TCD/BA/Virgin

[Chilly]

I still haven't booked my holiday as Mike hasn't been granted the time off yet so I'm still looking around at prices. TCD has gone up slightly and BA & Virgin via Expedia have come down again to just over £200 more than TCD.

What does everyone think are BA or Virgin worth an extra £200?

 

[wayneg]

Is that £200pp or for both of you?
Will you be taking TCD car? price diff might be less when you add car to virgin as you can book yourself cheaper.
What dates you wanting? is it in school hols?

 

[Chilly]

We are going 14th-28th Sept. It is £1500ish with TCD for flights, hotel and car hire for 2 people. BA and Virgin via Expedia are just over £1700 for flights, hotel and car hire.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

We are going 14th-28th Sept. It is £1500ish with TCD for flights, hotel and car hire for 2 people. BA and Virgin via Expedia are just over £1700 for flights, hotel and car hire.

All flying from Gatwick?

Boo

 

[Chilly]

All flying from Gatwick?

Boo

Yes.

 

[Claire L]

I would go for either BA or VA as they tend to be more relaible especially if there is a problem with the aircraft or over booking

Claire

 

[wayneg]

Which hotel and car hire? all thru expedia? could trim prices of them maybe, Expedia are expensive on hotels.

 

[Chilly]

Yep Hotel - Pop - and car hire through Expedia. There is a sale on the hotel at the moment where you get the 6th night free.

 

[jen_uk]

If it is only a £200 difference then I would go with Virgin, as someone else said they have a better backup if things go wrong, plus the facilities on board are better (economy), I like having a seatback TV and being able to choose what I watch, it would annoy me watching a screen and not being able to choose movies etc which is what you get with TCD.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I would go for either BA or VA as they tend to be more relaible especially if there is a problem with the aircraft or over booking

Claire

Me too.

BA/VS have more planes too - if something goes wrong with the plane that is going to fly your route, they are more likely to be able to either get a replacement plane or possibly reroute you.

Also BA/VS have seatback TVs in economy, TCD don't have them on the plane at all.

Boo

 

[Claire L]

VA offered to bump us on our return in January as the two flgiths were over full. The offer was over night hotel, all food and a free economy ticket anywhere, bar Sydney, to be taken in the next twelve month. Unfortunately we had to get home that day and turned the offer down

Claire

 

[Boo Boo Too]

VA offered to bump us on our return in January as the two flgiths were over full. The offer was over night hotel, all food and a free economy ticket anywhere, bar Sydney, to be taken in the next twelve month. Unfortunately we had to get home that day and turned the offer down

Claire

Oooooohhhhhh! That was a GOOD offer... could have been an extra trip to Florida (or Hong Kong, LA, Las Vegas, New York, South Africa...). Real shame that you had to turn it down.

Boo

 

[Claire L]

Oooooohhhhhh! That was a GOOD offer... could have been an extra trip to Florida (or Hong Kong, LA, Las Vegas, New York, South Africa...). Real shame that you had to turn it down.

Boo

I know we are still annoyed we had to, the one and only time it has happened to us as well

Claire

 

[wayneg]

I would pay the extra for Virgin, but I would not stay at Disney economy hotel, did it once never again, especially with a car. I would stay at one of our favourite hotels, Courtyard by Marriott LBV £385 for 14 nights, free wireless inroom.
If you have lots of Virgin flying miles you can get the price down by £69pp to £379.70pp for 2000 miles each not much saving but I would do it we have so many miles.
Good luck

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I know we are still annoyed we had to, the one and only time it has happened to us as well

Claire

You never know...

...Orlando flights TEND to be busy... if you travel at peak times, it is not uncommon for them to be overbooked.

IF you have a free day after getting back, you could always "volunteer" for a bump at check-in or the gate area.... Just ask how busy the flight is, if the agent says "busy", then say that you are not in a rush to get home that night, so if they need some volunteers to let you know... the agent should put a note in your records and will call you if they need volunteers. Having willing volunteers often suits airlines - it is easier than going through looking for people willing to be bumped.

Sometimes this has even been known to get the volunteer upgarded (i.e. the flight is full in economy, but had spaces in PE - the agent will sometimes just pick that polite, willing volunteer who just spoke nicely to them....)

Of course, sometimes things just turn out - even on busy routes that look oversold - that there are enough seats for all passengers that check-in.

Just a thought...

Boo

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I would pay the extra for Virgin, but I would not stay at Disney economy hotel, did it once never again, especially with a car. I would stay at one of our favourite hotels, Courtyard by Marriott LBV £385 for 14 nights, free wireless inroom.

Doesn't that also include free breakfast too?

Boo

 

[jen_uk]

Disney value resorts are great, Ive stayed at both Pop and ASMO and have loved them both.

 

[Claire L]

You never know...

...Orlando flights TEND to be busy... if you travel at peak times, it is not uncommon for them to be overbooked.

IF you have a free day after getting back, you could always "volunteer" for a bump at check-in or the gate area.... Just ask how busy the flight is, if the agent says "busy", then say that you are not in a rush to get home that night, so if they need some volunteers to let you know... the agent should put a note in your records and will call you if they need volunteers. Having willing volunteers often suits airlines - it is easier than going through looking for people willing to be bumped.

Sometimes this has even been known to get the volunteer upgarded (i.e. the flight is full in economy, but had spaces in PE - the agent will sometimes just pick that polite, willing volunteer who just spoke nicely to them....)

Of course, sometimes things just turn out - even on busy routes that look oversold - that there are enough seats for all passengers that check-in.

Just a thought...

Boo

Yes I do often ask at check in and hope for an upgrade to UC from PE

Claire

 

[wayneg]

Doesn't that also include free breakfast too?

Boo

No, Courtyard doesn't but Fairfield do. Staying at Fairfield LBV from Easter Sat for 2 weeks so will see if its as good as Courtyard.
I just did not get ASM, room was small, tv stations were limited no coffee maker, tiny safe, had to pay for internet. Maybe it has changed but Courtyard was luxury compared to our stay at ASM.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Yes I do often ask at check in and hope for an upgrade to UC from PE

Claire

You have never got one right?

Boo