Do Virgin match prices?

Someone told me yesterday that Virgin will match competitors' prices (if they are less) if you make booking by the phone. Is this true?

[Nottingham Nick]

The details of their price match scheme are on the website -
here http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/po ... /index.jsp

This is the claim form, with a link to the T&C

Nick

How have I not seen this? I spend half my life on that web site! Thanks Nick

Note the different prices must be for the exact same fare bucket, not just the same cabin. Travel agents often sell tickets in buckets that aren't available to buy direct from VS, so that may prove to be a stumbling block.

[Nottingham Nick]

The other thing to remember is that the claim is only valid after you have booked direct with VS, so you can't ring them up and say you have seen a lower price elsewhere and ask them to match it.

Nick

also it only applies to bookings made online with VS and not over the phone

Someone told me yesterday that Virgin will match competitors' prices (if they are less) if you make booking by the phone. Is this true?

Be aware that 'competitors' means travel agents. They won't price match a competitor airline fare even if it is the same route e.g. LGW-MCO or LHR-JFK

V Holidays have different rules though.


I would ask this question though - why book direct with VS if you can get the same flight cheaper with Expedia etc where you can pay a lower credit card / booking fee and get a bigger cash back with e.g. Quidco?

Unless you need to book a specific fare class e.g. because you want to use miles to upgrade there is to all intents and purposes no reason not to book where it is cheapest. You get the same protections where ever you book.

I book my flights via AmEx Platinum Travel, I don't save very much on the flights but I do save the credit card fees, 1.5% of UC fares can add up. Having said that, I rarely use my AmEx Plat card overseas because of the 2,99% fee, you can tell I am from Yorkshire.

I've never used Platinum Travel, is it worth doing? Yes if you can select fare bucket and save on card fees I guess. Are flights prices different by much?

I claimed once knowing booking Virgin was more expensive but I like the extra miles.

Make sure your claim form is filled in 100% correct otherwise they will find an excuse to reject.

They rejected my claim as they said the departure date is incorrect in the claim form compare to the screenshot of the price I supplied from travel agent. After explaining they looked at the arrival date which is +1 day rather than the actual departure date. They were happy and refunded the difference.

I've never used Platinum Travel, is it worth doing? Yes if you can select fare bucket and save on card fees I guess. Are flights prices different by much?

Just done a random test booking for 2, Man Rsw Nov 19 2015 returning Dec 12 2015 cheapest UC on Virgin website £5,348.88, AmEx Plat Travel £5,306.88. That's £42 plus the credit card charge of 1.5%, say £80, that's a total saving of say £112. I get my FF miles plus the Amex points. Hope that helps