Upgrade Miles

Good evening all, I have a question for the forum.
According to the VS website an upgrade from PE to UC is 40,000 miles. Is this each way or for both legs of the trip? Can you purchase single leg upgrades or can that only be done at the airport on the day of travel? What fare class can upgrade PE to UC? I know that availability is a key factor in all of this and that at the end of the day I could have the spare miles and hold the right kind of ticket but if there is no availability then I would be out of luck.
Thanks for any help.

[Pete]

40k would be both ways. You can do single leg upgrades, although I've only ever done them at the airport. Can't see any reason why you couldn't do them in advance as long as you have a qualifying fare.

Fare classes that can be upgraded are W (full) and S (discounted). The K (deep discount) and H (Virgin Holidays) can't be upgraded, although occasionally you can do an upgrade at the airport on those fare depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Availability is restricted on advance upgrades. With Suites I hear it's as low as 2 seats these days. However, those rules tend to go out of the window at the airport where it tends to be more 'space available' and providing there's enough meals onboard.

Pix

If you have a qualifying fare, you can definitely do a miles upgrade in advance - I've done this a few times now

Cheers

Michael

Thank you so much for such a speedy reply. When using the VS site on the net where does it tell you which booking fare you are being quoted.
Cheers

rcslt

quote:When using the VS site on the net where does it tell you which booking fare you are being quoted.

ISTR that it only does this after you've made your payment - and I don't think the facility is there to use miles to upgrade online. Personally, I've only ever done this over the phone.

Cheers

Michael

I apologise now for yet another upgrade question

quote:Fare classes that can be upgraded are W (full) and S (discounted). The K (deep discount) and H (Virgin Holidays) can't be upgraded, although occasionally you can do an upgrade at the airport on those fare depending on which way the wind is blowing.

How difficult is it to upgrade at the airport with qualifying fares. Is there a strict rule on how many they are willing to upgrade when all the advance upgrades have been taken. Is it totally up to the discretion of the supervisor on duty? Would flowers and chocolates for the sales desk work?

[Pete]

If you've got a qualifying fare, and there is space available, then it's pretty easy. Just approach the ticket desk and tell them you'd like to upgrade your seat using miles and they'll process it for you.

Choccies and flowers would only help when you have a non-qualifying fare.

Pix

Pix

quote:Choccies and flowers would only help when you have a non-qualifying fare.

Hmmm, I'd better keep that in mind for my stupid Q fare next month

Cheers

Michael

Following on from my question on what type of fare allows upgrading from PE to UC I just wanted to ask how many advance upgrade opportunities are there per flight. I have been in contact with Virgin to try and upgrade my S fare and was told there were no advance upgrades left, after asking how many seats were available I was told there was 43/44. Does that mean there was only one advance upgrade for that flight or are more released at another time? I do believe that this will be a UC Suite flight and have read about how limited the advance upgrades are for these flights.

Ah well, it looks like I will have to wait until the airport to see if I get to try out the Suites.

[Pete]

The number of advance upgrades is very limited. With Suite-fitted aircraft, I believe it's only 2 reward seats for all Upper Class.

Bear in mind that the number of seats available, and the number of physical seats are two very different numbers. All airlines oversell to some degree, so whilst they may say there are X seats available, that's not the number of seats actually left on the aircraft.

By the sounds of if, you should have a good chance at the airport. How long until the flight?

Pix

Sounds like you're in with a really good chance as there are only 44 suites on the aircraft. If VS are telling you there's a 43-44 availability, that's a pretty good sign so long as the flight's not next year!

I would just rock up at check-in, as Pix says, and they'll handle it in a jiffy. The best 20,000 miles you'll ever spend!

Cheers

Thank you for your advice and responses. You can rely on the experts here at V-Flyer to answer any question concerning anything Virgin.

I am travelling in early September and would think there should be no problem with the airport upgrade.

Thanks.