Consolidated thread about Ex-DUB and other Ex-EU travel.

I've tried numerous times to do the multiple city booking and it doesn't work for me. What am I doing wrong?
I've tried Expedia.ie and uk
I always get can't find flights....

I find it helps to not specify VS as preferred airline. If the route you are searching on is LGW to MCO or LAS it will almost always return VS as a top result. It seems with multi city it gets its knickers in a twist if VS is specified as clearly VS cannot serve the first or last sectors. This isn't an issue when searching normally (not multi city)

But presumably it would be VS not BA blocking pax from taking leg 2, if leg 1 was missed, right?

Yes it would be up to VS and it would depend on the agent on the day and the actual circumstances. But they would know you hadn't flown your BA sector and would want to stop people doing this just as much as BA would.

I've tried numerous times to do the multiple city booking and it doesn't work for me. What am I doing wrong?
I've tried Expedia.ie and uk
I always get can't find flights....

I find it helps to not specify VS as preferred airline. If the route you are searching on is LGW to MCO or LAS it will almost always return VS as a top result. It seems with multi city it gets its knickers in a twist if VS is specified as clearly VS cannot serve the first or last sectors. This isn't an issue when searching normally (not multi city)

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try later.

Yes it would be up to VS and it would depend on the agent on the day and the actual circumstances. But they would know you hadn't flown your BA sector and would want to stop people doing this just as much as BA would.

OK, thanks!

I frequently only travel with hand luggage. Say I check in for the VS flight, skip the BA, and just turn up straight to security. Presumably the bar/QR-code will work, as it's a valid flight.

Would I then really be stopped at the plane, or the CH?

I'm actually assuming yes, but writing this out makes me wonder. I know of people doing this ("1X" I've seen it called), but that's where leg 1 is months ahead of legs 2/3/(4).

I don't think we would know for definite until someone tried it and proved it, but then who would want to risk their holiday, or several £000's in doing so?

If it's of any use...

I had a missed first sector once, but only on a LR flight to Manchester. Basically I got to LHR too late to get through the world's longest post security Monday morning departing EU passengers queue at the old T1. Didn't have time to plead with anyone and get to the plane so just had to leave the airport and get to Manchester via Virgin Trains. All well, if a little stressful, and of course more expensive than you'd want.

On my arrival for the return LR service at Manchester, I was checked in online, only had hand luggage but did call at the desk to see if I could get a slightly better seat than the one I'd been allocated. All of which was achieved with the normal efficiency. So far, so not even a care in the world...

However.

Whilst sat at the gate a call was put out for me to go and have a word with the gate agent. They wanted to know how had I got to Manchester today, as I'd missed the first flight and therefore my ticket had been cancelled. Remember this is post check in, AND post dealing with someone who had a computer in front of them and would have SURELY seen my travel ticket/flight details. Heart in mouth moment ensued, with perhaps a little undignified pleading (and a reminder from the gate agent to arrive early for flights, as if I hadn't spent the whole day kicking myself for that!)

The good news is they did let me on, but there was a VERY firm warning as to what the rules were and that this was only being done as a one off etc etc.

So I guess the moral of the story is don't even try missing the first leg!

Thanks for reading, and happy flighting!

Mr G

[Pete]

Pete, would it be worth changing the title of the thread to reflect why its now a Sticky? I am happy for you to do that if you feel it appropriate.

Good call. Topic title now changed.

Cheers,

Pete

Very interesting, Mr G., thank you.

What you've written makes sense to me, and would be expected, as your flight was all with one airline.

I suppose my question is a) does the BA system feed that quickly and that seamlessly into the VS system and b) does VS really care if you've missed the first BA leg?

NYLON

[mitchja]

I suspect VS will notice pretty quickly if you miss the initial BA flight as its VS that ticket the whole itinerary if the main international flight is with them.

The BA flights are booked on a 932 (VS) ticket number.

Very good point about the ticket numbers, mitchja, thanks!

I also bagged two UC returns ex-DUB to LAX for just over £1400 each, which is a really great price. We will fly LGW-DUB the night before but that's only another £150 total for flights plus hotel...

If I understand correctly, will our bags be checked through to LAX from DUB, meaning we don't have to do any luggage transfers on arrival at LHR outbound?

On the inbound, do we need to specifically ask for our bags to not be checked through to DUB or do we simply reclaim them at LHR as the port of entry and then leave the airport to head home?

Outbound, yes your bags should be checked straight through from DUB-LAX.

Coming back, yes you need to ask the check-in staff at LAX to tag them to LHR only. VS should do that without a problem although there've been reports of some BA staff refusing and insisting on checking bags through to their final destination.

Sorry to bump this (sticky!) topic but i had a question.

I wanted to go back to Nashville again next year but when i looked (on Kayak, initially) i'm routed either straight out from DUB to the USA or sometimes via BA through LHR either outbound or return. Is there a way to force DL or VS on another site?

Yes, on Expedia go to the flights home page, select "Show additional options" then choose from the drop-down menu under "Preferred Airline".

I've tried that but it automatically filters out both VS and DL

If i select Premium or Business it filters out everything, and if i select First i'm only given first class in DL Domestic from ATL which is only a 35 minute flight.

Maybe if you try the multi-city option you will be able to pick airlines for each sector?

Maybe if you try the multi-city option you will be able to pick airlines for each sector?

I'm only given AA, BA and US Airways (itself AA anyway...) as options. Looks like i have to try the other side of the fence....

DL Nashville seats are rarely released as VS codeshares, so look to book your flights from DUB to DTW or ATL (1.5 hours and 1 hour from BNA respectively), then book a cheap DL domestic flight separately.

Randomly looking at March (but plenty of availability throughout 2015, avoiding June-September):

Here's a r/t DUB-DTW (BA CW, DL BE) for under £1,500:
https://www.google.com/flights/#search; ... A,VS;c=LHR

Here's a r/t DUB-ATL (BA CW, DL BE & VS UC) again for under £1,500:
https://www.google.com/flights/#search; ... A,VS;c=LHR

I'd pick ATL, as it's a DL hub, and you'll get tons of flights to BNA.

What I tend to do is just call up VS and have them book the flights for you over the phone. If you don't want to do that, then plug these exact flights into Expedia

Hope this helps!

That really does, thank you!

That really does, thank you!

Very glad to help; good luck!

If you are looking for ex-EU fares the best way to go about things is to start by using the ITA Matrix software (now owned by Google). By using the advanced routing codes options you can specify which airlines (and via which airports you wish to fly).

For example if you wanted to fly DUB-LAS via LGW on EI connecting to VS you would simply enter "LGW, VS, EI" into the advanced routing option box. This will show all bookable fares on VS/EI from DUB via LGW to LAS.

The Matrix shows the price of a ticket. You then need to telephone your carrier of choice and get them to book the flight for you. The flight will show on the screens of the call handler as, I believe, they use the ITA software (albeit a more industry specific version) in order to make reservations themselves.

This is the best way to find certain fares, it saves spending hours trying to get the awful VS website to play ball. If the fare is on the Matrix it is bookable.

For example, I have just booked a BA fare from DUB to HNL via LCY in CWLCY and the various US airports in F on a TP run using the above method for a price that makes the VS LAX fare look steep.

Hmmmn, 1200 quid next december... Might do christmas in Vegas...

Turns out BA is 120 quid more expensive. Direct or bouncing on babybus to JFK...

Hi all,

I have a few questions relating to this after browsing through the posts...

I checked some ex-EU prices through to Shanghai via ITA Matrix and verified it would be a little bit cheaper.

If I call VS can they book the whole thing, including the M class VS and the other airline segment i.e. BA? Can they also upgrade the VS M class segment or will there be problems doing it?

Thanks

Yes they can!

I think the value of the ex-eu prices are for the business class ones. It might save you some on economy, but I'd not do it for M fare to upgrade...