Virgin 'free' car hire?

[seobaina]

Hi

Has anyone had the virgin flights free car hire? We booked flights via airline network with Virgin and, for some reason, when we were booking the cheapest flights with them also included a weeks' car hire - I believe with Dollar. Now, I've been stung by Dollar before. Has anyone done this and how many 'extra' costs do they add when you get there?

Thanks

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Hi

Has anyone had the virgin flights free car hire? We booked flights via airline network with Virgin and, for some reason, when we were booking the cheapest flights with them also included a weeks' car hire - I believe with Dollar. Now, I've been stung by Dollar before. Has anyone done this and how many 'extra' costs do they add when you get there?

Thanks

This might give you an idea here
http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flydrive/insurance/

Almost certainly you will save money doing it yourself and just not picking up the virgin car.
usrentacar, airline network seem popular just now.

 

[seobaina]

Thanks but we're not doing a 'fly drive' package. We booked the flight for 2 and a half weeks holiday but there was a bonus 'free car hire for a week'. We haven't paid anything extra for it and have confirmed that it wasn't a typo, but I've not had any more info yet.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Thanks but we're not doing a 'fly drive' package. We booked the flight for 2 and a half weeks holiday but there was a bonus 'free car hire for a week'. We haven't paid anything extra for it and have confirmed that it wasn't a typo, but I've not had any more info yet.

Well I would say a flight and car is a fly drive package

Virgin holidays fly drive package is a flight and "free" car and sometimes is cheaper than a flight only hence you may have this option.

Have you booked with virgin holidays or virgin atlantic.
If its virgin holidays then I would think the prices in the link apply.

I've never heard of Virgin Atlantic providing cars

Out of principle you can get a car cheaper if you want one by DIYing rather than the Virgin scheme.

You don't have to pick up the car if you don't need it.

 

[seobaina]

Yeah, but what I meant was it's not one of the packages cause the packages you get the car for the length of your stay.

Thanks for the link and info though. Hummm, might see about getting the reference number from Virgin and emailing dollar direct. That way I've got it in writing if they try to charge me later. I know dollar are VERY sneaky about costs.

 

[amberandolly]

We have a flydrive and have the free car from virgin, if you buy the lnclusive or platinum insurance upfront, it will be cheaper than doing it when you get there, we are paying £210 for the inclusive insurance for 10 days. There should be no "extras", unless you want to upgrade etc. We haven't upgraded with Virgin, as we are going at a fairly quiet time and not picking the car up at the airport ( picking it up next day from I drive) we're hoping that dollar will give us a free or cheap upgrade.
I doubt you could hire a car cheaper than £200 diy?

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Yeah, but what I meant was it's not one of the packages cause the packages you get the car for the length of your stay.

Thanks for the link and info though. Hummm, might see about getting the reference number from Virgin and emailing dollar direct. That way I've got it in writing if they try to charge me later. I know dollar are VERY sneaky about costs.

See this page from virgin holidays, it suggests the flydrive includes one week of car hire, more costs if you want it longer.

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flydrive/costs/additional.aspx

 

[Jakey Rowling]

We have a flydrive and have the free car from virgin, if you buy the lnclusive or platinum insurance upfront, it will be cheaper than doing it when you get there, we are paying £210 for the inclusive insurance for 10 days. There should be no "extras", unless you want to upgrade etc. We haven't upgraded with Virgin, as we are going at a fairly quiet time and not picking the car up at the airport ( picking it up next day from I drive) we're hoping that dollar will give us a free or cheap upgrade.
I doubt you could hire a car cheaper than £200 diy?

When are you travelling, and what car.

Usrentacar is £170 with Budget for compact 4 door with their inclusive insurance for 10 days in May. £50 deposit and I Drive pickup.
The compact is probably the Virgin Grade C, assuming the economy (£158) is virgin grade E car but I'm not sure. You'll know better what car size you're getting.
The compact is typically a Dodge neon, economy Hyundai Accent according to the usrentacar website.

Free upgrades are on the rare side, and if you really think you actually need a bigger car, I'd do it before you go as it's highly unlikely you'll save money at the counter as you are pretty much in a take it or leave it scenario.

 

[Shooby doo]

I would think that almost certainly your "free" car has no insurance & that's where they make up their "freeness" (Is that a new word?) What I am surprised at is that it is only for a week,you don't have to have booked a fly drive to get a car as they do ask if you want your "free" car when booking a package but like you say that is normally for the duration.We always do our own Hire,not once has it been cheaper to take the "free" one!
SD

 

[wayneg]

We have a flydrive and have the free car from virgin, if you buy the lnclusive or platinum insurance upfront, it will be cheaper than doing it when you get there, we are paying £210 for the inclusive insurance for 10 days. There should be no "extras", unless you want to upgrade etc. We haven't upgraded with Virgin, as we are going at a fairly quiet time and not picking the car up at the airport ( picking it up next day from I drive) we're hoping that dollar will give us a free or cheap upgrade.
I doubt you could hire a car cheaper than £200 diy?

As Jakey says look at USrentacar. is £210 incl platinum (full tank of gas)
If not it is expensive
A full size car (our preference) works out at approx £16/day inclusive £18/day platinum/Gold
I am considering taking a 4x4 in August, about the same price/day
Prices vary at different times of year if they have an offer on for your dates there can be a substantial saving over the "free" car.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
If as you say you booked through Airline Network I would assume the "free" car would be their deal. You might be best contacting them to check. When I have used them for car hire only, everything is included with the exception of fuel or extra drivers.

Mick.

 

[princess jackson]

We tend to get our own insurance through insurance for car hire we pay just over £100 for annual policy, we have had no problems (touch wood) lol.

 

[amberandolly]

We travel at the end of April and have an intermediate car booked, I did look on the car hire sites and it didn't seem any cheaper tbh.
We got such a good deal on the flydrive (£379 each x 4 adults) and on the room at Embassy suites Jamaican, so I admit not doing much research on car hire, £200 seemed reasonable.

 

[seobaina]

Hi,
If as you say you booked through Airline Network I would assume the "free" car would be their deal. You might be best contacting them to check. When I have used them for car hire only, everything is included with the exception of fuel or extra drivers.

Mick.

Thanks Mick. This was kinda what I was thinking. I appreciate the posts about the Virgin holidays but we never even looked at the Virgin site. In fact, the only reason we're flying with Virgin is because, at the time of booking, they were unbelievably the cheapest. We weren't gonna get a car at all to be honest cause we're staying on site...but if it's free (bar dollar's $5 a day extra insurance) fair enough. if it's gonna cost us £200+ in extras we'll prob forget it...there's only two of us, we'll bus it for the few trips out.

 

[wayneg]

We travel at the end of April and have an intermediate car booked, I did look on the car hire sites and it didn't seem any cheaper tbh.
We got such a good deal on the flydrive (£379 each x 4 adults) and on the room at Embassy suites Jamaican, so I admit not doing much research on car hire, £200 seemed reasonable.

If its 14 nights, £200 for intermediate is not too bad my quote form Virgin for our August trip for 24 night full size platinum cover was over £800, same car thru USrentacar was about £450.
For Easter we got free upgrade to Full size and paid for intermediate so again a lot cheaper than Virgin.
Personally I just don't want to give Virgin the business for car hire, even if the price was the same I would use elsewhere. I dont agree with the way they promote free car. All the other rental companies I have used have been upfront with their fees.