21st Birthday Economy Sale Fare - Starts Tomorrow!

[preiffer]

From the Frequent Flyer homepage on virginatlantic.com:



Exclusive fares for Flying Club members to 21 destinations! Log in to your account tomorrow to book one of these fantastic fares!

[y]

[Nottingham Nick]

That's unfair, teasing us like that for another 24 hours[8D]:D[:0]

Nick

I hope it's only for UK residents or else it would really be annoying since we just booked a VS flight a couple days ago.

Oh goody![y] I had a hunch Virgin might be offering a sale but wasn't expecting it until Wednesday, which is when Virgin turns 21! Well, tomorrow is fine by me. I'm looking at fares to Oz for later this year so I'm hoping Sydney will be included.

The Strawb

Do you think as its a special sale, special fares will be
miles and TP earning ? Or will it be a sale accross the entire economy fare classes?

Robert

[preiffer]

Originally posted by robandgill
Do you think as its a special sale, special fares will be
miles and TP earning ? Or will it be a sale accross the entire economy fare classes?

That's quite a difficult one to guess!

Still, just got to wait for 1hr 18m, and you'll find out for sure!

Well, the fares are out there right now....

Just quoted:
LHR>SFO>LHR - out Mon 19th Sept, back Sun 2nd Oct:

GBP283.00 + 97.80 taxes & charges = Total GBP380.80

Ouch though:
Please note that this fare does not qualify to earn flying club miles.
[:(]

Ideally, I'd like out on 17th Sept, in 1st Oct - though on regular fares that's GBP548.80 (but it earns miles )

Cheers

Michael

This is semi-sortof-kinda off topic. But why are UK-US flights so much more expensive than US-UK VS flights? Because right now the deals going from EWR to LHR are much cheaper than that (~281$) and have been cheaper (as low as $160).

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by mcuth
Ouch though:
Please note that this fare does not qualify to earn flying club miles.
[:(]

"Exclusive fares for Flying Club members".

Seems a bit pants that they won't give you miles then, since they are supposed to be for Frequent Flyers.

Foz xxx

[preiffer]

Originally posted by VS-EWR
This is semi-sortof-kinda off topic. But why are UK-US flights so much more expensive than US-UK VS flights? Because right now the deals going from EWR to LHR are much cheaper than that (~281$) and have been cheaper (as low as $160).

It's the whole "foreign airline thing" Nick. VS are still more established in the UK than they are in their destination countries. They have to compete with (charge less than) your "home" carriers (UA/AA/NW etc) to get US business.

The same applies to BA/BD etc. You'll also find that (depending on the time of year), UA offer much cheaper equivalent fares - factoring in the exchange rate - UK>US than US>UK.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by mcuth
Just quoted:
LHR>SFO>LHR - out Mon 19th Sept, back Sun 2nd Oct:

GBP283.00 + 97.80 taxes & charges = Total GBP380.80

They seem to be genuinely good prices. (I know, before, some of the "sale" prices were actually beaten by the consolidators!)

The cheapest fares for those same flights are £500.80 on TVLCY or £523.80 as a published Q fare. [y]


Shame about the miles though...

Interestingly there is a bug in the fare calculation for infants on this offer.

They are displaying the infant fare (no seat remember) as 90% of adult fare rather than 10%.

Hence for Havana:

2 Adults: 257.00 each
1 Child: 193.00 each
1 Infant: 231.00 each

Calculation is fine using normal fare engine - it's just the special offer.

Hopefully someone will point this out to VA.

Phil (Buffy)

Anyone else get a leaflet today as well?

Originally posted by preiffer
It's the whole "foreign airline thing" Nick. VS are still more established in the UK than they are in their destination countries. They have to compete with (charge less than) your "home" carriers (UA/AA/NW etc) to get US business.

The same applies to BA/BD etc. You'll also find that (depending on the time of year), UA offer much cheaper equivalent fares - factoring in the exchange rate - UK>US than US>UK.

Ah ha, okay, I get it. Thanks

No miles, no tier points & no flights from Manchester. Guess its not such a good deal after all.
By the time I've flown to Gatwick, which means a very very early start or an overnight stay, I may as well pay the published fare for an Orlando flight direct from Manchester.

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by fozzyo

Seems a bit pants that they won't give you miles then, since they are supposed to be for Frequent Flyers.

Totally agree with you there, Fozz.

It is a bit like offering reduced rates for a brewery trip, and then not allowing sampling at the end!!!!
[xx(][:(!]

BOS flights are none points earning [:(] but it does say that selected classes qualify for points. When you go to check availability it offers you a choice of classes, so are there reduced fares in UC and PE in this promotion, as well?

Nick

Nick I had the same thoughts as you. Tried to book MCO for September and it also says no mileage or points, wonder which flights do earn[?]

If you try to change the class the drop down only gives economy as an option.

Jilly

Logged in to flying club this morning to check out the fare sale and managed to view them. Now, 5 mins ago I logged back in to check again and they're not available - says its starting tomorrow. Anyone manage to view the fares right now?

The Strawb.

[preiffer]

Hi Strawb,

I'm in there now, no problem from my end.

Tried deleting cookies? Computer's date/time?

Try the direct link here?

Thanks for the link Paul, it worked fine.

Yesterday I was looking at fares to Sydney and noticed they had just extended the last Sydney sale to 31/07/05 and the cheapest fare in October is £656 all inc which was available when I checked. Now the 21st birthday sale is quoting a fare of £681 also for travel in October. Strange 21st birthday sale if you ask me.

The Strawb

Just wish they were doing the sale fares in August..

Dean

[preiffer]

I'm struggling with this statement from the offer T's & C's:

"9. Flying Club miles, bonus miles and tier points are available on selected booking classes only (subject to the Flying Club Terms and Conditions) - please check at time of booking."

Has ANYONE found a sale fare that IS miles/TP earning? (I can't, and I'm just looking out of interest!)

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by preiffer
I'm struggling with this statement from the offer T's & C's:

"9. Flying Club miles, bonus miles and tier points are available on selected booking classes only (subject to the Flying Club Terms and Conditions) - please check at time of booking."

Has ANYONE found a sale fare that IS miles/TP earning? (I can't, and I'm just looking out of interest!)

I haven't either, Paul.

The more I look at this promotion, the less I am impressed with it. Unless there is something we are missing - the T&C are misleading at best, dishonest at worst.

I can't believe that anyone in marketing would come up with a promotion to thank / reward loyal customers (FC Members), entice them into believing it is a good promotion with the promise of points on selected flights, and then make sure none of the flights were points earning. [:(!][xx(]

Nick

Originally posted by preiffer
Has ANYONE found a sale fare that IS miles/TP earning? (I can't, and I'm just looking out of interest!)

Apparently these fares are available on Saturdays too, with a £15 supplement each way, but I haven't found one of those either...*sigh*

Cheers

Michael

Are these special offers available from the UK only? I didnt find them on the US site