Virgin Holidays and Regional Airports

[alan]

Hi,

I wanted to share with you an unpleasant experience I have recently had with Virgin Holidays that messed up the start of my Disney Holiday.

We booked through First Choice travel from the Disney Brochure, and our flights were Edinburgh-Gatwick, Gatwick-Orlando. We asked our travel agent to check that our baggage would be checked through from Edinburgh to Orlando; he contacted Virgin and relayed to us their commitment that that would be the case.

Guess what? We got to Edinburgh and BA told us that they would not check the baggage through. We then got to Gatwick, where it took about half an hour to get our bags off the plane, and had to stand in line for a further two and a half hours to check in at Gatwick (they were having some difficulties there too).

With a four y/o and six y/o, this was far from a pleasant way to start the holiday.

I am pursuing this through Virgin holidays, and shall let you know how they respond. But I would recommend that anyone who is considering using Virgin with a connecting fight from a regional airport thinks again...

regards,
/alan

 

[Night-train]

We have travelled with Virgin on several occasions using regional connections from Belfast to Gatwick. Until last year, when we used online check-in, we always had our luggage checked through to Orlando without any problems. We also do all our booking through Virgin Holidays which I think helps to minimise the risk of such incidents occurring. Seems to me, the more companies are involved, the higher the chances of a communication breakdown among other things. Oh, and just to add, BA and Virgin are not exactly the best of pals either!

 

[Claire L]

I am a little confused as you say your booked through First Choice and the Disney brochure so where does Virgin Holidays come into this do you not mean Virgin Atlantic?

As Night-train says BA and VA are not the best of buddies.

Claire

 

[alan]

Sorry for the confusion. My mother-in-law booked a Virgin Holidays holiday from the Virgin Holidays brochure at a First Choice travel agent.

I contacted Virgin Holidays Customer Services today, who asked for me to put my complaint in writing. I'll let you know how I get on

regards,
/alan

 

[princess jackson]

Yep we did the connecting flights last year and were informed that we have to collect our luggage and check it in again.

And it was really busy, took a while to get our luggage then a while to get the lift.

But they transfer it on the way back for us, which we found very strange.

 

[mnoble_uk]

Note that BMI no longer 'interline' bags so if you are flying from Belfast again, then you will have to reclaim your bags. It seems that every year travelling becomes a little more stressful.

(Edited - oops just read your post properly BMI fly to Heathrow not Gatwick my mistake)

We're trying the Continental flight via New York this year which still means you have to collect your bags at NY - but you clear immigration and customs there so we can check our bags in and meet them in our room (via Magical Express).

 

[wayneg]

We have always had to collect bags and check them in again outbound and never on the way back whichever airline we have used.
BMI MANCH-CHICAGO-ORLANDO in 2 weeks so we will see what happens then.

 

[Miffy2003]

Good Luck Alan! Let us know how you get on

 

[carolfoy]

As far as I've experienced BA won't transfer baggage for any other flight unless they are an affiliated 'partner' but VS will transfer to other flights so the problem arose with the BA checkin not putting the baggage through to Virgin but Virgin will do it through to BA for the return.

 

[jen_uk]

This sounds like more of a problem with BA than Virgin.

 

[Bozza]

Like others I'd be amazed if, for the routing you discuss, bags would be checked all the way through as a matter of course.

Good luck, regardless...