Advice on maximising savings

Hello all, first post here, normally a BA man.

I am looking to go to Vegas (from London) early next year (March or April) with my wife and infant.

We want to go premier economy, and I am looking at how to most effiecently do this. I currently have 84k Amex Reward points.

My thoughts are:

I open a flying club account, and 'Miles more friends' my wife to open one too (netting the bonus miles)

I then transfer 75,000 Amex rewards to my FC account, and I use these to book my ticket.

I then transfer 8,250 Amex rewards to my wifes account and she books her ticket, and my sons, on Miles Plus money - costing around £700.

So the three of us get return premier economy tickets for £700.

However do you think we will all be able so sit together, and also do we 'earn' miles and tier points?

Thanks in advance

[preiffer]

Hi jimbob, and welcome. [y]

Miles More Friends bonus miles only appear after the party you refer takes a revenue (fully paid) flight. So your wife would only earn you (and her) bonus miles after your first flight - and none for the trip you are suggesting.

You only earn miles + TP's on the paid element of a flight - not on Miles+Money or Reward flights, so you'll earn nothing if you go about it the way you describe above, unfortunately.

Also, don't forget the taxes and surcharges on all tickets (revenue, reward or M+M) of around £140-£150 EACH.

Thanks Preiffer, not too big a deal about losing the TPs and miles, but I wonder if I would be better off then paying fully for my wifes PE ticket, and bagging the miles?

Originally posted by jimbob247
Hello all, first post here, normally a BA man.

I am looking to go to Vegas (from London) early next year (March or April) with my wife and infant.

We want to go premier economy, and I am looking at how to most effiecently do this. I currently have 84k Amex Reward points.

My thoughts are:

I open a flying club account, and 'Miles more friends' my wife to open one too (netting the bonus miles)

I then transfer 75,000 Amex rewards to my FC account, and I use these to book my ticket.

I then transfer 8,250 Amex rewards to my wifes account and she books her ticket, and my sons, on Miles Plus money - costing around £700.

So the three of us get return premier economy tickets for £700.

However do you think we will all be able so sit together, and also do we 'earn' miles and tier points?

Thanks in advance

Hi Jimbob and welcome.

A cunning plan. Some points;

1. Before beginning the process call and ask what the availability of reward flights and MPM fares are in PE to LAS on the days that you want. Availability of the two don't always match up on any given day.

2. Having got thus far, use the seat assignment facility on the VS website and OLCI 24hrs before your flight to maximise the chances of sitting together.

Paul

(Edited to remove overlap with Preiffer's Post)

[preiffer]

Originally posted by jimbob247
Thanks Preiffer, not too big a deal about losing the TPs and miles, but I wonder if I would be better off then paying fully for my wifes PE ticket, and bagging the miles?

Hmm.

Consider buying 2 x L fares (lowest upgradeable economy ticket) for you and your wife - c. £450 each. These will then EARN you both c. 11k miles (each).

Then use 20k miles per ticket to upgrade both legs (subject to availability) to PE. OR use 80k miles to upgrade BOTH to PE one way, Upper the other. As for the child's ticket - hmm... M+M?


Also, bear in mind: Availability of reward seats on the LAS route isn't great... [:?]

Thanks, I assume that we will get better seats travelling with an infant anyway?

As to getting to sit together and being four of you, you might be lucky though I fear it might already be a bit busy. That said, as a family Virgin will try to put you together.

I did a sample view on Expert Flyer on PE on 12th March next year and it shows:

J7 D7 Z0 W7 S7 K7 Y7 B7 L7 M7 Q7 X7 N7

So there's certainly availability in PE ... and on the surrounding dates, so you may get a block of four seats together. Good luck and enjoy!

Originally posted by jimbob247
Thanks, I assume that we will get better seats travelling with an infant anyway?

Depends on your definition of "better". If you need a bassinet (sp?) then there is limited choice as you need to be at a bulkhead and there are fewer of those in PE on the LGW/MAN 747s (the aircraft type and configuration that VS use on that route). If you want to sit three in a row (without any aisle space between you) then you are limited to PE downstairs. Have a look at the "seat maps" under member resources. Most V-Flyers prefer upstairs in the bubble for PE.

Paul

Originally posted by slinky09
As to getting to sit together and being four of you, you might be lucky though I fear it might already be a bit busy. That said, as a family Virgin will try to put you together.

I did a sample view on Expert Flyer on PE on 12th March next year and it shows:

J7 D7 Z0 W7 S7 K7 Y7 B7 L7 M7 Q7 X7 N7

So there's certainly availability in PE ... and on the surrounding dates, so you may get a block of four seats together. Good luck and enjoy!

Where did the extra one creep in ?[?]

Paul

Thanks all, I think the answer is to book economy, upgrade to UC one way and PE the other, total cost £1,300 and 84k miles!