Baggage and connecting flights.

If we want to fly to the West coast US from Manchester we would have to shutle down to the London airports. Do the shuttle airlines, probably BA, allow the Virgin baggage allowance on their flights?

[mitchja]

No sorry, you have to stick to their luggage allowances as they are very unlikely to interline your bags onto your VS flights.

Saying that, BA do allow you 1 x 32Kg per adult for all domestic flights.

BD is a bit more restricted for weight but you are allowed 2 x 20Kg per adult on a 'Tiny' fare or as many as you like as long as they dont weight more than 20Kg on higher economy fares.

Regards

Thanks, thought so! Next year we want to fly out to Orlando which we can do from Manchester, but back from LA or SF, which means a London arrival and shuttle up. It's a pain!

If VA book the connection for you, and it is therefore all on one ticket, I am sure the transatlantic baggage weight applies and the bags go straight through for collection at final destination.

Claire

If you book the whole trip with VS and your tickets are all on on booklet not only does the largest baggage allowance apply but you wont have to pick your bags up at LHR.

It's more than likely though you'll be booked on a BD flight - who i think are much better at this sort of thing than BA!

[mitchja]

It does usually work out more expensive getting VS to book your domestic flights though.

You can book a BD domestic flight MAN>LHR return now for ~£50.

Also if you check your bags through from MAN to your final VS destination on a ticket booked by VS, you wont get VS baggage priority as BD cannot access the VS booking to see your VS fare class, they can only tag your bag to your final VS destination.

I find it much easier (and quicker) to just book seperate tickets, as coming back the FCC (flight connections center) at LHR is always very busy.

Visiting VS Revivals is also a bit of a pain as well as your not supposed to be land-side at LHR if you are booked on a though ticket for your return journey.

Regards

That's sounding better thanks. I had been thinking we would fly back to Orlando and catch our return flight from there but this would save doing that.

^^ Yes it is more expensive booking all your sectors with VS....

BUT! I cannot tell you how many times people have gone for the cheaper option then been left stranded as maybe the inbound was late so they missed their VS flight. And as neither airline has any obligation to help the pax out they've missed days of their holidays, missed meeting, funerals, weddings etc.

Through tickets are by far the better option!

I did a mock booking for this year(we want next May) and the options I need are not available via the website. Can you book other options by phone? With flying out to Orlando, but back from SF, would they need to be 2 single flights?

No Maz they should be able to quote you if you ring up. We have done LHR to SFO then LAX back to LHR and last year did LHR to SFO and LAS to LGW!! Both times all on one ticket.

Claire