Frequent Virgin Club closing to new members

The link below looks new to me but ISTBC as I don't look at the VH site too often.

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/fvc/

Looks like there are some offers including free aiport hotel or transfers. I've yet to study it fully.

Jilly

[Darren Wheeler]

TBH, I doubt I'll be using VH again as I can usually book a similar holiday for less by booking independantly. I loose out as like other package companies they charge the dreaded 'Single Supplement'.

I also see the membership criteria is different too.

Originally posted by jilly
The link below looks new to me but ISTBC as I don't look at the VH site too often.

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/fvc/

Looks like there are some offers including free aiport hotel or transfers. I've yet to study it fully.

Jilly

Thanks for that. Looks reasonably interesting. Although the actual locations are at their choice, the hotel and car parking benefits may be attractive. For me the most useful would be the transfer as I've always fancied not having to drive just before and just after a flight. Though I live outside the 50 mile zone, I'll certainly look into the excess mileage rate.

Paul

Yeah - this is an updated site for the FVC but it's not complete as the "members only" and "members faq's" site is not ready yet. It "appears" to offer free hotel stay, free parking and/or a chauffer service to the airport but the tandc's state only one free service per booking - so guess you cannot combine parking and a hotel!!

Cannot find any info regarding discounts - and it does not say anything about FC membership or discount.

So not a brilliant package - it will be interesting to see whether the existing members benefits change - i.e. the 10% discount and whether there is any extra discount or benefits once the members only section gets up and running.

The main web site is still linking to the old FVC info too!! Weird!!


edit: by Scrooge to correct hyper link

Originally posted by MarkJ
Yeah - [url=http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/fvc/"this[/url]is an updated site for the FVC but it's not complete as the "members only" and "members faq's" site is not ready yet. It "appears" to offer free hotel stay, free parking and/or a chaffear service to the airport but the tandc's state only one free service per booking - so guess you cannot combine parking and a hotel!!

Cannot find any info regarding discounts - and it does not say anything about FC membership or discount.

So not a brilliant package - it will be interesting to see whether the existing members benfefits change - i.e. the 10% discount and whether there is any extra discount or benefits once the members only section gets up and running.

The main web site is still linking to the old FVC info too!! Weird!!

Looks like the jury is still out on [url=http://www.frequent-virgin.co.uk/Frequent_Virgin_Club/Info/FAQs.c1011.aspx]discounts.[/url]

It doesn't surprise me a great deal as unless they are willing to allow the combination of discounts there's little value in having a FVC - 10% for FF and 5% on-line are standard, and 10% offers not uncommon.

Paul

I received my letter about the new FVC this week. I was intrigued by the fact that it states my membership has lapsed as I have not taken a holiday with the in the past four years. Shome mishtake, shurely, as I have in fact booked six holidays with them in that period. I'm in contact with them on another matter, so I shall raise it as part of my ongoing correspondence.

Paul

I think they really need to get this right - and if the "new" package is for new members then so be it but for those who have been in for a long time then I think it will be a really retrograde step.

Pretty much all of my holidays get booked with VH but if this discount disappears then I will obviouisly start to search the market a bit more!! (still flying VS of course[y]) and yes I know I can use my FC membership instead!!

My VA 10% discount worked out at £670 for two adults one child.

I telephoned the FVC to ask why I hadn't been invited to join in the light that I take two trips a year with them which usually comes to between £12K to £14K. I asked what benefits could be applied to my booking but didn't have my member number on me, I was asked repeatedly for my number ( even though its attached to all my bookings previous which I gave them ), the guy wouldn't tell me what benefits were available untill he applied my number to the booking, meaning my VA discount would be instantly removed. Eventually he said I could choose ONE of the new perks. Either a free coach trip to the airport ( retail £12.50 each way ), a hotel stay near the airport ( retail approx £90 ) or a transfer from my housde to the airport and back ( I usually use a limo for this and its £180 in total for drop off and pick up ). If flying from MAN I book a suite at the Rad with runway view and 3 course meal for £285.

So I could choose any one of these options but lose £670 worth of discount in the process....no brainer.

I phoned this morning to book accom only and they are now very strict about taken your VA Freq flyer number to get your 10% discount.I got told that alot of people are simply joining VA freq flyer scheme in order to get a 10% discount off their holidays with VH and that VH are cracking down on it by checking with VA how long they have had their membership card for and if any miles are on their card.

Anyone else heard this?

[Neil]

Originally posted by motherger
.I got told that alot of people are simply joining VA freq flyer scheme in order to get a 10% discount off their holidays with VH

I am not surprised that this is true, as it was the VH agent who told me to join FC so that I could get a 10% discount. Maybe VH need to advise their CC staff not to give the idea to people[ii]

Originally posted by motherger
I phoned this morning to book accom only and they are now very strict about taken your VA Freq flyer number to get your 10% discount.I got told that alot of people are simply joining VA freq flyer scheme in order to get a 10% discount off their holidays with VH and that VH are cracking down on it by checking with VA how long they have had their membership card for and if any miles are on their card.

Anyone else heard this?

Given that VH is between 25 and 40% more expensive than other TA's it would be foolish to deny regular clients the 10% off. Plus wether people are travelling with VH or VA they are still entitled to their miles.

I've just received an email from FVC and apparently - despite my having taken 4 packages over the past three years - my details had been deleted, hence the content of the letter I received.

I'm told that I will be reinstated and will receive the final details of the new FVC offers "in 8-10 weeks".

I also notice that their automated response now says they will get back to you on 5 days; I'm sure it was 3 days last week, so perhaps they are getting busy.

Paul

Just received a new FVC card this morning , didn't know we were going to have them replaced as they don't have expiry dates on them so seems a bit wasteful and pointless to give out new ones when the membership number hasn't even changed, has anyone else received theirs?

thelaceys

Originally posted by thelaceys
Just received a new FVC card this morning , didn't know we were going to have them replaced as they don't have expiry dates on them so seems a bit wasteful and pointless to give out new ones when the membership number hasn't even changed, has anyone else received theirs?

thelaceys

Mine was on the mat when I got in.There are no discernable benefits with the new scheme as EGG has indicated already.You can opt for the new (loud cough) "perks" if you opt out of the 10% off scheme.Err?? Don't think so ...This is very shabby of VH all told, and all it will do is encourage individuals to construct their own holiday packages.Even with the keeping of things like free car upgrades shopping about can procure a better car elsewhere for less money (which is what I did in January).
I have to say I thought they'd do better than this[n][n]
Are they still offering the 10% discount to FC members or has that gone the journey now too?

Just had an email saying I'm one of their favourite customers and apparently the card is on its way

[mitchja]

I've not heard anything from FVC yet (other than a response to an email I sent them), but so far I'm not impressed [:(!]

My FVC 10% discount always come out at £150+ so like EGG mentioned it's a no brainer for which option to go for.

Regards

Got an email today - pretty much saying the same as DL says above - 10% off or the free hotel/limo/parking option - but not both - and no great big list of T&C's abotu FC discount or anything else.

I really do think that VH coudl have gone to 12.5% or 15% for the longstanding members.

[:?]

[Darren Wheeler]

Post deleted as it bizzarly went into this thread in error. Must be my fat fingers...

Originally posted by MarkJ
Got an email today - pretty much saying the same as DL says above - 10% off or the free hotel/limo/parking option - but not both - and no great big list of T&C's abotu FC discount or anything else.

I really do think that VH coudl have gone to 12.5% or 15% for the longstanding members.

[:?]

I've already sent an e-mail to the "new " FVC website commenting (OK moaning) about the lack of benefits now being offered to members[n] who have all spent a significant ammount of dosh in the past few years.The all new FVC is proving to be nothing more than a damp squibb...

Let us know how you get on?

Originally posted by MarkJ
Let us know how you get on?

Will do - but I don't expect a response for the forseeable, if previous experience is anthing to go by[n].

Just got into the new "members area" and had a quick run through the T&C's - looks like FC membershipo will still give a 10% discount but any new members will NOT be offered the 10% by VH -

3.13 The Club has changed. The 10% discount is no longer available to new members. Instead, members are offered the choice of selecting a free holiday benefit. Should you wish to change over to the new club and take advantage of the free benefit instead of the 10% discount, please notify us accordingly. Your membership will then be amended. Please note, if you chose to amend your membership and opt for the free benefit instead of the discount, you will not be able to change your membership back at a later date. You are not able to take advantage of both the 10% discount and the free benefit. These offers are NOT combinable.

Seems a bit weird at the moment then - the easy thing to do woudl be to join the FC and then use the 10% discount from there.

Mods - if Ive breached copywrite then I apologise but unless you are a FV member then you will not be able to see this - hence no link to it!!

One beneifit is reduced PE upgrade prices, but only on a limited selection of routes. Here is the link, and what on earth is that picture, as it certainly isn't VS PE!

[mitchja]

That picture is not good at all. It's not like there arn't any VS PE cabin shots available [?]

The ORD PE upgrades are very tempting especially as they are the same as NYC upgrade prices [:w]

BTW - Managed to access the site using my existing (old) FVC details, even though FVC havn't sent me any new details yet.

Regards

Just out of interest my new number is the same as my old one!!