Another Of Those "Using Miles" Questions

A cunning plan is in development hereabouts to celebrate a signficant year in our family come 2008. Naturally this involves a trip on VS and if anyone can find the time to assist me with pointers at this early stage I'd be grateful.

This is the scenario. I'm looking to sort a trip out to the US, for the four of us, summer or possibly Christmas 2008. Has to be school holiday time as the local authority doesn't look kindly on headteachers taking holidays during term time. It would be a PE round trip, looking to upgrade to UC on the way out to take advantage of the LHR Clubhouse. It would probably to out to LAX and back from SFO (or vice versa) I have about 69k airmiles myself, and two others in the family have just over 20k each, one other about 15k. My balance may go up (depending on work), or I might opt to buy miles.

Questions therefore:

1. I presume I should start scouting the fares a year in advance ? Is that when they are released ? I am assuming that because it's peak I am not going to see any offers and will have to pay the going rate.

2. Given the timings (i.e. peak period) is it worth even looking for for reward availability for four seats or is it simply a lost cause on the routes I've been considering?

3. If I book the fares and upgrade myself and the one family member who doesn't have enough miles can the other two use their miles to upgrade even though I've booked the tickets for them ?

4. Looking at using the total portfolio of miles across us all, could the one whom I use miles to upgrade use their miles (about 15000) to book a limo (or would that have to be me ?)

This is well in advance but any pointers gratefully received even if they take the form "RTFM" (as long as you tell me where "TFM" is)..

Paul

[preiffer]

Hi Paul...

1) The ticket window opens 336 days in advance. All full fares and the first set of award seats are released then - discounted fares seem to follow.

2) 4 seats to SFO at peak travel time? I'd go with 99% not going to happen in one go, I'm afraid. I've got 4 upper rewards next month, but it took a lot of messing around, and it's off peak. They may release more nearer the time, but I'd GUESS you'll be extremely lucky to guarantee that many non-rev seats on the SFO route in peak.

3) Yes, you can use your miles to upgrade someone else. Bear in mind that FC will often have to actually speak to that person in order to process the booking, as well as the person travelling.

4) Again, as with 3. you can "pay" for someone else's award with your miles - it would just have to be against a reward ticket to be able to use the limo.

Hi Paul
If all your variables on getting 4 Gs on the way out fail don't forget that if you've got 2 passengers travelling UC (in any fare code)they can each take a guest into the Clubhouse.
Julie

Originally posted by preiffer

2) 4 seats to SFO at peak travel time? I'd go with 99% not going to happen in one go, I'm afraid. I've got 4 upper rewards next month, but it took a lot of messing around, and it's off peak. They may release more nearer the time, but I'd GUESS you'll be extremely lucky to guarantee that many non-rev seats on the SFO route in peak.

Thanks for confirming the vibe I've been getting. We experienced much malarkey and shenanigans trying to get 5 Y Reward seats to Barbados a couple of years ago. I had though about the possibility of going for the same idea but ex LGW to the Carribean but there we run slap bang up against the limited number of UCS. I guess it may be easier with a request for fewer which brings me onto ....

Originally posted by DragonLady
Hi Paul
If all your variables on getting 4 Gs on the way out fail don't forget that if you've got 2 passengers travelling UC (in any fare code)they can each take a guest into the Clubhouse.
Julie

I like that lateral thinking. You've latched onto to one of the key features so I could possibly deliver a good part of the overall experience with limo, CH and some mix of UCS and PE...

Thanks, I appreciate the help. As Hedley Lamarr says in "Blazing Saddles", my mind is a-glow with whirling transient nodes of thought, careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.

Paul

And if you route out to LAX and back from SFO you get Clubhouses at both ends! Best of luck with the plan whatever.

Originally posted by DragonLady
And if you route out to LAX and back from SFO you get Clubhouses at both ends! Best of luck with the plan whatever.

Even more crafty - spread the reward request across the two legs.

This is all really helpful.

Paul