Virgin add more flights from Manchester and Gatwick

Virgin Atlantic is expanding services from Manchester to Barbados and Orlando. The airline is also adding more flights from Gatwick to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Frequency to Barbados from Manchester will rise to two flights a week with Saturday flights between May 2 and November 7 next year adding to existing Sunday Airbus A340 departures.

There will also be extra seats available between Manchester and Orlando with an additional Sunday departure between Manchester and Orlando will operate between April 26 and November 8, this will give ten flights a week to the Florida holiday destination.

After the launch of a twice-weekly services between Gatwick and Montego Bay, the airline will now be adding a third weekly service on Fridays between Gatwick and Montego Bay will run in winter 2009. The flights will operate between November 13, 2009 and March 19, 2010.

2009 Holiday Sacrifices

With the credit crunch taking hold research by Expedia suggests that rather than not taking a holiday travellors will cut back on the type of trip they take and how they plan to get there.

Brits’ top five ‘holiday sacrifices’ for 2009:

1. The comfort and service of a premium airline, 37% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save £1000.
2. Direct flights,11% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save £1000.
3. Hotel star rating, 33% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £500 - £750.
4. Hotel location, 25% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £500 - £750.
5. Flying from your nearest airport, 16% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £250 - £500
   

Flight Centre Holiday Pledge

Flight Centre is offering a £100 voucher to any customer who is not 100% happy with their holiday.

The Perfect Holiday Pledge means that if a holiday with the retailer fails to meet or beat expectations, customers can go on another trip with for slightly less money.

Head of marketing Steve Norris said: “The pledge is about ensuring the role that Flight Centre plays – and by default the role of our suppliers – is faultless.

“We pride ourselves on being unbeatable in all areas, whether it’s service, expertise, knowledge or price, and this is our way of proving it to our customers.”