Hello, some questions

I have booked a holiday to Walt Disney World for my Daughter and we are flying out in PE and home in UC, There was no UC available on the outbound trip, is it likely to come available nearer to the time? we booked with VH and are going next year, and flying from Manchester.

I don't mind flying PE, just UC seems much better value.

As we have booked with VH would we be able to upgrade at the airport?

Thank you

I am assuming you have booked through VH, they have only a small allocation of UC seats to sell ( usually only two ) sometimes VA allocate them some more, not often though.

I need three UC seats for next year and have to wait to book them with VA because Vh can't offer me three for Nov 2007 at this stage.

What time of year are you travelling?

we are going October 07, we managed to get 3 adults and 1 child seat on the way back though.

yes we booked with VH.

[HighFlyer]

Hi Claire

As said before, its very unlikely that availibility will appear later on as VH usually only get a couple of seats for the UC cabin. Your best bet would be to try at the airport. PE tickets through VH are normally booked in H class which are technically not upgradable in the way that a more flexible ticket would be, however, all bets are usually off at the airport so it never hurts to ask when you arrive about the chances of paying to upgrade to UC. You may be lucky! Especially if the flight is full or they are looking to shift a few people up a cabin. Either way at least you have the return to look forward to!

Have a great trip!

Thanks,
Sarah

Im not sure about this "VH only have 2 UC seats to sell stuff" - I know its been a rumour thats been kicking around but there are a few things that would seem to shed doubt on this - the fact that Claire has booked 4 seats on the way back for one; that MAN is pretty much a B&S route so what advantage is there to VS to hold seats back from VH - who will surely be the most likely to fill the seats and I also seem to remember having a chat with a VH customer service manager about seat allocation and beng told that it varied for a number of reasons throughout the year.

That said - does anyone have any "concrete" proof of what rules are applied and what is released when - maybe a VS staffer?

And I think fromm your point of view Claire - upgrading at the airport is possible but you run into issues over the heavy discount on your PE ticket - I would suggest staying in touch with VH and making sure they put a note on your booking to move you to UC on the outbound as and when it becomes available - and also to check on the VH website and see if UC becomes available - sorry - but it can be a waiting game!!!

Its no doubt October 1/2 term and as yet not all seats are released. some consolidators have allocation seats (not usually in UC or PE) Seats are released 11 months ahead. You may have a chance but with VH it will be slim. with a tour operator we can use a number of consolidators who have uc fares

I can confirm that initially it indeed IS a fact about the 2 seat availability, as it gets nearer to your desired departure date more seats CAN become available IF VA has allocated more seats to VH. This will NOT happen more than 336 days before departure BUt can happen after that.

I am saying this is a fact because the Virgin Frequent Flyer line told me this only 2 weeks ago when I asked for 3 seats November 2007.

I was advised to book flight only with VA or chance it and wait till nearer the time before booking with VH.

Indeed if I had wanted 3 seats this Novemeber 2006 i could have had them if I were booking now, but when I actually booked I got the only two available at that time.

Just to clarify what appears to be a confusing post after re reading it, lol. I am booked for Nov 2006 in 2 UCS, and also wanted to book 3 UCS for Nov 2007 with VH.

I dont doubt what youve said or what you've been told EGG - but as a retorical question - how is it it possible therefore for Claire to book 4 seats for the return trip if these rules are being applied?

And how many people book to fly UC with VS from Manchester to Orlando on business,surely it woudl makes sense for VS to sell the seats to VH and get the flight full? Maybe operate the other way round and keep a couple of seats back for the VS business customers??

Something is weird??

It might depend if Claire booked less than 336 days prior to departure, or that VA for her chosen flight allocated more seats on the basis that they thought they would not sell the seats in their desired class themselves.

As i say if I do a booking on VH for this Nov for 3 UCS it shows as available, but for NEXT Nov it does not unless I reduce my request to 2 Seats.

VH and VS aren't the only place to book VS seats. other consolidators get allocations and sometimes better rates than VH!

[mitchja]

In terms of upgrading at the airport, yes they will do this as I've done this several times with V Hols bookings, although it will depend on availability which as already mentioned is now very small for Upper on MAN/LGW flights.

I believe V Hols do get the biggest seat allocation on VS as far as consolidators are concerned (or at least they used to)

Regards

Surely V-H should be able to communicate with V-S and request the release of the U-C seats that Clair requires. If these seats are available then I am sure they could be sold to her. There is no fixed price that is charged by V-H for an upper-class seats it varies flight by flight. So I am sure they can sell it at the ticket cost or is this to complicate?.

If I were Clair I would be back on the phone to V-H and ask then to request the seats from V-H if they are available.

Cheers Wayne

Its more than 11 months so I will try again.

Will we get an increased luggage allowance on the way home?

Originally posted by jerseyboy
Surely V-H should be able to communicate with V-S and request the release of the U-C seats that Clair requires. If these seats are available then I am sure they could be sold to her. There is no fixed price that is charged by V-H for an upper-class seats it varies flight by flight. So I am sure they can sell it at the ticket cost or is this to complicate?.

If I were Clair I would be back on the phone to V-H and ask then to request the seats from V-S if they are available.

Cheers Wayne

If the seats do become available will they charge us the admin fee to upgrade?

No - VH only charge if you make a change to a booking - a name, a hotel, a date or similar - if you want to give them more money for something then they are quite happy![:p][:p]

So upgrades, better rooms, more hotel bookings, attraction tickets car rental - these are all happily accepted with no admin charge.[y]

I have just looked on the website and I tried for two people and it was available, same with other dates as well, if I put four people there is no availability however there is for two.

So its interesting that you now have UC availability on the outbound - funny how things change so quickly.

Might be worth a call to the FVC ( if you are a member) or to customer services to see if they can make that 4.

Another option is of course to get those 2 and book 2 seats in PE - at least if the worse comes to the worse you can be in the same area if you choose the upstairs cabin on the 747.

Good luck[y]

Originally posted by Claire1902
I have just looked on the website and I tried for two people and it was available, same with other dates as well, if I put four people there is no availability however there is for two.

This is where I would be totally selfish and book the two then leave the kids in premium, if they are old enough to be there without a parent that is. Or treat yourself and one child. But seriously though I would phone V-H and ask that they request two more Upper Class Suites if available, allowing you and the rest of your family to travel together in the cabin of your choice. If there are only 2 seats left on this flight then there is nothing that can be done however if the seats are there I am sure V-S can sell them on to V-H for purchase by yourself.