V-Flyer

Looking to use airmiles for flights next summer and have been looking at VS website to try to find cheapest way of using miles. According to website fares, getting 1 reward flight and buying 2 cheapest UC fares works out cheaper than upgrading 3 PE or upgrading 2 economy and buying one lowest UC fare. I think I have read on a previous post (although cannot find it now) that the fares quoted on VS website for flexible fares are not the cheapest ones available (I know I need flexible fares to upgrade). Therefore, if I ring Flying club will there be cheaper flexible fares in PE and economy than quoted that are upgradable. Also what are the chances that reward/upgrade flights are still available for Tokyo flight next summer. Also, am I right in thinking I cannot book reward/upgrade flighs on a Fri, Sat or Sun. Sorry if I've babbled a bit - hope someone can help answer my questions. Many thanks in advance for any replies.

Hi PS100 - welcome aboard.

To answer your questions:

You need certain fare classes to upgrade - These are Y,B,L for Economy or W, S in PE (L class excluded for Tokyo). The fares on the VS website tend to be the fully flexible fares so tend to be the Y or W rate. A call to VS should get you the cheapest upgradeable fare and let you know whether there is availability.

I am not aware of a weekend embargo.

Phil

Originally posted by PS100
Also, am I right in thinking I cannot book reward/upgrade flighs on a Fri, Sat or Sun.

I don't think there's a general rule about weekends. I do know that some routes have no reward availability in some classes at weekends, though. I booked PE rewards to Hong Kong a couple of years ago and was told by Flying Club that there were no reward to or from HK in PE (or UC, I think, but I could have mis-remembered) at weekends.

No idea what the rules are about other destinations.

Chris

Thanks for replies - I will ring FC about cheaper PE and Economy eligible fares. I think the T&C (point 4.2.2) mentions about travel restrictions for rewards at weekends but would be happy to be wrong about this.

I seem to remember a previous discussion a good while ago where the part of the T&C about an embargo on weekend reward travel was generally rubbished. We certainly booked three x UC rewards to LAX at a weekend last summer, and others reported similar experiences.

Nick

Just like to say thanks to everyone who replied to this post and my other post on combining airmiles. I have now managed to book my miles upgrade flights and they even let me do it for a Saturday! The information gained from this site has been invaluable - I didn't even know I could claim airmiles for VS flights until about 2 years ago despite flying with Virgin for over 10 years.

Thanks again.

Result![y]

Glad you find the site useful. I hope we will continue to see you around.