Best time to book PE Miles & Money?

Hi

Currently looking to book flight to Washington on the 20th September going out PE and back from MCO on 5th October also PE using Miles plus Money.

Currently regular fare is 955 and Miles plus Money 787. Is this likely to go down or is the best I can hope for?

Any help appreciated! [:D]

[Neil]

As with all fares, prices are going up and down all the time. To me, that MPM fare sounds pretty good and offers a good saving on a normal PE ticket, something that doesn't always happen.

I guess it is a decision only you can make. Are you happy paying the current price and having a confirmed MPM ticket, or are you prepared to take a risk by waiting, hoping the price might come down (but obviously it could go up) giving you a potential saving, but also having the possibility that you might not be able to get an MPM ticket at all on your required dates/flights.

Neil

I have always believed that Miles Plus Money fares represent poor value. Why spend 7,500 miles and earn nothing? It would be far better for you to book a revenue flight for around the same price as the actual MPM fare - outbound in L class, return in K class and earn miles and tier points. Redeem 10K miles to upgrade your outbound leg to PE. Regain those miles back with your revenue ticket. Net spenditure for your PE return trip: zero mileage instead of 7,500 miles.

[Nottingham Nick]

I agree with The Strawb. To me Miles + money is rarely the best use of FC points, unless of course you only have a few points, and are unlikely to ever accrue sufficient to use them for a G ticket. [8D][:D]

Nick

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
I agree with The Strawb. To me Miles + money is rarely the best use of FC points, unless of course you only have a few points, and are unlikely to ever accrue sufficient to use them for a G ticket.

Hmmn never say never (although you didn't!), my girlfriend had to fly out to Shanghai with only 2 days notice for a funeral last year and used MPM to get £130 off a ticket she had otherwise no interest in buying and hadn't planned for the expentiture.

Originally posted by Strawberry Muppet
I have always believed that Miles Plus Money fares represent poor value. Why spend 7,500 miles and earn nothing? It would be far better for you to book a revenue flight for around the same price as the actual MPM fare - outbound in L class, return in K class and earn miles and tier points. Redeem 10K miles to upgrade your outbound leg to PE. Regain those miles back with your revenue ticket. Net spenditure for your PE return trip: zero mileage instead of 7,500 miles.

Sorry to appear stupid, but how do I do this with Virgin. Sorry I just don't understand how to book the different classes! [:#]

[RichardMannion]

Captain Paul,

That PE MPM fare seems high to me - the regular fare is indeed the regular fare but I'd expect a sale to be on around that period. Sale will start around mid-July.

There is no Advance Purchase requirement for MPM, you could turn up on the day and book if there was availability in K class. At that time of year, it's hardly going to be rammed on those flights.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Captain Paul,

That PE MPM fare seems high to me - the regular fare is indeed the regular fare but I'd expect a sale to be on around that period. Sale will start around mid-July.

There is no Advance Purchase requirement for MPM, you could turn up on the day and book if there was availability in K class. At that time of year, it's hardly going to be rammed on those flights.

Thanks,
Richard

Thank you very much! [y]

I'm a bit nervous to leave it that late as we have friends on the flight too. I fly the Washington route quite a bit and the offers have always tended to be on the 17:30 flight.

I'll hold my nerve a little longer although the better half may throttle me....

Originally posted by Captain Paul

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Captain Paul,

That PE MPM fare seems high to me - the regular fare is indeed the regular fare but I'd expect a sale to be on around that period. Sale will start around mid-July.

There is no Advance Purchase requirement for MPM, you could turn up on the day and book if there was availability in K class. At that time of year, it's hardly going to be rammed on those flights.

Thanks,
Richard

Thank you very much! [y]

I'm a bit nervous to leave it that late as we have friends on the flight too. I fly the Washington route quite a bit and the offers have always tended to be on the 17:30 flight.

I'll hold my nerve a little longer although the better half may throttle me....

Sorry replying to my own post now [:0]

Is there any way of checking how many mpm seats are left on these flights? VS21 and VS16?

Thank you all again! [oo]

Sorry to appear stupid, but how do I do this with Virgin. Sorry I just don't understand how to book the different classes! [:#]

Easiest way is to call VS and ask for the specific fare classes for your itinerary. Just say you want to book L class to IAD and K class from MCO. Then redeem your miles at the same time.

[Neil]

Originally posted by Captain Paul
Is there any way of checking how many mpm seats are left on these flights? VS21 and VS16?

Thank you all again! [oo]

The only way to do this is to give FC a call and they will be able to tell you a figure. You cannot get the number of MPM seats available on the web, it will just tell you if there is enough for your requirements or not.

Just to add, if you call FC about booking a L & K as Strawberry Muppet said (which sounds a much better idea to me too!) then you just need to make sure there is U (this is the PE reward booking code) availability) to upgrade your L fare. Don't book the L without asking them to check U's first, otherwise you will be stuck in Economy.

Neil

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by Captain Paul
Is there any way of checking how many mpm seats are left on these flights? VS21 and VS16?

Thank you all again! [oo]

The only way to do this is to give FC a call and they will be able to tell you a figure. You cannot get the number of MPM seats available on the web, it will just tell you if there is enough for your requirements or not.

You can of course find out availability for up to 8 by claiming that is your requirement.

FM