Making the most of our miles

Hi everyone,
Never posted before so please be patient with me.

We fly Manchester to Orlando twice a year and have Silver cards. I have enough airmiles to take a reward flight and am thinking next spring we'll do Heathrow-Miami and I'll get to visit the CH!! What im afraid of is losing Silver if we only pay for one trip. Is there a clever way around this? or am i worrying about nothing!
Thanks in advance
Ali.

[Neil]

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer.

Firstly, LHR-MIA is a good route for using miles, like you say you get to use the great LHR CH, plus with the a/c config it means there are more UC reward seats available compared to somewhere like MCO.

You are correct, in as much that you won't earn TP's for the reward flight, but you have a couple of options in regards of your Ag status. Firstly, don't worry about it, lose it.

The general consensus on here is, that apart from the extra miles you earn (25%) the benefits are negligible and therefore not worth spending a lot extra to keep.

The other option is to buy an upgradable economy fare (L class would be the lowest) and upgrade to UC with miles (only 60k, not 100k like a full reward). Yes, this will cost you a bit more, but you will also then earn miles and TP for the economy fare you have bought.

You really need to decide how much your Ag status is worth to you, it will probably cost about 400/500 or so more to do it the upgradable economy fare way, compared to a straight reward. My opinion? It's not worth it, but YMMV.

Neil

We're going to be about 1 or 2 TP's short of a renewal this June- and to be honest following advise from the associated individuals lurking around here - I'm not that bothered you get close to nothing in recognition.
Just think about what exactly you gain from keeping hold of it....25% extra mileage... just work out the cost of the miles you'll get in comparison to buying that many...??
(many a thread on here in regard to this conversation)

Mileage is the key, I won't worry about the TP's unless you're looking at gaining or renewing Au status. And given the rubbish incentives to want gain and keep silver- why not rack up those miles with partner airlines if the price is better...

Neil's suggestion of an upgradeable economy flight is the best
firstly check online for a pure mileage availability (G seat) in UC (assuming this is the class you want, again probably best use) on any of the routes you fancy (suggest avoid those which generally have deep discount anyhow)
L class is generally your cheapest upgradeable economy fare- be logged into your FC account when you check & you'll get the option to pick this.

NH

I'd be intersted to know if you can access 'L' fares on the websire when logged into Fc as I seem to be unable to do so.

Perhaps one of you dear darhlings would be kind enough to try a dummy booking & advise me. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a dunce with websites [:w][n] but good at making cakes[:D]
Thanks a mil R-P

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by Roxy-Popsy
I'd be intersted to know if you can access 'L' fares on the websire when logged into Fc as I seem to be unable to do so.

Perhaps one of you dear darhlings would be kind enough to try a dummy booking & advise me. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a dunce with websites [:w][n] but good at making cakes[:D]
Thanks a mil R-P


RP

What you normally do is try to make a dummy 'use miles' booking in the class you want to travel in. If it says there is availability on the date you want, then jump on the phone and call FC and grab those seats[:D][:D]

buns

quote:Originally posted by Roxy-Popsy
I'd be intersted to know if you can access 'L' fares on the websire when logged into Fc as I seem to be unable to do so.

Perhaps one of you dear darhlings would be kind enough to try a dummy booking & advise me. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a dunce with websites [:w][n] but good at making cakes[:D]
Thanks a mil R-P

Hi RP
If you specifically want an L (or any other upgradeable fare) you need to log into FC and then click on the Flying Club option halfway down on the left hand side of the home page. When the drop down menu appears click on the spend miles option. Then click on the upgrade/companion flights.You should now have the option to look for L, B,Y, S etc. Hope this helps.
DL
I'm also a techno dunce and I can't bake cakes either. Wish I could[oo]

Thanks for the advice, kinda thought losing silver no big deal but good to have expert confirmation!!
Don't really understand the ticket codes, will prob book easiest option for reward flight, upgrades sound complicated to me!
When booking I always choose lowest as our dates are fixed and I'm not rich! How do I check seat availability for the Man-Orlando flights do I need to register on another site?
Thanks again,
Ali.

[Neil]

As part of your V-Flyer membership, you get some free searches on Expert Flyer, which is, amongst other things, a load check site, so if you go to the Expert Flyer forum on here, you will find your codes and a guide how to use it. Expert Flyer however does not show award/mile seat availability. To check this you will have to do dummy bookings on the VS site or call FC, although I thought you were going to use LHR-MIA as UC rewards on the MAN-MCO are very hard to come by!

Upgrades aren't difficult, the easiest thing to do would be to call FC, explain you want a cost for upgrading an economy seat with miles and they will do the rest for you.

Neil

Hi, Yes my Reward will be the london-miami prob May 2010. Im looking for Oct this year also, BUT not the dreaded vs073, did that last year, another story!
Thanks for your help, again!
Ali

Hi Ali
When I was talking to a memeber of FC the other day, I enquired as to reward availability for MIA next Spring as I couldn't find any flights over quite some period of time, & thought it was me being a total numpty head as usual.[:I]
I was informed that as seats are selling so well on that route then no reward avaialabilty has been issued.

And Buns & Dragon Lady, you are stars hepling out ol' thicky-knickers here. I shall try your suggestions, well the ones that are printable[:o)][}:)]
R-P

Thanks R-P,
Its may im gonna be looking for reward flights so maybe a bit quieter then.
Thanks for being so helpful.
Ali.