Converting a company paid fully flex UC to 2 x PE

I'm looking at cost effective ways of getting MrsPVG to Mumbai with me.
I have an already bought and paid for Fully Flex UC ticket, but on the days I'm due to travel the flight is very full in Y and J and there is nothing particularly cheap available for MrsPVG.

There is however plenty of availability in PE, so I'm wondering if I can phone up FC and ask them to convert my UC to two PE's.

I've heard talk of people doing this in distant past to make a little extra cash on their business travel, but not heard of people doing it in recent years.

Does anyone know if it is still possible?

[preiffer]

Since it'd actually need to be cancelled, then the credit applied, you must be the person that purchased the ticket in order for this to work.

To 'buy up' is one thing, but to split and downgrade means a cancel & re-buy (just re-using the funds). That means, if a travel agent / work account has funded the original ticket, THEY have to receive the money back and re-spend it (to prevent the scenario you refer to where people were pocketing company cash).

So, as long as you've paid for it, yes, it can be cancelled and you can use those funds to re-buy. The only thing I'm not sure about is if they'll force you down the refund route first. If so, they've got your £x,xxx for 6-8 weeks before you can re-use it [:0]

If however, as you suggest, the company paid for it, then no way. And to be really contentious, why should they? They're paying for you to go in Upper for a reason, not so you can take your wife for a free holiday [V]

Thanks - I figured it was a closed loop hole as I'd not heard the expert expense fiddlers in my company talk about it for many years!

Sadly it wasn't I that paid for it... looks like I'll have to personally stump up for a full Y for the Mrs as the cheapest option.[:(!]

Originally posted by PVGSLF
looks like I'll have to personally stump up for a full Y for the Mrs as the cheapest option.[:(!]

Sir, I am certain you must mean a full Y for yourself, as a gentleman would most surely place his good lady wife in the UCS? [:?]

GJ

But then you could use miles to upgrade her ticket???

[Scrooge]

And isn't a full Y more money than a PE.

Note I havn't looked at which fare classes are for sale, so I could be wrong here....again

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by PVGSLF
looks like I'll have to personally stump up for a full Y for the Mrs as the cheapest option.[:(!]

Sir, I am certain you must mean a full Y for yourself, as a gentleman would most surely place his good lady wife in the UCS? [:?]

GJ

You are indeed quite right GJ. But her being a kind considerate lady would insist that I, at 6'5' vs her 5'5', should have the UCS [:D]


And as for Y vs PE, I've given up trying to look at all the fare combinations, and will phone FC and let them work out the cheapest permutations.

Is this not a case for using the otherwise (almost) worthless companion ticket, from Amex?

[RichardMannion]

Surely you could use your companion voucher or use miles to get a companion seat?

Originally posted by preiffer
If however, as you suggest, the company paid for it, then no way. And to be really contentious, why should they? They're paying for you to go in Upper for a reason, not so you can take your wife for a free holiday [V]

That was my impression and I agree with you. Is it worth the possibility of losing your job over a lousy grand?

Well, the deed is done. I'm saving the companion vouchers for a rainy day, and when I phoned FC they reckoned the flight was only showing two Y seats at close on full price. But actually the flexibility is useful, as we may cancel the return leg and fly directly from mumbai to Shanghai later on.
Also the Y was of course miles upgraded to PE, and now here's hoping for some no shows in J to get the seat upgraded further still on the day.