Fly drive without the drive!

[Posiesmum]

I want to book now for Easter 2003, but the only way I seemto be able to do it is as a fly drive (with Virgin). However, we have our own pet hire guy in the US so I dont actually want the car hire bit from Virgin at all!
Do I need to tell them this? If so when? Will there be any penalty, or can I just not turn up at the hire olace at the airport?
Advice needed please .
PS Sorry, should be fly drive without the drive!! But cant edit it and am obviously terminally stupid!

[Carole]

LOL, I did wonder if perhaps you were going to swim there  .

No idea on an answer to your question I'm afraid  .

[BevS97]

I've fixed your title -  Dave(FM) has done this,  I'm almost positive.  I can't see any reason why you couldn't just not turn up at the hire car desk.  We also found the fly-drive prices seemed to be cheaper than flight only - it's daft isn't it.

Bev

[Posiesmum]

Thanks Bev, you are truly a super moderator!
I have a vague recollection of a thread on 'the other place'
dealing with this a while ago. I'll have to wait till Dave sees this and reminds me!  .

[Angie]

I think it says somwhere in the virgin brochure that if you don't take the car they charge you for it... i'll have a look through it later and find out, had a quick look just now but i remember it was difficult to find before...

[DISNEYALI]

non driving friends of mine just didnt bother to pick up the car from the airport. they found it cheaper as they booked last moment they could. nothing was said to them about not using their car.

[Carole]

In "the not so small print" page, under independent itinary.

We do NOT sell flights only.Because we have commitments to our hotels, car hire companies ansd other suppliers we have decided to make a flat charge of £30 per person for any period of 7 nights or more spent on holiday not using any of our services. [bit cut out] you will soon realise it is cheaper to keep your car for the week.

Don't know if that would apply or not <img src="http://www.disneybb.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/non-cgi/emoticons/sconf.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sconf'>

[BevS97]

I wouldn't have thought that it was cheaper to keep the car for the week - the insurance is a lot more than £30 per person.

Bev

[Carole]

Just a bit  .

Doesn't say you have to drive it away from the airport though, does it  .

[theFatman]

Done this loads of times in the past with the inlaws when they come to visit us, just don't go to the Dollar desk.

Beware though that normally on a fly drive the car is free for week ONE then at a special rate for week two then brouchure rate week 3.  You will still be better off paying for the car the second week (and not using it) rather than the £30 pp non used services charge.

As your getting one weeks hire free and another reduced, I'd seriously look at the alternative costs of car hire, the FREE Virgin car together with Natwest or Amex insurance will be hard to beat price wise.