My limo/cdc

I may have asked this before but I can't remember the advice I got so apologies for annoying anyone.

As my flight to MIA has moved from 9:20 to 12:30 yipee ( sorry Orlandobelle but it pleases me ) what happens about my car booked with miles still no idea where to meet it and had no other confirmation apart from the miles leaving my account. we will be arriving at MIA after 5pm and probably 6pm before getting through immigration and it will be a long ride to Key West.

I would suggest ringing the Premier team and confirming those things, especially with the new flight timings!

Thanks Juliet[oo]

Your driver will know the time of your arival and meet you at arrivals in Miami with a placard - Virgin Upper CLass one + your name . Be careful - Virgin have now put a strict limit of 100 miles on a CDC in the USA if booked with miles and some of the PAX on my recent return flight got caught out with it.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... /index.jsp





Hackneyguy

Originally posted by hackneyguy
Your driver will know the time of your arival and meet you at arrivals in Miami with a placard - Virgin Upper CLass one + your name . Be careful - Virgin have now put a strict limit of 100 miles on a CDC in the USA if booked with miles and some of the PAX on my recent return flight got caught out with it.

Hackneyguy

Had no idea about that, no one told me when I booked, looks like I might be stuffed.

OK its 160 miles so whats best will they accept some cash for the extra or shall I make it 100 miles and book seperate for the rest, or failing that anyone know a reasonable sedan company that can take us the whole way and I cancel the CDC. What a palava lol, wish they had mentioned this when I gave them my booking and drop off addy.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
OK its 160 miles so whats best will they accept some cash for the extra or shall I make it 100 miles and book seperate for the rest, or failing that anyone know a reasonable sedan company that can take us the whole way and I cancel the CDC. What a palava lol, wish they had mentioned this when I gave them my booking and drop off addy.

I cant really advice you there as I travel on a J. However as a regular to Miami I have the number/business card of the Virgin chauffeur I always use and happy to IM it to you if you like.

Hackneyguy

[Scrooge]

EGG where are you heading too after the flight?

Originally posted by Scrooge
EGG where are you heading too after the flight?

Key West for my other arfs 50th birthday, could I have picked a further away destination lol.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by easygoingeezer

Originally posted by Scrooge
EGG where are you heading too after the flight?

Key West for my other arfs 50th birthday, could I have picked a further away destination lol.

Oh that's right...Get a rental car instead, it's a great drive, out of MIA you are going to make..off the top of my head 3 turns.

Wasn't this booked before the rule change though, I would of thought that VS changing the rules after you had booked it would of grand fathered you in ???

I would ring the PTeam and confirm it EGG, if you booked before the rule change then VS have to honour this or inform you. They haven't done the latter even though they know where you are going - it's in the system already I presume?

As to driving, I've done it before but much prefer to be driven. It's tiring after a long flight and also means you can't drink anything on the way over the Pond [:#].

Given the arrival time change, you will arrive into Key West pretty late. I'd make sure you stop and pick up some provisions on route. The limo drivers know lots of places where you can buy snacks, water, wine, vodka etc. and it's a good idea to take a ten minute pee break and stretch your legs anyway.

I'd say VS should honour the CDC booking as it was made before the rule change.

The situation EGG describes is only the same as booking a reward flight and paying all the taxes+charges at the time of booking. If the rules change within VS's control [for 'rules', read 'fuel surcharge] they still honour the original booking.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Kraken
I'd say VS should honour the CDC booking as it was made before the rule change.

Agreed...however when it comes to EGG and VS life is never easy [:p]

I still stick by driving down there yourself, yes it's nice to have a limo, but the drive is nice, you can stop for lunch/dinner and you then have the freedom of a car...

We have recently arrived at MIA and had pre-booked (miles) CDC to Sarasota, about 3.5 hours away and it was honoured and they are picking us up to take us back to MIA in a couple of weeks. I had previously checked with the Premium people as I did not want to find there was n CDC on arrival but they told me it was still anywhere in Florida.

Telephoned the premier team, nice lot arn't they. Took a while and eventually they had to ring me back ( and yes they did ), the rules have changed but in my case they are going to honor the full trip and make a note that no charge should be made.

I have since found a flight from MIA to KW and its only £125 all in and may book that as well as its worth the £250 and or 12,500 miles to me to know one way or another I will get there, then I can use the limo as a fallback in case the plane is delayed.........how does that sound? I would have to ring the limo at the last minute to cancel but one would assume he or she would be pleased about not going down to the Keys and back.

Then I have the contact that Hackneyguy gave me as well[oo] so kind thanks.

[Scrooge]

Overkill EGG, you don't need the flight.

You dont need the flight. If you want some peace of mind, as the Premier Team for written confirmation that no extra charge will be levied.

Also leaving it until the last minute to cancel the limo effectively leaves the driver out of pocket as he misses out on a job and potential tip.

Originally posted by nevadakaz
You dont need the flight. If you want some peace of mind, as the Premier Team for written confirmation that no extra charge will be levied.

Also leaving it until the last minute to cancel the limo effectively leaves the driver out of pocket as he misses out on a job and potential tip.

Mmmm[:?]that would make me feel bad.

I'd definitely stick with the CDC, it's a lovely drive and you'll be able to relax in the back and watch the world go by.

By the time you've messed about waiting for the flight etc. you could be well on your way.

It's a no brainer for me but obviously your decision.

Jilly

Originally posted by jilly
I'd definitely stick with the CDC, it's a lovely drive and you'll be able to relax in the back and watch the world go by.

By the time you've messed about waiting for the flight etc. you could be well on your way.

It's a no brainer for me but obviously your decision.

Jilly

EGG it's all down to you but remember KISS makes life easier!

I have flown, driven and been CDC'd to Key West. If you want to have the views of an old lag here they are:

- flying - is great if you do it in the daytime and get a view but a complete hassle getting bags across MIA then checking in for the American Airlines flight, its an ATR72 the seats are tiny and it's noisy and uncomfortable, but a short 45 min flight and as I say great views if you get a good seat. That said, I have found it can (not always) take LONGER than the limo because of the connection time, delays, checkin time etc. You must also check the baggage restrictions - it being a small plane and you have no connection straight through these could be onerous or expensive!

- CDC - it can be slow to get out of MIA, some of the drivers talk to much (I just pretend to sleep) and the drive is about 3 1/2 hrs even though its only 150 miles or so (due to freeways out of MIA and then a large part of US1 to Key West is single lane and if you get stuck behind a boat and trailer then things slow down, also it's very tightly speed monitored because of a rare type of Keys deer on the route - that said, it's lovely to walk out of customs with bags, over the little road at MIA and straight into a limo which is cool and calm. Plus, the sights are fab all the way down and you can stop for a quick drink in Key Largo if you want and toss your hair back like Lauren Bacall!

- driving - my personal least favourite, schlep from customs to hire car, familiarisation with roads, no quicker than CDC, no drinks on board, parking in Key West can be easy but lots of restrictions in the old town. That said, you can do as you please and a full dinner stop on route is good. However, you really do not need a car in Key West so it just sits there, or you pay extra for the one way drop ... everything in Key West is walkable or cyclable, for further out trips its a boat or a taxi ...

You see my preference, plus it's a big birthday, who's going to get the short straw and stop the champagne 1/3 of the way across (that is, if VS load enough champagne to last that long!)?

[Scrooge]

Steve, thanks for posting that, when we drove down in May it took us probably 2 1/3 - 3 hours to make it from MIA to Key West, most of the road is now two lanes in both directions, however there is still a lot of construction work going on as you first enter the keys, so one small snag and that goes to hell.

Originally posted by Scrooge
when we drove down in May it took us probably 2 1/3 - 3 hours to make it from MIA to Key West

Even better - will never fly again! I am so glad the KW missed the last few hurricanes too, it was touch and go and it's such a beautiful place to be trashed by the weather!

[Scrooge]

[y] once they get the whole route up to 2 lanes each way it will make life a lot easier, I don't know how long it's been since you have driven down there, but right at the start of the Keys they are replacing a lot of the bridge work with modern multi lane things.

But slinky & Steve, you may have been on a J or D ticket and EEG is not.

On my recent flights those who had booked a CDC with miles were presented with a bill for over the 100 miles to their shock - it has been the topic of discuission on a few MIA-LHR flights I have been on over the last few weeks.

EGG - you know my perosnal advice !

Hackneyguy