United vacations

[happytraveller]

Hi, has anyone used united vacations before, even just their flights?Considering them for lax and their prices are very competitive, compared with virgin.All answers appreciated.

 

[Claire L]

Flew with United back in 1995 to Denver via NY and then back from Las Vegas via San Francisco, no problems at all, lovely planes on the transatlantic routes and internal were fine as well.

Claire

 

[happytraveller]

Cheers for that claire.Out of interest, who are you going with in june?

 

[Claire L]

Virgin again as we found their flights to the West Coast in 2003 to be very good

Claire

 

[happytraveller]

Claire i don't know if you would know the answer to our virgin query.Basically we want to book the hilton garden inn in anaheim, in the VH brochure it mentions free breakfasts as a virgin bonus,on the website there is no mention of this.We've tried to get on to them about it by phone-i can never get through and my friend was sent an e-mail saying they do not give details via e-mail.Do you know if they honour things in brochures regardless of how you book ?It sounds petty, but the free breakfasts are what is swaying us to that hotel-lol,it all adds up as they'll be 6 of us.

 

[Claire L]

Claire i don't know if you would know the answer to our virgin query.Basically we want to book the hilton garden inn in anaheim, in the VH brochure it mentions free breakfasts as a virgin bonus,on the website there is no mention of this.We've tried to get on to them about it by phone-i can never get through and my friend was sent an e-mail saying they do not give details via e-mail.Do you know if they honour things in brochures regardless of how you book ?It sounds petty, but the free breakfasts are what is swaying us to that hotel-lol,it all adds up as they'll be 6 of us.

Difficult to say really but if you have the most up to date brochure then I should of thought so, strange it isn't on the website! Unless of course this offer is no longer in their contract with the hotel, the only way to be sure is to call VH and ask, maybe trying the FVC line if this is to be your third holiday with them, is Rio a FVC member?

Claire

 

[happytraveller]

Thanks for that Claire, Rio and i are both FVC members.I've been ringing the club and have to hold just as long as for reservations and still to no avail.We may just end up booking elsewhere,as this hotel was not really a first chioce and better properties are to be had within this range with others.Thanks for your help-i'll let you know how it all goes,lol.

 

[Claire L]

What time of day are you calling the FVC?? I usually find they answer quite quickly.

Claire

 

[mark&sue]

We booked a United Vactations package to LA and Las Vegas in 1999 and got a free stopover in New York for a few days. Thought they were reasonable and booked about 6 hotels with them at the same time and the car.

Would not consider for Orlando as they do not fly direct and non-stop.

Good luck



Susan

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, thanks for all your help claire and Susan.I've just spoken to FVC and the new brochure, which is what the website is based on does not carry that offer.We are now back to the drawing board! We may well just choose another virgin hotel-but they have a limited selection for our dates-or go elsewhere.One thing though on one of united flights it shows connections as being from lax to lhr, but when you clic on the flight number, it mentions aircraft change enroute.Can anyone shed any light on this.Do they tell you when you boo where it will change , as on the site it appears to be direct-if i'm making any sense Thanks in advance.

 

[Claire L]

Off to look at the United website.

Claire

 

[Claire L]

According to here the flight is non stop.
Where have you found the chnage mentioned?
Claire

 

[happytraveller]

LOL, ignore me Claire-i don't know what i've been looking at! Thanks for that.I must have been looking at a different flight as the top flight for 30th june returning 17th july is clearly non-stop! Your probably thinking 'rather Rio than me' -lol!Well united is looking like a good contender at the moment.

 

[Claire L]

Lol HT I know sometimes if a package to make things cheaper they will do non standard routes!! Hope you get your holiday sorted soon and can then start the real planning

Claire

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I have to say that United Vacations are usually the best price wise for the West coast. I used to book them all the time for clients visiting that part of the world

 

[happytraveller]

Thanks for that Helen.You say you used to use them-is there a reason why you don't anymore-lol.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

The only reason I don't use them anymore is because I'm living in Ireland and work for a tour operator in Dublin now

 

[happytraveller]

Thanks for that-much appreciated

 

[disneyholic family]

United used to be a really nice airline to fly (back in the days of "Fly the friendly skies of United"), but in the past few years they've joined the ranks of all the other US airlines, almost surpassing Northworst in bad service on the ground and in the air. And that's saying a lot.
But really, all the US airlines are pretty awful, and they're almost all in bankruptcy (United included) so it makes no difference which you fly.

I've never flown Virgin, but based on the rave reviews it gets on this site, it seems like it must be a lot better than flying the not-so-friendly skies of United.