VROOM AT GATWICK

Hi there I was wondering if anyone has used this before. We have booked to go to Orlando in Sept even though it is with Virgin Holidays we booked through TCD we are not allowed to use this facility. When we phone Virgin they said that there has been a lot of interest in this and that they will put in a feedback request. Does anybody know if this is going to be allowed in the near future? Sorry to go on, but curious ?| ?|

[Neil]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

A number of our members have used the V-Room and as far as I can remember, all reviews have been positive.

You are right, that only bookings made direct with Virgin Holidays can have the V-Room added on to it, and I am not aware of any plans to change that at the minute. I think with it being so popular, they want to keep it as a benefit for booking direct and not to have too many other TA's bookings taking up all the spaces.

Neil

Hi Neil. That is what Virgin said to me, that it is for Virgin Holidays, but what they said was seeing as TCD is owned by Virgin, there should be no difference, seeing as you have got to pay for it anyway. Hope they sort something out as all good reviews come from it

[Neil]

You are correct, TCD is now owned by Virgin Holidays. They way I understand it, is that they are running as two totally separate companies, a bit like VH and Virgin Atlantic.

Keep us informed though if you do manage to be able to buy access as a non VH direct customer.

Neil

Yeah will do didn't know whether to e/mail a request myself or not' or who to e/mail but will keep posted thanks

We've used the V-Room a couple of times and have been happy with it. The No 1 Lounge looks tempting though...

You are correct, TCD is now owned by Virgin Holidays. They way I understand it, is that they are running as two totally separate companies, a bit like VH and Virgin Atlantic.

Keep us informed though if you do manage to be able to buy access as a non VH direct customer.

Neil

Not quite true Neil, without getting too legal...

TCD is not a separate company at all. It of course once was. After TCD/Excel went bankrupt, VS brought the name and 'goodwill' of TCD off the liquidator. TCD as we know it now, operates under the Companies House number of VH and operates from the same HQ. So TCD is actually a division of VH. I believe if you look at the board of VH, you will find someone has the title of "Director TCD" or something along those lines. However TCD is very much a marketing arm/division of VH, i.e.: it has no real staff, the staff you deal with are those of VH. Which of course makes the VRoom decision all the more bizarre.

Interestingly VH Cruises is a completely separate company to VH.

VS is of course an entirely separate company to VH, they operate from different HQ's and have different Companies House numbers (although the registered office of both VS and VH is the same address, that being the VS HQ).

[buns]

Having used the V-Room whilst the Gatwick Clubhouse was closed, I can unreservedly recommend the V-Room y) y)

What impressed me the most was the level of service and commitment of the staff, which, in my view, puts a number of Clubhouses elsewhere to shame.

It is strange that TCD passengers are not allowed access, as I regularly see Sky Travel TV Commercial Presentations offering access (sometimes free) when you book a Virgin Holidays Cruise If you mange to catch one of these programmes you would see fro yourself what it is like inside.

buns

thanks for the replies it will be interesting to see what happens with the request did'nt know whether to e/mail virgin direct or not v( v(

[Neil]

There would be no point emailing Virgin about it, as the V-Room is a Virgin Holidays product. Even booking direct with Virgin Altantic you cannot get access to the V-Room. It can't harm to email Virign Holidays though, worst they can say is no, which is the answer you currently have anyway.

hi neil sent a e/mail to virgin holidays vroom reservations last week and as of yet they have not even replied to the e/mail so will have to wait and see

We used the Vroom last year and thought it was great. I have heard a few people say that you can pay on the day if it's not busy.

Miopyk 8D