Page 1 of 1

Any Reason to book VA over Continental

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 17:23
by Chazon
Hi All.

First time VA flyer. We are taking a trip to the UK, and decided we wanted to fly VA Orlando-Gatwick. We have been pricing tickets, and from the VA website, the price is $2682 (With taxes and surcharges). The same flight booked through Continental is $2371. Is there a way to book VA direct and get them to pricematch, or should I book the Continental tickets?

Thanks for you insight

Chaz

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 20:08
by Neil
You should probably just book the flights through Continental. Your flight will be on the same plane as if you book via Virgin and you will get the same seat/service. You won't be able to use the Virgin OLCI if you book through Continental, and also you won't be able to collect Virgin flying club miles or tier points, but unless these are important to you then there is no other reason to book with Virgin.

Neil

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 20:24
by Bean Counter
...and one would need to be a real points whore to pay the price difference for those VS points.

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 20:30
by Nottingham Nick
Originally posted by Bean Counter
... one would need to be a real points whore ....


Did somebody call? [:D][}:)][:I]

Nick

PS A warm welcome to V-Flyer Chazon. [y][y]

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 21:21
by G-VFLY
Originally posted by Neil
also you won't be able to collect Virgin flying club miles or tier points, but unless these are important to you then there is no other reason to book with Virgin.

Neil


New to me. I collected 2 TP's and FC mies both ways.

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 21:33
by Bean Counter
Actually that's a good point. They are an earning partner so you get 100% or 150% of miles depending on class of travel. Didn't realise you get TP's though.

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 21:37
by Nottingham Nick
All business class flights with Virgin's partner airlines > 2,000 miles will earn 2 TP's (apart from SQ and ANA). Details on the VS website here.

If we are correct in assuming that by being booked through Continental, they will count as a partner flight, even though they are on VS metal,then the difference will be 2 TPs each way instead of 5.

As far as miles are concerned. A red member flying UC booked through VS would earn 8672 miles each leg. (17344 in total)
For a Continental flight it is shown as 150% miles flown for International business, which I make to be 6504 each leg (13008 in total)

Never having booked with or flown Continental, I stand to be corrected in my ascertains. [:D][;)]

Nick

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 21:57
by Neil
My bad. I was reading up on the CO site earlier and they way I read it was that if you booked through CO and flew on VS metal you just earned CO miles, but if you booked through VS and flew on CO metal you earned VS miles etc. I apologise and thank you for informing me correctly!

Neil

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 22:25
by Chazon
Thanks for the info. I actually called up the VS reservation desk to inquire about the difference in price, and she was able to find the rate, so I did book with VS after all - so I'm now set for my first visit across the pond!

PostPosted: 16 Jan 2008, 23:02
by Decker
Welcome to Airstrip One! When do you arrive?

PostPosted: 17 Jan 2008, 04:21
by Chazon
27th of August - staying at a B&B in Canterbury and taking the train into London on the 29th to be a tourist before leaving from Dover for a Baltic cruise on the 30th.

PostPosted: 17 Jan 2008, 06:39
by catsilversword
We'll try to order up some half decent weather for you [:)]

PostPosted: 17 Jan 2008, 08:40
by Decker
Closer to the time you'll have to check for V-Flyer Socials :)