Virgin fly-drive - August 2011

[Woodyplus3]

Hello

I am thinking of booking a Virgin holidays fly-drive for 4th August 2011 for 21 nights.

My question is can I book a fly-drive and then opt out of having the car? I am happy with the flight price but I really don't want to drive. Will they penalise me in some way if I don't collect the car?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Type A Tim]

I'm pretty sure they will penalise you, I remember reading something in one of the Virgin Holidays brochures about that.

Although I think I remember reading somewhere that someone booked a Virgin Fly-Drive and didn't want the car, so they just didn't bother turning up to collect the car and it worked out fine for them.

Tim

 

[wayneg]

To go by the book you should take the car, VH's do not sell flight only. If you tell them what you are planning they will charge you an unpackaging fee.
Saying that myself and many others have done it and just not collected the car. They were talking about clamping down on this but I believe people still do it no problem.

What price do you get, I have priced up our 25 nights next August and the price is crazy £2853.45 for 3 of us, breaks down to £951.15. less 2% Quidco(only on ticket not tax) I just can't pay that for an economy seat, only paying £200pp more this August for lay flat Buisness elite seats with Delta.

If I was only going for 21 nights it would be cheaper to book a package with Thomas Cook, Total price £2835 for flights and 21 nights hotel (less Quidco)

Maybe your dates are cheaper.

 

[Woodyplus3]

The price that I have is £3616 and thats for 5 of us - 2 adults and 3 kids (16, 14 & 12) flying from Manchester on the Thursday 4th August for 21 nights.

I have found same dates slightly cheaper with Thomas Cook but would rather not fly into Sanford.

 

[wayneg]

The price that I have is £3616 and thats for 5 of us - 2 adults and 3 kids (16, 14 & 12) flying from Manchester on the Thursday 4th August for 21 nights.

I have found same dates slightly cheaper with Thomas Cook but would rather not fly into Sanford.

£723pp, I would be tempted to wait for flight only with VA but then you have to pay all upfront, at least with a Flydrive you can pay deposit only until a few weeks before you fly. Also not available to book until late Sept.

Might see you on the flight, we are looking for 4th-29th. Hope to get a deal using some miles as we have about 200,000 to use, if not it might be indirect again.

 

[amacspad]

Hi, we have also booked for 4th, Aug 2011 (popular date)! We just have to try and find a deal for flights from Manchester, will keep looking! Debs x

 

[AJisit]

does virgin fly drive offer the cheapest direct flights then?

 

[wayneg]

does virgin fly drive offer the cheapest direct flights then?

Cheapest way is usually flight only but they are not available to book until 11 months from your return date. Some people like to book further out than 11 months so they have to do either a package or a Flydrive.

 

[Cochise]

If they do clamp down on it then what is to stop you picking it up and when you pick up the hire car that is not a rip off drop off the rental for the Virgin hire? What part of the agreement have you then broken?

 

[wayneg]

If they do clamp down on it then what is to stop you picking it up and when you pick up the hire car that is not a rip off drop off the rental for the Virgin hire? What part of the agreement have you then broken?

I don't think its possible for them to enforce it, surely they would have done by now.

 

[Pegasus928]

We have done a flydrive 3 times now and have never picked up the car.
From what I remember they only provided the car for 7 days even though the holidays we booked were for 21 days - and it worked out cheaper for us to hire a car through another company for the 21 days than it was to pay the insurance on Virgins 'free' car for 7 days
As a result of our experiences we would have no qualms about booking a fly drive and not turning up for the car - unless we start to read about people getting penailized for doing this of course

 

[crabbie1]

So I can book a flydrive and just pay a deposit? I am worried about the flights for next august.Will prob need around the 20th or 24th as hoping to do cruise but will prob do the cruise first (especially if teaming up with wayne and mart on the 21st august ).Its also a lot to outlay and save but just paying a deposit makes it a little more realistic and not so worrying.
Do all airlines allow flydrives and a deposit or just VA?

 

[wayneg]

So I can book a flydrive and just pay a deposit? I am worried about the flights for next august.Will prob need around the 20th or 24th as hoping to do cruise but will prob do the cruise first (especially if teaming up with wayne and mart on the 21st august ).Its also a lot to outlay and save but just paying a deposit makes it a little more realistic and not so worrying.
Do all airlines allow flydrives and a deposit or just VA?

VA don't sell flydrives, they are flight only. Its Virgin Holidays that sell flydrives, as do other tour operators. Some only sell flydrives by phone not on their websites like Travel City Direct.
So yes you can book a flydrive and pay deposit only but its usually more expensive than buying flight only (but not always) For our dates bext August a flydrive is £2799.45 (VH) £933.15pp no way am I paying that for an economy seat.

 

[crabbie1]

Nah nor me. Will do the usual and wait.Didnt book till end april this year and got 3 of us for £1515 Still high I think for end september but better than the £1900+ they had and are quoting now.Not any flights on 22nd sept according to there website yesterday.Had to pay amenedment fee to disney of £50 to get this flightas stupidly booked accom first. Thought it was only £25 per change but we changed the date and reduced length of stay from 9 nights to 5 so thats probably classed as 2.Wouldnt bother me doing indirect as seen some flights with AA around £440 return per adult but worried as DB first time and with charlotte there are no seat back tv,s. Also dont like the thought of 757. 767 fine.(sorry if that sounds snobby but get claustrophobic as it is)

 

[Disney_Sarah]

We were thinking about this too.
We are also going a couple of days after you...i have got a really good quote off flights2florida with virgin...only £100 deposit pp
x

 

[Cochise]

I don't think its possible for them to enforce it, surely they would have done by now.

Most probably

 

[Mrs Pegasus]

Just wanted to add to what DH posted. The only problem we have had when not collecting the hire car that was part of our VH flydrive is the fact that they used Dollar. When we booked seperately we also booked with Dollar so this caused some confusion when we went to the Dollar Express desk. Once we had gone through all the paperwork and walked away with the car keys I checked the return date and time and it was for the original VH date and not the booking we had made for our 21 day stay. We then had to go back - show our car hire voucher again and have the paperwork re-done.

Like Kenny said we have never been penalised for organising our own car but it is worth making a mental note to check the paperwork before you leave the airport.