First Time with Virgin

[JP81]

Originally Posted by Griff_389

So after waiting, and waiting, for Tui to release Universal Hotels for Sept 2026, we decided to have a trip into the local Virgin store to get a price from them.

Long story short, ended up booking with them for two weeks at the Hard Rock Hotel, including Universal tickets and premium economy. It was likely dearer than Tui would have been, but the agent got an £800 discount from her manager for us apparently.
It might have been as we were predominantly Tui customers moving to Virgin, and had the capacity to book there and then.

Not sure why Tui still don't have any Universal when other operators do, but I guess it's their loss.

Despite being half a dozen times to Florida, it's going to be like a new experience in some respects. First time from Edinburgh, first time into MCO (instead of SFB or MLB), first time staying at HRH, and the first time with possibly no Disney.

There's a couple of things that I'm not liking so far I guess with Virgin. Not being able to book seats at the time of booking (and maybe even having to pay to do so despite paying for PE, as I'm told only some of the PE seats are free to book). It also seems they don't do Transfers now, so it will be either taxi/uber/car hire. They don't include any lounge access at the airports either. All things which are included with Tui.
I'm told it's not a Dreamliner from EDI, and likely to be an A350 (I think that's what it was), but they're new I think.

Hopefully Virgin live up to the hype and all goes great. At least I can then judge which operator I prefer after using both.

It's always exciting just after booking :-)

See more...

Can't Imagine the Premium you have paid booking so far in advance.
Time will tell, I suppose.

[Griff_389]

Originally Posted by becky2203

As you've booked so far out your flight booking reference (different to your VH holiday reference) won't be available yet. Once that's available (won't be until 333 days before your return date) then you will be able to book seats.

See more...

Yeah. I think there’s a countdown in the app. Just surprised that only some of the seats are free to book, others you have to pay for, despite giving them an extra £1000+ for the upgrade. So far TUI wins for the price and features for PE. Although it’s very early days yet. Ha

[becky2203]

Originally Posted by Griff_389

Yeah. I think there’s a countdown in the app. Just surpassed that only some of the seats are free to book, others you have to pay for, despite giving them an extra £1000+ for the upgrade. So far TUI wins for the price and features for PE. Although it’s very early days yet. Ha

See more...

We've never paid for the preferred seats and always been able to select ones we want from the free selection. Or ask at check in for the front row to be released and see if you can sit there. Hopefully you'll be able to get some you're happy with 🤞

[Potato]

Im also finding it frustrating not being able to book universal through TUI and I don’t really understand why they don’t seem to be offering it at the moment.

Wonder if their agents haven’t signed an agreement with universal or something.

[Griff_389]

Will be interesting to see if anything opens in April, as historically everything used to open up 18 months prior.
I know most things are earlier than that now, but perhaps they will show. Who knows.