Virgin's new 3 tier economy..

[sam_rogers]

It's difficult to compare prices due to the time passing. The flight could be fully booked, you could have previously booked during a sale, managed to get the lowest Class for Premium and Eco, or it could be the new tiers. But you'll never really know what has impacted the price change.

We didn't book during the sale and it's currently cheaper to fly premium than economy classic which seems crazy! We've near enough always travelled in September and I've never paid more than £500-600 per person no matter when I've booked in the year so the prices just seem ridiculous, especially when compared to other airlines. Like you say there may be other factors involved but going off previous experience it seems a bit steep...

 

[Tash87]

We didn't book during the sale and it's currently cheaper to fly premium than economy classic which seems crazy! We've near enough always travelled in September and I've never paid more than £500-600 per person no matter when I've booked in the year so the prices just seem ridiculous, especially when compared to other airlines. Like you say there may be other factors involved but going off previous experience it seems a bit steep...

Cheaper to book premium???? What the heck? That's madness.

What are they playing at?

 

[Tash87]

Sorry, I haven't heard anything about this so can I just check... are you saying that, as I booked my flights for this September last October, I will still have to follow what I know as the "usual" procedure, ie if I want to pre-book seats more than 72 hours out I need to pay £60 for them. However, anyone booking their flights now, will have to pay just a minimal amount more if they use this "classic" option? But I won't have an option to pay the minimal amount and will still have to pay the £60pp?!

Yes, that's right but I think they've got rid of the 72 hours and it's now 24 hrs with online check in.

I emailed them on Sunday and still haven't heard back.

By the looks of some of the prices that people are getting for ecomony classic it's not worth it but as the prices increase/decrease daily it's hard to tell.

 

[Tash87]

I've emailed virgin complaints about this too, we have booked our flights for September at the beginning of the year and didn't book extra leg room seats at the time as had to wait for next pay date. Went on this Sunday to add and it is now going to cost nearly £600 for two of us one way for extra leg room seats. This is madness, I rang to see if we could use our flying club points and this can only be used for upgrades and there are none available on our flights. Wish I'd have know this when we booked as it would be loads cheaper to fly with someone else.

I emailed them Sunday and still haven't had a reply. I guess they might be busy

 

[topsy]

My friend booked with them and - over 6 months after she booked - they changed the time of the Orlando to London flight by over 6 hours!! They then took well over a month to process her refund after the new times were no good for her. Which has put me off them!

Ooh this does not sound good, I understand why they're put off! Our Virgin flight has had about 5 time changes since booking in August but oddly, the time changes have all been within an hour of each other. I guess they just can't decide wheat time they want to fly?!

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

My flight on a Friday isn't availabile to even book today. I was trying to check a price for my DD, I haven't got a clue what's going on.

 

[Tash87]

I tried to look at prices for our flights and our return journey isn't available, so I checked the flight the next day and there was no economy light options available.

I did a live chat with virgin holidays and they said our flights aren't available so I'm guessing it's full

 

[Nicnic]

Hi. Just checking, if anyone knows, I've already paid for my flights and seats so I need to do nothing? I'll have the seats I've already reserved?
Thanks. Xx

 

[peajay18]

Hi. Just checking, if anyone knows, I've already paid for my flights and seats so I need to do nothing? I'll have the seats I've already reserved?
Thanks. Xx

VA have spent all day replying on FB and Twitter to this sort of question from multiple people.
I'm paraphrasing, but it's essentially "anything you have booked and paid for remains unchanged."
I'm unsure as to why so many people think it would be different, but they are making it clear that our existing bookings are safe.

 

[catherine]

We've got ours booked too, but we knew we already wanted Extra Legroom seats so have gone an paid up already. - Difficult to work out if I am better or worse off though!!

I agreed with @londontime the prices are crazy, but the options are slim now. The BA planes from Gatwick are just disgusting, and Thomas Cook don't fly all year round!

Just to let you know, we have pre-paid for extra legroom seats. I phoned Virgin yesterday and messaged them on Facebook to see if we would get the priority check in and boarding which is now part of Economy Delight. The answer that I got was that Virgin are doing some upgrades today and the our booking should be changed tomorrow from Economy Classic to Economy Delight! Hope that, that makes sense!

 

[4evryoung]

I'm unsure as to why so many people think it would be different, but they are making it clear that our existing bookings are safe.

The reason I have been unsure is that I have made Virgin seat reservations before and then been assigned different, inferior, seats on arrival at the airport at the whim of the airline. Plus, sad to say, I see the VA culture being subsumed within the toxic culture of DELTA. So far, I have not turned up for a VA flight to find that they have over-booked by 64 people -- but I have checked into a Delta flight to find this.

 

[Jon84]

Just to let you know, we have pre-paid for extra legroom seats. I phoned Virgin yesterday and messaged them on Facebook to see if we would get the priority check in and boarding which is now part of Economy Delight. The answer that I got was that Virgin are doing some upgrades today and the our booking should be changed tomorrow from Economy Classic to Economy Delight! Hope that, that makes sense!

Thanks for the heads up, I've just checked the app and we've been given Delight too now

 

[Queen-Bee]

I am so sorry this has happened to you.


We had an awful time booking our Honeymoon through VH.

After 4 months it was finally booked, I complained to VH about how we had be treated emails went back and fore between myself and customer services they have given us a credit of £100, While this may seems fair Its less than 1% of the overall cost of it trip.


I have travel with HV and VA since 1995, the costs have increased and increased while the service and facilities have declined. I can honestly say this is my last trip to Disney for a very long time, and while it breaks my heart I feel like I have to take a stand and say enough is enough.


I hope you can find a way to resolve the situation x

 

[Tash87]

I had a reply from VA customer relations today and they said they was sorry to hear of my annoyance that the fares have since decreased and that they can assure me that booking so far ahead they guarantee the best prices!

It's clearly an automated email cause I never mentioned the cost of the fare.... I know they can increase/decrease daily. They said themselves that the price has since decreased yet I got the best price due to booking early Make sense of that!!

However they did confirm that we can still chose seats for free at 72 hours for flying club members. So that's a bonus (with whatever seats are left)

 

[Jon84]

However they did confirm that we can still chose seats for free at 72 hours for flying club members. So that's a bonus (with whatever seats are left)

Note that anyone who books a Virgin Holiday is automatically a Classic class passenger, so they'll all be booking their seats well before you

 

[wilma-bride]

Yes, that's right but I think they've got rid of the 72 hours and it's now 24 hrs with online check in.

I emailed them on Sunday and still haven't heard back.

By the looks of some of the prices that people are getting for economy classic it's not worth it but as the prices increase/decrease daily it's hard to tell.

The website clearly states if you booked your flights before 17 March, the previous flying club benefits still apply, so you can book seats 72 hours prior

 

[4evryoung]

I had a reply from VA customer relations today .

I waited five days without a response and then sent a reminder. They immediately confirmed that my booking and seat reservation remained the same and that I would be designated as economy classic. More worryingly they advised me to check the reservation/booking as flight times may change (they have already changed twice since I made the booking!)

General marketing point -- there are studies that show when a company moves to three-tier choices, customers overwhelmingly choose the middle option, particularly if the marketing encourages them to believe that this is the option most people are selecting. This tendency to "follow the herd" may overcome price resistance, where the middle option is set at a higher cost that the previously most popular purchase strand. Can't necessarily change the situation, but I think it is good to understand why companies suddenly change their pricing options.

 

[Tash87]

Note that anyone who books a Virgin Holiday is automatically a Classic class passenger, so they'll all be booking their seats well before you

I hadn't thought of that

It's a positive I suppose IF we book with them again!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I booked with Virgin on boxing day (not advisable I had a few drinks as I was on a cruise so managed to spell my own surname wrong) the upgrade to the premium economy was only 200 more so that is what I did. I was looking at prices for this Christmas and the difference between the better economy and premium was 70 pounds. I am really surprised that virgin has decided that economy passengers need this sort of rip off.

 

[saintrob]

I booked with Virgin on boxing day (not advisable I had a few drinks as I was on a cruise so managed to spell my own surname wrong) the upgrade to the premium economy was only 200 more so that is what I did. I was looking at prices for this Christmas and the difference between the better economy and premium was 70 pounds. I am really surprised that virgin has decided that economy passengers need this sort of rip off.

I love this! You should have upgraded to upper!!