Virgin Flydrive without the Drive?

[meryll83]

Is there any possibility of booking a Flydrive and then not using the car?

We are planning our wedding for next year, and it really worries me that we can't book our flights with VA til 11 months out, so I was thinking about the possibilty of booking the Flydrive through VH when this is released, but we really don't want a car, so can we just sort our own Magical Express transfers and not pick up the car?

Would we have to let someone at Virgin know that we didn't intend to use the car so wouldn't be collecting it?

Just an idea, wondering if anyone has had any previous experience with this?

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I have not done this - but it has been asked before. The general consensus was that you book the flydrive but just don't tell them that you are not picking the car up so you don't attract the extra charge.

Hopefully someone will come along who has done this.

 

[meryll83]

I know when I used to work in a travel agents for a while, one of my colleagues used to tell customers to do this, but this was always with chartered flights, not scheduled, although I don't suppose that makes a difference.

I just don't want to leave someone stressing coz we haven't turned up, and thinking we haven't made the flight and cancelling our return flight or something!

 

[Leanne1977]

We are doing this in Dec and are not taking the car. Its no problem just don't tell Virgin so you don't get charged anything.

Lots of people do it and Virgin are aware that it happens. You will not have any problems.

 

[meryll83]

We are doing this in Dec and are not taking the car. Its no problem just don't tell Virgin so you don't get charged anything.

Lots of people do it and Virgin are aware that it happens. You will not have any problems.

Thanks for this

Have you found it cheaper to book a flydrive than waiting for the scheduled flights, or are you just like me and want to get booked onto that flight asap?
Cheapness is a huge bonus though


Also, can you get the 10% frequent virgin discount for flydrives?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for this

Have you found it cheaper to book a flydrive than waiting for the scheduled flights, or are you just like me and want to get booked onto that flight asap?
Cheapness is a huge bonus though


Also, can you get the 10% frequent virgin discount for flydrives?

You do get the 10% FVC discount VH can be cheaper, but if you have miles+ money on the right day thats cheaper, but you can only book when all your holiday is within 11 months with VA.

 

[CustardTart]

I've done it twice because it worked out way cheaper to book a FlyDrive with VH than the flights only with VA. I simply took ME from MCO and hired my own car (whole package cheaper than extra insurance with VH) later in the holiday. Will be doing it again May...

 

[wayneg]

Usually VA is cheapper than flydrive but not always, We alsonst always book flight only but have booked flydrives or packages. Xmas 08 booked flight and hotel for £580, flight only just been released £560.
As others have said, do it but dont tell Virgin, we had no problems.

 

[Leanne1977]

Thanks for this

Have you found it cheaper to book a flydrive than waiting for the scheduled flights, or are you just like me and want to get booked onto that flight asap?
Cheapness is a huge bonus though


Also, can you get the 10% frequent virgin discount for flydrives?

We just saw a price we were happy with and booked. We got our 10% flying club discount and are booked for 8th Dec for 3 weeks. Flights for the 4 of us were under £1300 but we also got a further £275 off as Virgin made a mistake regarding the free Eurostar vouchers. So just over £1000 for 4 flights over Xmas, fab!

 

[disneydopey]

We were thinking of doing it this year but wasn't that much cheaper to book the hotel direct. It is worth doing though, I've even read about people doing a package holiday with a hotel and not taking that either....don't think I'd dare go that far!

 

[wayneg]

We were thinking of doing it this year but wasn't that much cheaper to book the hotel direct. It is worth doing though, I've even read about people doing a package holiday with a hotel and not taking that either....don't think I'd dare go that far!

Hotels are generally not cheaper if you book them direct you need to do a lot of research and have a bit of good luck but hotel deal can be found. I have booked one for August £20.65/night inc breakfast and free internet inroom direct was almost £60/night. last 2 Augusts stayed at Courtyard by Marriott LBV for £25/night but direct was $150/night(£75ish)
We have booked packages before checked in for one night left luggage in room then told them we were going on a cruise for a week, come back picked up luggage and moved on to another hotel, the hotels done care, they are already paid if you leave early or dont use the room at all, they can resell and make even more money.

 

[daipp]

We have booked packages before checked in for one night left luggage in room then told them we were going on a cruise for a week, come back picked up luggage and moved on to another hotel, the hotels don't care, they are already paid if you leave early or dont use the room at all, they can resell and make even more money.

We did this at the Nikki Bird on the 192 in 2003 whilst we were on the DCL. It's very convienient as the room is already yours and you don't have to do a check-in at 4:00 or similar. After a sleep we moved-out early evening.

We've also booked a room and stayed with our DVC points elsewhere as on that occasion it was something like £400 cheaper to book a holiday.

David

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
One thing I like about fly drive is that you don't have to pay the full amount at the time of booking. This can be useful if you are booking several months in advance.

Mick.

 

[daipp]

Hi,
One thing I like about fly drive is that you don't have to pay the full amount at the time of booking. This can be useful if you are booking several months in advance.

Mick.

YOUR money is ALWAYS better off in YOUR account rather than VIRGIN'S!!

David

 

[iHEARTflorida]

there's no probelm with doing that, just dont tell virgin, we will be doing it in august.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Hi,
One thing I like about fly drive is that you don't have to pay the full amount at the time of booking. This can be useful if you are booking several months in advance.

Mick.

Definite plus! This is what we've done!

We want to pay the amount over several months, so we booked a Flydrive with VH, claimed our FC Discount, and are not planning to pick up the car