V-Flyer

Newbie here!

I've booked a flight out to Barbados in mid May for 2 weeks through VH. My fiancee wants us to UG to PE at least outbound, but ideally inbound also. Having checked the VS site, they have availability but want to charge me loads for this privelige.

VH have PE both ways, but want to charge me around 650 per head which seems alot as there will be 4 of us (2 kids as well).

Can anyone offer me any advice as to how best negotiate some kind of deal? I know I can wait until the airport, but that's then in the lap of the gods. I know that VH don't have any return economy seats left, which could help me as if I upgraded, they would then have 4 which could them sell another holiday. My other concern is trying to get a deal through the contact centre in Mumbai - very scripted and no-one seems able to think outside of the box.

Thanks

You will have to do your upgrade with VH unfortunately, and their prices are pretty much fixed so you don't have many options unless you risk it at the airport. Occasionally VH do have upgrade offers, but these are on selected routes/dates etc so you can't bank on that either.

You really have to decide if the want to upgrade is worth the cost and if so bite the bullet.

Welcome to V-flyer [:)]

You can upgrade all VH fares with cash at the airport, but obviously there needs to be availability in the cabin your upgrading too.

You can sometimes get some great deals upgrading VH fares at the airport.

I find the upgrade supplements VH now offer don't tend to be good value any more especially when you compare them to the upgrade supplements VS offer when booking direct. Makes it even worse VH now charge the same amount all year round for these upgrade supplements.

Regards

Thanks for the quick responses.

Probably a stupid question - but is there anyway I can find out, say a day or 2 before travel, whether there are seat available in PE or UC online?

If there is availability - can I maybe do an upgrade deal the day before or is it really only on the day of travel at the airport?

Cheers

'Deals' really are only something that are available on the day, at the airport, but they are by no means certain to be offered. If it was common to offer reduced upgrades a couple of days before, then a lot of people wouldn't bother upgrading at the time of booking and would wait for these 'deals' to happen.

With your V-Flyer membership you get some free searches on Expert Flyer, and that will be able to tell you what the loads are like and if there is still availability in PE/UC, or of course you can do dummy bookings on the VS website.

quote:Originally posted by 2500julian


Probably a stupid question - but is there anyway I can find out, say a day or 2 before travel, whether there are seat available in PE or UC online?


The easiest way is to try a dummy booking on the VS website. I think Expertflyer will also give you a fare class availability breakdown, but I think that'd be a bit fine grained for what I think you're after.

quote:Originally posted by 2500julian

If there is availability - can I maybe do an upgrade deal the day before or is it really only on the day of travel at the airport?


As you've found already you'll probably get the brush off from VS as you're booked with VH and the call centre will stick to the script.

The UC and PE seats on BGI services generally sell out as the UC config is usually only 14 seats. That said, this route is being serviced for at least part of the time by an LHR configured aircraft, with expanded UC and PE cabins so there may be more opportunity on the day. You should be able to tell the current scheduled configuration of your aircraft by looking at the 'Manage My Booking' section of the VS website. Though that may change...

It's all a bit of an art and not a science I'm afraid. Ultimately as Neil says if you want to assure yourself of an upgrade you're best biting the bullet.

Paul

Sorry to butt in, but another newbie here.

This was also what I was going to ask.

I'm also going on a VH but baulked at what they wanted to UG to PE from LHR to HKG and return from PVG to LHR.The good people at VS were unable to tell me if it was even possible to UG at the airport, let alone whether it could be offered to someone having a V class ticket such as myself.

The expert flyer site shows only 4 people in PE for my outward flight which leaves in just under 3 weeks, so I think I'll wait to see whats available at the airport.

With this in mind theres one further thing. I have reserved seats in Economy,should I check in online, wait until I arrive at Heathrow or does it make no odds?

Thanks

Great Site BTW!

quote:Originally posted by twosheds
Sorry to butt in, but another newbie here.

This was also what I was going to ask.

I'm also going on a VH but baulked at what they wanted to UG to PE from LHR to HKG and return from PVG to LHR.The good people at VS were unable to tell me if it was even possible to UG at the airport, let alone whether it could be offered to someone having a V class ticket such as myself.

The expert flyer site shows only 4 people in PE for my outward flight which leaves in just under 3 weeks, so I think I'll wait to see whats available at the airport.

With this in mind theres one further thing. I have reserved seats in Economy,should I check in online, wait until I arrive at Heathrow or does it make no odds?

Thanks

Great Site BTW!


Welcome to the site [y]

There are occasions when the VH upgrade prices are very good, especially if your original price was good, but there are also times when they are not so good, each individual circumstances are different.

As regards to using OLCI, then yes I would suggest you did this, doesn't really make much difference to your airport experience, or if you are able upgrade on the day. What it does do is pretty much guarantee your existing seats and gives you more options to change if they become available.

Neil

quote:Originally posted by twosheds


The good people at VS were unable to tell me if it was even possible to UG at the airport, let alone whether it could be offered to someone having a V class ticket such as myself.

Hi and welcome to V-flyer.

The good people at VS wouldn't be able to say at this stage whether it is possible to upgrade as a lot can happen in three weeks. There could be a sudden upsurge in PE bookings especially as HKG and PVG are business routes. Keep your fingers crossed and see what is available at the airport

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb

Hi and welcome to V-flyer.

The good people at VS wouldn't be able to say at this stage whether it is possible to upgrade as a lot can happen in three weeks. There could be a sudden upsurge in PE bookings especially as HKG and PVG are business routes. Keep your fingers crossed and see what is available at the airport


Thanks for the replies.

What I actually asked was 'Should any seats be available in PE,would it be possible to UG with the class of ticket I have?'
I take your point though,that a lot can happen in three weeks

All ticket classes can be upgraded, but obviously the lower the original fare class the more expensive the upgrade. Apart from on the day you would have to do your upgrade through Virgin Holidays, once at the airport however, anything can happen, sometimes they have special offers for upgrades but if that isn't happening when you travel, and if there is space available they will just quote you a price for the upgrade which you will pay at the ticket desk.

Neil

Thanks again - can anyone tell me how to obtain the free credits for the Expert Flyer site as I don't want to subscribe?