Virgin flydrive already sold out for Oct 2006

[mark&sue]

As a DVC member we only need a fly drive but could not believe that the flights were selling fast already for 2006 October half term.

I have been shopping around and was told a couple of weeks ago that there was only 13 seats left for the Virgin flight from Gatwick to Orlando on 12th October. When I phoned to book yesterday for seven of us I was told it was sold out for 12th, 13th and 14th and could only get 15th October. Two of the children in our party have their birthday on that day and we did not want to fly out on their birthdays.

I have now booked with BA instead. Would have preferred Virgin but BA seem okay after reading the recent poll on this board. Booked with BA direct and they went through everything with me very carefully. Now I only have to wait 14 months!!!!



Susan

 

[Shooby doo]

I'm planning for Sept '06,I have the quotes from both BA & Virgin,have to say that the BA phone person was a lot better than his opposite No. at Virgin. We flew Virgin last year & it just didn't live up to expectations so will probably go back to BA.Just need to make sure that my holidays are confirmed from work! SD aw:

 

[SEVANS2208]

Looks like Virgin Atlantic have flights - perhaps Virgin Holidays allocation have "run out"?? Perhaps you could try to book flights & car hire seperately.

oops - edited to say I could have been looking at October this year not next! Not sure when VA release their flights. Sorry, I'm not much help!

 

[Hilary]

I'm glad you managed to book your flights eventually

We've had the same scenario a couple of times for October half term and Easter trips when fly-drive seats fill up really early on. However, I think it's true to say that it's only VH's allocation of fly-drive / package seats (or whichever tour operator you're using) on the flights that have sold out - the flight-only VA seats won't be released for sale until 11 month out, as I understand it. Or did you get the impression it's the whole flight that's full?

This is the main reason I always book our flights before our accommodation, as we're tied to specific dates (usually in or around school holidays) and I can't 'gamble' on being able to get the flights if I leave it until nearer the departure date. I'm sure we probably miss out on the occasional late-booking bargain, but my nerves aren't strong enough to stand the waiting!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

why not book the flights and the car hire separately?
We always do and get a better deal on the car.

 

[UKDEB]

We've had the same scenario a couple of times for October half term and Easter trips when fly-drive seats fill up really early on. However, I think it's true to say that it's only VH's allocation of fly-drive / package seats (or whichever tour operator you're using) on the flights that have sold out - the flight-only VA seats won't be released for sale until 11 month out, as I understand it.

I was about to post to say the very same thing. Also, Virgin usually operate 3 flights a day from Gatwick (as opposed to the usual 2) during busier periods. Just trying to convince myself, here, as we need flights for next October!

Still, we are able to be a bit flexible - we'll just have to go for a bit longer and avoid the half-term flights! That's what I'm going to tell dh, anyway

 

[mark&sue]

I did not want to wait for the 11 month flight only just in case they were gone!!!! It has happened to us before that we could not get the flight we wanted for October half term and like to book a year in advance especially as we wanted seven seats. As we are DVC members we cannot book our accommodation until the 11 month window but feel pleased that we have booked the flights.

I also didn't want to book through another tour operator as I remember what happened to Rob (Cochise) on his flights.

Can other people going for October 2006 half term let us know how they get on when they book over the coming months as this will probably be the time when we will go every year until DD11 leaves school!!!

Many thanks.



Susan

 

[Hilary]

Still, we are able to be a bit flexible - we'll just have to go for a bit longer and avoid the half-term flights! That's what I'm going to tell dh, anyway

Sounds a perfectly reasonable argument to me

 

[mumbojumbo]

I booked a couple of weeks ago Virgin fly drive for 24th oct 2006. The 22nd and 23rd had already sold out and that is the first week of our half term. We declined the car and will book that separately.

 

[natalie_uk_14]

mark and sue did you try to book with virgin directly
mumbo jumbo what about you , who did you book with??
hope you dont mind me asking!
Jeanette(netty)

 

[mumbojumbo]

Hi Netty, I booked direct with Virgin on the Virgin Holidays website. Dont know if you know this but you can join the Flying club on the Virgin Atlantic website, then phone Virgin Holidays to book (with the flying club membershiop number) and you get a 10% discount as opposed to the 5% online one.

 

[shellbell]

We have booked with Virgin for next October and had trouble getting the flights we wanted. (we booked last month) When we spoke to Virgin they told us that Easter and October always get fully booked before the other months. Maybe something to do with the weather and school holidays.

Michelle

 

[Netty]

thanks mumbojumbo, i have joined the flying club.i phoned virgin and their price for the 3 of us with car came in at £3.006.90 thats with the discount.

 

[mumbojumbo]

Was that with accommodation Netty? Our flights were £1600 for 4 of us including the discount. Have found Courtyard by Marriott for £216 for a week on BA Holidays or All Stars £392 a week. Add that to the cost of flights and its not too bad.

 

[Netty]

hi
that was for 2 adults 1 15 year old and intermediate 4 door full ins 1 driver, but prime time 5th-26th aug 2006.
got same quote skydeals £2634. but have to wait til first week sept to confirm the seats.
we will get our own accomodation -villa

your going over half term, so i cant understand why there is a big difference in price

 

[mark&sue]

I tried virgin direct and found them more expensive than through a travel agent. I tried First Choice, Airtours, thomson through a travel agent, thomson direct, sky travel shop all quite a bit more expensive. Going places for the virgin flydrive was the cheapest but then it sold out. After that I got scared and went with BA which was £200 (over the seven it works out at £27.50 a person) more expensive than the Virgin quote but at least they had the flight I wanted.

I did try TCD but we all decided we wanted seat back TVs for the kids and the evening before check in and would pay more.

Altogether we paid £4,423 for five adults, three children and a luxury 8 seater mini van.

Looks like we will be booking at least 15 months in advance until we no longer need to go at half term and it includes 7 days out of school!!

As we are meeting other friends in Orlando for their second week it was important that we went the week before half term plus half term rather than half term and the one after it.



Susan

 

[Netty]

wow you did do alot of searching then! I spent 2 days on the phone trying to get good deals. skydeals came up the cheapest, but i didnt try going places , may do that tomorrow.we ave got 2 families going which alone comes to over £5,000 5 adults, 2 kids 15, 10 on the cheapest quote

did u book ba direct?

 

[mark&sue]

Yes I did book BA direct as I think you can only book them direct if you take a fly drive, as opposed to a package. They e:mailed me confirmation immediately which I could then forward to my friend. They said that both my friend and I could pay by our own separate debit or credit cards when the time came, which would save us messing about writing out cheques to each other waiting for them to clear as we did this year!!!

I did get a bit worried that I would not get what I wanted and just for the sake of a couple of hundred quid I booked straight away. The deposit was £20 a person less as well.

Hope everyone gets the flights they want.



Susan

 

[Netty]

thanks
i'll try ba direct tomorrow. i only need to book flydrives

 

[mark&sue]

Jeanette

Let us know how you get on. It seems August is easier to get than October!!!

Good luck


Susan