TCD/BA/Virgin

[Claire L]

You have never got one right?

Boo

Not from PE to UC got an Econ to PE about 6 years ago. Also with the old UC seats got an 'upgrade' in 2004 from PE to the UC seats with PE service. But with the MCO route only having 14 UC seats now not likely to get an upgrade often.

Claire

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Not from PE to UC got an Econ to PE about 6 years ago. Also with the old UC seats got an 'upgrade' in 2004 from PE to the UC seats with PE service. But with the MCO route only having 14 UC seats now not likely to get an upgrade often.

Claire

Did you ask for the Econ to PE upgrade that you got?

Airline staff notoriously dislike people asking for upgrades (since a lot of people do ask for it). They often put "NSFU" (Not Suitable For Upgrade) in the records of people who ask for them.

Asking for a bump from a flight is seen as a good thing, asking for an upgrade is seen as a bad thing.

Boo

 

[CustardTart]

Did you ask for the Econ to PE upgrade that you got?

Airline staff notoriously dislike people asking for upgrades (since a lot of people do ask for it). They often put "NSFU" (Not Suitable For Upgrade) in the records of people who ask for them.

Asking for a bump from a flight is seen as a good thing, asking for an upgrade is seen as a bad thing.

Boo

I heard a party trying to upgrade when we were at the Virgin check-in desk in February - hilarious! A group of 4 guys - 1 had paid to be upgraded and the other 3 were loudly begging to be upgraded for free! The check-in staff repeatedly said "we no longer upgrade at check-in" and eventually they were escorted back to the Economy queue - they were very miffed. The flight seemed full to me so I don't think they could've been accomodated anyway but they were just sooo obnoxious I doubt anyone would've given them anything...

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I heard a party trying to upgrade when we were at the Virgin check-in desk in February - hilarious! A group of 4 guys - 1 had paid to be upgraded and the other 3 were loudly begging to be upgraded for free! The check-in staff repeatedly said "we no longer upgrade at check-in" and eventually they were escorted back to the Economy queue - they were very miffed. The flight seemed full to me so I don't think they could've been accomodated anyway but they were just sooo obnoxious I doubt anyone would've given them anything...

I think that is the problem... obnoxious groups like that are a REAL turn-off to the airline staff, so even when nice people pollitely ask for upgrades (like Claire)... the airline staff are already really fed-up.

Boo

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

When they update the PE and econ seats in the LGW 747's they are going to add more UC seats to the aircraft as even Virgin have been surprised at the demand for UC seats.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

When they update the PE and econ seats in the LGW 747's they are going to add more UC seats to the aircraft as even Virgin have been surprised at the demand for UC seats.

Doesn't surprise me.

Well you can often get them at reasonable prices - £1600 per adult - and that is becoming more "reasonable" (or worth it) to more people... (I am also currently thinking that the number of "rich" people - i.e. millionaires upwards - is increasingly significantly in the UK at the moment).

Also MCO might be a popular route for award travel in UC too (especially executives flying quite a lot with Virgin for business, like to treat their family to UC to MCO for their holidays...)

Boo

 

[Claire L]

Did you ask for the Econ to PE upgrade that you got?


Boo

Yes in 2001 on our honeymoon booked the CH lounge as you could then if on honeymoon, it wasn't so freely available back then, so I asked when we checked in there and the man said "I'll have a look for you' he took our boarding cards and about 20 minutes later returned saying 'Here are your new seats"

Also go an upgrade in 2003 during the Feb snow storms in NYC they were trying to get people on the earlier flights so bumped us to PE, which we were glad of as we got stuck on the tarmac for 6 hours as the snow came down more and more! The 2004 was also and operational upgrade, due to a full flight just before the refits.

Never now ask for an upgrade just enquire how busy the flight is!!

Claire

 

[UKDEB]

We seem to have strayed from the OP's question somewhat!

Claire - have you considered booking the elements of your holiday separately? Flights and Pop during September should be at their cheapest.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Claire, have you flown with any of the 3 airlines before?

We tend to stick with Virgin, mainly because they fly direct from Manchester to MCO.
TCD may offer slightly better value for money, but overall I would say Virgin are worth paying that little extra for.

Any are a decent choice, and at least offer direct flights which is the main thing.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Never now ask for an upgrade just enquire how busy the flight is!!

Always a more subtle way of doing it - especially if you can volunteer to be bumped from the flight completely.

It is good that you got an upgrade for your honeymoon - possibly because they knew that you really were on your honeymoon, you were in the Clubhouse at the time and you got a really nice agent. Would you believe that a lot of people say it is their honeymoon - even when it isn't - to try and get an upgrade? I think that as decreased the likelihood of people who have genuine honeymoons getting a nice upgrade

As far as the OP goes (to stay on topic ). I agree with UKDeb - might be ab idea to get quotes seperately (i.e. get a quote through Disney direct and or Dreams Unlimited) to see if you can get it cheaper.

Boo

 

[Chilly]

Thanks I will do some more pricing on Monday and see if I can get it cheaper.

I'd prefer to fly Virgin so that I can do online check in and DownTown Disney check in as well.

 

[OWJAY]

Hi. We've flown with both and would choose Virgin everytime. Can't complain about TCD but Virgin in our minds are such much better.