Hi all, IÕve also been lurking for a while and have finally got round to joining.
IÕm recently made a Great Escapade RTW booking for our forthcoming trip in December.
IÕve had no problems booking all sectors through Virgin Reservations (including non virgin flights as travelling a mixture of Virgin & Air New Zealand), although booking was made through the Premier Team / Upper Class Reservations as travelling business / upper.
On my initial enquiries I was told that there are a few agents who have greater knowledge / experience re The Great Escapade and normally get calls passed to them as some agents are unfamiliar with the RTW flights.
Bookings for business class are in Z class for VS (hence no limo) and D for NZ. Not travelling with SQ but I would assume that it would also be a discounted fare.
All flights operated by each airline are available to be booked within the RTW fare (with the exceptions of code share flights). We are travelling on the VS201 service (SYD-LHR) on our return back to the UK and this is currently not showing on the Great Escapade website.
During booking I was offered the opportunity to pre-assign seats for the VS flights and was given the number for NZ to pre-assign seating direct with them. Received an email confirming booking and tickets within a few days, as eticketing not available.
I have been able to view all flights (including NZ) online via my flights on the virgin website although this can only view by entering our booking reference and not instantly by flying club number.
IÕm recently made a Great Escapade RTW booking for our forthcoming trip in December.
IÕve had no problems booking all sectors through Virgin Reservations (including non virgin flights as travelling a mixture of Virgin & Air New Zealand), although booking was made through the Premier Team / Upper Class Reservations as travelling business / upper.
On my initial enquiries I was told that there are a few agents who have greater knowledge / experience re The Great Escapade and normally get calls passed to them as some agents are unfamiliar with the RTW flights.
Bookings for business class are in Z class for VS (hence no limo) and D for NZ. Not travelling with SQ but I would assume that it would also be a discounted fare.
All flights operated by each airline are available to be booked within the RTW fare (with the exceptions of code share flights). We are travelling on the VS201 service (SYD-LHR) on our return back to the UK and this is currently not showing on the Great Escapade website.
During booking I was offered the opportunity to pre-assign seats for the VS flights and was given the number for NZ to pre-assign seating direct with them. Received an email confirming booking and tickets within a few days, as eticketing not available.
I have been able to view all flights (including NZ) online via my flights on the virgin website although this can only view by entering our booking reference and not instantly by flying club number.
We are travelling in December to spend Christmas and New Year in New Zealand returning mid January.
Our Route: LHR-LAX (VS), LAX-AKL (NZ), AKL-SYD (NZ), SYD-LHR (VS).
We should both earn approx 41000 Flying club Miles and 18 Tier Points.
(Estimated, as Sydney route not finalised, have used RichardÕs calculations from a previous post).
Also paid via FCCC, adding 13600 miles.
Just wish NZ would match SQ for Tier points.
Looking forwards to experiencing the suites on the LHR-LAX sector. Currently the SYD-LHR route still has the J2000 configuration but if as mentioned in other posts if all 346Õs are completed by October then we should have the suites for our return journey in January.
Our Route: LHR-LAX (VS), LAX-AKL (NZ), AKL-SYD (NZ), SYD-LHR (VS).
We should both earn approx 41000 Flying club Miles and 18 Tier Points.
(Estimated, as Sydney route not finalised, have used RichardÕs calculations from a previous post).
Also paid via FCCC, adding 13600 miles.
Just wish NZ would match SQ for Tier points.
Looking forwards to experiencing the suites on the LHR-LAX sector. Currently the SYD-LHR route still has the J2000 configuration but if as mentioned in other posts if all 346Õs are completed by October then we should have the suites for our return journey in January.
Hi James
Thanks for the info! Most usesful!
Do you mind telling me who you bought the Great Escapade from? Any recomendations? (i gather you bought it, then called VS to book seats on the flights?)
If you can give me as much info as poss, either here or by PM/email if you prefer, i would be most greatful.
I really need to make a start with my trip but dont really know how to begin [?]
Thanks for the info! Most usesful!
Do you mind telling me who you bought the Great Escapade from? Any recomendations? (i gather you bought it, then called VS to book seats on the flights?)
If you can give me as much info as poss, either here or by PM/email if you prefer, i would be most greatful.
I really need to make a start with my trip but dont really know how to begin [?]
The experts are the Fares Dept at Virgin, but they don't deal with direct passengers. Anyhow I do happen to have the direct number, so if anyone wants it please feel free to email me a private message
Also give them some slack if there not the normal cheerful VS represenatatives. Like I said their not used to speaking to direct passengers, however it saves time speaking to them than a contact center agent
Also give them some slack if there not the normal cheerful VS represenatatives. Like I said their not used to speaking to direct passengers, however it saves time speaking to them than a contact center agent
Hi Highflyer
My booking was handled by Virgin Reservation, Premier Team.
ItÕs not much different than booking a return trip to say JFK, instead youÕre booking multiple one-way flights to travel around the world using any flight operated by VS/SQ/NZ/MI (except code share flights). The whole route regardless of airline choice can be booked direct with Virgin.
You can make as many flights as you require, all for the one fare (e.g. £3300 Business) + tax as stopovers/transfers are unlimited but you do need to keep within a total of 29000 miles (can buy more), and only one stopover is allowed in the same city, although you can transit multiple times, and only 3 stopovers in New Zealand.
When booking any flight I always book by flight number, so I did exactly the same when booking our RTW trip.
I contacted Virgin Reservations, and requested The Great Escapade Fare, giving the agent the flight numbers and dates we wanted to travel for each flight (this included NZ flights).
Its not essential to phone up so prepared with flight numbers as the agents will give you the options if you just let them know the destinations you wish to visit and dates.
I did phone on a Sunday, so the booking could not be completed as Daffy has already mentioned the fares department handles them, but availability was checked and reservations made for all sectors on both airlines, and one reservations number given to cover the whole booking.
I was promised a call back on Monday to confirm details and take payment.
Call back was received, which was made by the agent who had previously dealt with the booking, reservation was confirmed, payment taken (Credit Card billed for whole amount and statement shows Virgin Atlantic). ETAÕs for Australia were arranged at no extra cost and pre-assigned seating for VS only (had to call NZ independently but only to pre-assign seats).
Tickets (for both airlines) were received together direct from Virgin.
Hope this is of use. I do have the contact details of the Premier Team and the agent who dealt with our booking, if you require them.
My booking was handled by Virgin Reservation, Premier Team.
ItÕs not much different than booking a return trip to say JFK, instead youÕre booking multiple one-way flights to travel around the world using any flight operated by VS/SQ/NZ/MI (except code share flights). The whole route regardless of airline choice can be booked direct with Virgin.
You can make as many flights as you require, all for the one fare (e.g. £3300 Business) + tax as stopovers/transfers are unlimited but you do need to keep within a total of 29000 miles (can buy more), and only one stopover is allowed in the same city, although you can transit multiple times, and only 3 stopovers in New Zealand.
When booking any flight I always book by flight number, so I did exactly the same when booking our RTW trip.
I contacted Virgin Reservations, and requested The Great Escapade Fare, giving the agent the flight numbers and dates we wanted to travel for each flight (this included NZ flights).
Its not essential to phone up so prepared with flight numbers as the agents will give you the options if you just let them know the destinations you wish to visit and dates.
I did phone on a Sunday, so the booking could not be completed as Daffy has already mentioned the fares department handles them, but availability was checked and reservations made for all sectors on both airlines, and one reservations number given to cover the whole booking.
I was promised a call back on Monday to confirm details and take payment.
Call back was received, which was made by the agent who had previously dealt with the booking, reservation was confirmed, payment taken (Credit Card billed for whole amount and statement shows Virgin Atlantic). ETAÕs for Australia were arranged at no extra cost and pre-assigned seating for VS only (had to call NZ independently but only to pre-assign seats).
Tickets (for both airlines) were received together direct from Virgin.
Hope this is of use. I do have the contact details of the Premier Team and the agent who dealt with our booking, if you require them.
Thanks for that James!
I recieved an email back from the company Dave recommended to me, they have quoted me £3250 p/p for the flights (less tax) although i did think that J/F fares were fixed in price.
We are now just arguing over the route! LOL As we are choosing places we have not been to its hard to decide how much/little time to devote to those places, and with a four week time limit, time is of the essence.
My planned iternary is as follows:
LHR-HKG-BKK-KUL-SIN-SYD-AKL-TBU-LAX-LHR
I will get to do the legendary KUL-SIN but only in J, not in first (although i guess i can try to u/g at the airport?)
I will get one hell of a lot of TPS though, and will come back as FC Au which will make me happy!
Once we have the departure month and the route finalised we can then approach Virgin or the travel company and get it booked up.
Thanks for all of your help!
I recieved an email back from the company Dave recommended to me, they have quoted me £3250 p/p for the flights (less tax) although i did think that J/F fares were fixed in price.
We are now just arguing over the route! LOL As we are choosing places we have not been to its hard to decide how much/little time to devote to those places, and with a four week time limit, time is of the essence.
My planned iternary is as follows:
LHR-HKG-BKK-KUL-SIN-SYD-AKL-TBU-LAX-LHR
I will get to do the legendary KUL-SIN but only in J, not in first (although i guess i can try to u/g at the airport?)
I will get one hell of a lot of TPS though, and will come back as FC Au which will make me happy!
Once we have the departure month and the route finalised we can then approach Virgin or the travel company and get it booked up.
Thanks for all of your help!
Thought this might be useful to some, I just called the greatescapade hotline (and ended up speaking to virgin), to find out what seat classes each of the RTW tickets gets you:
VS SQ NZ RTW Ticket type
Q Q M Economy (GBP860 - GBP1210)
Z D D Business (GBP3300)
D A A First (GBP4999)
VS SQ NZ RTW Ticket type
Q Q M Economy (GBP860 - GBP1210)
Z D D Business (GBP3300)
D A A First (GBP4999)
quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Thanks guys, most useful!
So i gather that buying the Business ticket gets you miles and tier points for all sectors?
You'll gain millage regardless of class; obviously you'll get more millage in business than in economy.
The real advantage is in tier points as you'll get 3 more per sector on VS than Y and at least 1 TP per sector
that should get you well on the way to VSFC Gold
I am on an Escapade fare in Sept/Oct. Booked with no problems via travel agent on VS (Upper) and SQ (First). Fares are booked in J and A, BUT, no limo for the VS flights, apparently not available with an Escapade fare.
Other than that, seems to have full FF benefits and was very keenly priced. One word of note: When trying to find out why no limo my travel agent told me that the Escapade rules will change in January 2005 - he hinted (but would not be drawn) that the changes were major and 'not for the better'!
So may be worth booking an Escapade while you can?!?
Hope this helps.
Other than that, seems to have full FF benefits and was very keenly priced. One word of note: When trying to find out why no limo my travel agent told me that the Escapade rules will change in January 2005 - he hinted (but would not be drawn) that the changes were major and 'not for the better'!
So may be worth booking an Escapade while you can?!?
Hope this helps.
Have just traveled on an escpade so thought i would tell u all of my experiences as i cant work out the start of the thread and where we are now lol!
I booked my GE through my local travel agent- Trailfinders- they are nationwide and specialise in travel to Oz area so used to the GE ticket and how it works etc.
Number of points i have found:
- I was in Y- I asked NZ to upgrade to Business but couldnt on my ticket type so be careful if u book Y then think i will pay to upgrade they wont let u!
- I travled into LAX and out of BOS- got a cheap flight with AA across- very simple
- You can go back on urself (with one world and star u cant). So i flew to Christchurch then went back to Cairns flew out of SYD to Auckland. You cant do this on any other ticket.
- You cant sadly fly to the same airport twice- shame for me who was living in CHC for the year so needed to! I had to get a QF ticket AKL-CHC-AKL.
- If u transit in an airport it doesnt count as a stop unless over 24hrs
Final point is its an excellent service. Just be careful- book well in advance esp if flying Y. I couldnt get on the LHR-SIN-CHC flight as it was full and couldnt change my NAN-LAX flight as all flights were full so be careful.
All in all an amzing ticket and as i have said elsewhere on this site- out of the 3 carriers its a shame that VS were the worst by a country mile, such a shame! SQ were out of this world and NZ were just amazing, given the poor Y product the crew more than make up for it. Have never heard of such a relaxed pilot on seating on the runway in NAN and having the cheif purser come on and say 'crew seats for blast off' was certianly an experience and had the whole a/c wetting themselves!
I booked my GE through my local travel agent- Trailfinders- they are nationwide and specialise in travel to Oz area so used to the GE ticket and how it works etc.
Number of points i have found:
- I was in Y- I asked NZ to upgrade to Business but couldnt on my ticket type so be careful if u book Y then think i will pay to upgrade they wont let u!
- I travled into LAX and out of BOS- got a cheap flight with AA across- very simple
- You can go back on urself (with one world and star u cant). So i flew to Christchurch then went back to Cairns flew out of SYD to Auckland. You cant do this on any other ticket.
- You cant sadly fly to the same airport twice- shame for me who was living in CHC for the year so needed to! I had to get a QF ticket AKL-CHC-AKL.
- If u transit in an airport it doesnt count as a stop unless over 24hrs
Final point is its an excellent service. Just be careful- book well in advance esp if flying Y. I couldnt get on the LHR-SIN-CHC flight as it was full and couldnt change my NAN-LAX flight as all flights were full so be careful.
All in all an amzing ticket and as i have said elsewhere on this site- out of the 3 carriers its a shame that VS were the worst by a country mile, such a shame! SQ were out of this world and NZ were just amazing, given the poor Y product the crew more than make up for it. Have never heard of such a relaxed pilot on seating on the runway in NAN and having the cheif purser come on and say 'crew seats for blast off' was certianly an experience and had the whole a/c wetting themselves!
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