New sale prices now on website (28 Oct 10)

[Nottingham Nick]

Link to VS website.

Look to be some reasonable prices, given the tax rises and the recent high quotes.

All three cabins, with fares through end of March 2011.

Book by 9th November 2010.

Nick

[mitchja]

Good luck actually booking these 'sale fares' though.

Just spent the last 20 minutes trying to book any of these sale fares. I can't find any low PE fares.

As usual the VS website booking engine is about 3 days behind and not displaying the sale fares yet.

[Neil]

PE & Y fares look good, but the UC sale shows how times and fares are moving, £1669 for NYC in the sale? Nearly £2500 for SFO as a sale fare? :0

Any chance they'll price match BA's prices for UC, for April? BA is showing the same, lower fares for then, at least on some routes.

Maybe I should try calling UC - anyone got the number to hand please? I thought I had it, but can't find it.... d'oh....

[Neil]

Here you go

I doubt that they will be able to increase the period of the sale fares however.

Thanks Neil. No, I don't expect they can... still £600 is a lot extra to pay. I'm apprehensive of booking with BA though largely cos of their record on calling strikes.

Horns of a dilemma, methinks...

So I've spoken to UC and, as expected, they are unable to price match, unless the fare is bought through another agency for VS.

Have though, discovered another anomaly - Expedia is showing my projected dates for a return fare of £1838.50 each for business class - this is with Continental, but shown as operated by Virgin Atlantic. I'm assuming this is a code share - and does this mean that although booked to fly on Continental, I would in fact fly with VS? If so, would I get VS airmiles/tier points?

Sorry, so many questions, but I know someone here will have the answers

[mitchja]

Whilst you will earn miles and TPs when you book a CO flight which is on VS metal, you will only earn them at the
airline partner rate an not the standard VS rate.

i.e. Only 2 TP's each way in Upper

Whilst you will earn miles and TPs when you book a CO flight which is on VS metal, you will only earn them at the
airline partner rate an not the standard VS rate.

i.e. Only 2 TP's each way in Upper

Right - and how many airmiles would that be instead, for an Orlando flight? Would it definitely be flying on VS metal, as it shows as operated by VS? If so, it might well be worth considering. Would I still get clubhouse access?

[mitchja]

You would earn 150% miles in international discounted business/first.

From the VS website for CO:

Economy Class mileage* 100% miles flown
Discounted Business/First* 100% miles flown
Domestic Business/First* 150% miles flown
International Business/First 150% miles flown
Latin American Business/First 150% miles flown

I'm not 100% sure about CH access but I think you do get it.

Sales fares now loaded on the VS website, although now slightly higher than those advertised first thing this morning!!

[Neil]

You would get CH access still as long as the flight was on VS metal.

Just spoken again to UC - they confirm a that a Continental flight which shows as operated by VS will defo be VS metal, tier/airmiles are the same as with a VS flight (!) and yes, do get clubhouse access....

Looks like a no-brainer to me....

But has anyone else done this successfully, booking business with Continental but for UC with VS???

How likely is it that VS will match BA prices looking at LON - LAS flights in June>> So far BA WTP much cheaper...

[Neil]

How likely is it that VS will match BA prices looking at LON - LAS flights in June>> So far BA WTP much cheaper...

They won't match them currently, as the VS sale is only on flights until the end of March in the main.

It is almost certain VS will have a sale that will cover the summer months at some point, but when they choose to announce that sale is anyone's guess. They usually have one around the Christmas/New Year time.

Neil

Checked earlier today and the LGW-MCO sale fare of £1800+ was up to end Jan 11 and Feb fares were around £2100.

Was considering BA and just thought I'd check VS again and found UC for £1328.50 in Feb glad I checked again.

Unlike the other offers, MCO (limited dates in Feb and Mar) to be booked by 30 Nov.

Jill