instead so will have to change our booking. Disney are no longer booking flights with Virgin for next year. Every search on the online system has come up with Monarch. I would prefer Virgin as the flight times are better and they flight to Orland as appose to Monarch flighting to Sanford. I will ask Disney if we can still have a Virgin flight but if i can't I have a few questions about Monarch:

- Does Magical Express go from Sanford?
- Do you get a personal TV set with several Channels on Monarch?
- Is the food nice on the flight?
- Do they cater for Kids?

Thanks

Could it be that you're looking too far out and Virgin haven't released the flight details for the dates of your trip yet?

Either way, I would seriously consider booking my own flights.

 

[laura_<3]

hi,

i'm currently booked with disney direct to go for 2 weeks next year. We have flights with them booked. Weve decided to go for 3 weeks instead so will have to change our booking. Disney are no longer booking flights with virgin for next year. Every search on the online system has come up with monarch. I would prefer virgin as the flight times are better and they flight to orland as appose to monarch flighting to sanford. I will ask disney if we can still have a virgin flight but if i can't i have a few questions about monarch:

- does magical express go from sanford? - No but there are plenty of taxis available
- do you get a personal tv set with several channels on monarch? - Not in economy. We have only flown economy with monarch, they have a few tv's above your head that come down during the flight (but no personal tv's) and one big screen at the very front.
- is the food nice on the flight? - I don't like in flight meals in general, but dbf says he enjoyed his meals
- do they cater for kids? - I think kids get different meals to adults but don't quote me on this one
thanks

Hope this helps We've flown with Monarch twice (2005 & 2009), this year we flew with Thomson and are going with them again next year. We found them much better than Monarch.

 

[casinocolin]

You could get a Shuttle transfer from Sanford, we have used these http://www.holidaytaxis.com/ £28 Per Person return, a taxi would cost you about £100 return

 

[2Tiggies]

Could it be that you're looking too far out and Virgin haven't released the flight details for the dates of your trip yet?

I think this is the real issue here. In the past Disney have always shown flights available way in advance of the 11 month return window you have with flights alone. Prompted by curiosity through a similar comment on a thread last week, I tried to price up a trip for 4 for next year with Disney UK, including flights and was presented with a message across the screen that flights are only released 11 months out

Either way, I would seriously consider booking my own flights.

I feel the same, unless a really good all inclusive deal comes up, which does happen from time to time.


To the OP, I am a little confused by what you are asking. I have re-read your first post a few times now and you say that you have booked your Disney package and that you have flights with them already. I am assuming these are the Monarch flights referred to. If you have already booked flight inclusive they cannot separate the flight component from the booking and will require cancelling the existing reservation and rebooking. What I understand (not sure if I am correct) from your question is that you are hoping to get the Monarch flights changed to VA ones if you are able to find them for your dates Or am I wrong?

I doubt they will be able to do this, but your best bet is to contact them and ask if they are willing to do so if and when the receive VA flights available for booking with their packages. They will not have access to flights which have not been allocated to them so you sourcing your own and asking them to change is possibly not going to be possible. Then again, I have the approach that if you want something - ask, so you have nothing to lose by trying

I do find it odd that they are operating in the 11 month window if this is what they are now doing, although I have no doubt that if this is the case, it is beyond their control.

 

[tinkerpea]

I myself have booked a non flight package with Disney uk andthey was trying to get me to book flights with them only last wk and they tod me the flight would be with Virgin!!!! But that they could not tell me times of flights as they don't get any info on them until November which would be my 11 month window,so I believe that you will be ave to book with virgin if your windows not open yet! When are you due to fly are you in your 11 month window? Also even though your already booked to fly with virgin now for your 2 wk holiday I'm not sure they could just change your flight? Without cn eking and re doing the booking? I had to change a date and was charged a £50 admin fee!!! This was 5 hours after the first booking

 

[2Tiggies]

I had to change a date and was charged a £50 admin fee!!! This was 5 hours after the first booking

5 hours? No, that doesn't sound right. I haven't read that section of the T&C's recently but see what they say about amendments in the current terms. I am pretty certain they have to offer a cooling off period

 

[Howellsy]

I would avoid Monarch if you could help it. I had a 26 hour delay with them in 2008. When the plane finally came it was too small to make the direct trip so we had to make a stopover meaning we arrived in Florida at 8pm the following evening - we were supposed to be there at 4pm the previous day. There was a problem with the hold so we had no food. The new plane had no premium economy section so those who had paid did not receive it. We missed a day and a half of our holiday because of them and I've heard that this is quite a common occurrence with them, or at least it was that year.

 

[2Tiggies]

I would avoid Monarch if you could help it. I had a 26 hour delay with them in 2008. When the plane finally came it was too small to make the direct trip so we had to make a stopover meaning we arrived in Florida at 8pm the following evening - we were supposed to be there at 4pm the previous day. There was a problem with the hold so we had no food. The new plane had no premium economy section so those who had paid did not receive it. We missed a day and a half of our holiday because of them and I've heard that this is quite a common occurrence with them, or at least it was that year.

That is awful!! What did they have to say about it? Or did you have to write it off as "just one of those things"?

 

[Howellsy]

That is awful!! What did they have to say about it? Or did you have to write it off as "just one of those things"?

They gave us a night in a hotel with dinner and £30 each in vouchers or something silly. Everyone I told about it said we should be grateful they gave us a night in a 4* hotel, but when you're supposed to be at the CBR or watching Wishes it's not much consolation!!

 

[zoeee]

im going with monarch next year there are so many bad reviews but searching ages looking for deals they are a hell of alot cheaper then anyone else! i hope it isnt going to be too bad lol

 

[Pootle]

I would avoid Monarch if you could help it. I had a 26 hour delay with them in 2008. When the plane finally came it was too small to make the direct trip so we had to make a stopover meaning we arrived in Florida at 8pm the following evening - we were supposed to be there at 4pm the previous day. There was a problem with the hold so we had no food. The new plane had no premium economy section so those who had paid did not receive it. We missed a day and a half of our holiday because of them and I've heard that this is quite a common occurrence with them, or at least it was that year.

I have had to spend an extra night in Orlando 3 times in total because of aircraft problems. The best hotel used/experience was with BA, the next was a charter (can't remember which one) and the worst one was Virgin (old hotel downtown). This sort of stuff can happen to any of them. Not nice when it happens to you though.

I have travelled with Virgin many times since then (and have been delayed many times with them too!), but because of this year's multiple seat changes, I'm giving Monarch's premium service a chance next year (paying for 6 tickets so the price difference matters too). There is a thread on the Dibb where many people report good experiences of travelling with Monarch, especially for the price they paid.

If it goes badly wrong with Monarch, I'll be sure to post the details though