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Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 14:31
by flying low
I am trying to book a couple of seats for next year to HAV using miles and the website is useless. Called VS and was advised that due to restrictions on selling flights to cuba they cannot book HAV flights and I need to call Virgin Holidays.

Any ideas?

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 15:21
by pjh
Recently discussed in this thread.

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 15:30
by stuart_f
I think the Flying Club staff are getting confused and telling customers the wrong thing.

The VS website offers me an Upper return LGW - HAV for 100,000 miles + £451.62. I don't see any mention of a restriction other than a general lack of availability. 22 Jun outbound, 6 Jul return works as sample dates.

Economy is pretty wide open for redemptions.

When we went last year we booked the flights with miles through the old VS website, there were no restriction on selling the flights with miles then and I don't think anything has changed.

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 15:33
by MoJoJo
Reward flights should still be able to be booked direct (paying taxes only) The temporary issue is with booking using cash and miles

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 15:52
by stuart_f
Miles plus money works for me on the same dates.

Terrible value though.

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Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 16:23
by MoJoJo
stuart_f wrote:Miles plus money works for me on the same dates.

Terrible value though.

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Try clicking the book button.... it is disabled. Previously it brought up a dialogue box telling you to call VH to book

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 16:35
by stuart_f
Ah yes, so it is! You'd have thought they might at least have greyed it out or added an error message...

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 16:49
by stuart_f
With a little gentle persuasion the website can be made to book miles plus money. Not sure how happy VS will be when you do it though!

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Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 17:41
by flying low
Thanks for all your help on this everyone... I am looking for any weekend in September 2017 but each time I look it just says that nothing is available. Too far ahead maybe?

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 17:47
by jfenney
You never know I have picked up availabilty a month before we departed :-D

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 17:54
by flying low
Hmmm.... oddly now it is showing availability again! But I guess i would not be able to book it anyway.

Not happy.

The agent on the phone said that it will be fixed in Jan, but the miles needed increases then. Not really fair.

Re: Booking using miles to Havana

PostPosted: 13 Dec 2016, 17:57
by stuart_f
The flight operates Mon, Thur and Sat right now but from Apr 17 I think I'm right in saying the Sat rotation is being removed and replaced by a Sunday flight to Varadero to better serve the beach holiday market. Mon and Thur remain as Havana.

I see every Mon and Thur in Sep as available in Upper to Havana (I'm assuming that's what you are booking) for £1,968.
You won't get a weekend departure unless you are willing to go to Varadero and drive over to Havana (or route via the US).

I see seats available in all classes all the way out to 15 Oct right now.