achieved GOLD status finally - how to use best?

Finally have achieved Gold FC status, after many many flights. Wondered if the smart folks here can recommend best way to maximise its advantages?

I understand that me + guest can now use the lounges regardless of class ticket held, all very nice whilst you are on the ground - but... as for being in the air - does Gold status really help with upgrade priority?
should I be seeking out flights with heavy loadings in the hope of getting Premium>UC lifts, or Economy>Premium? and if so how do I find/track those?
(I'm a regular on the NY>LON routes, every months more or less, but its mostly on my dime, so UC is unmanageable in this climate.)

an other useful Gold advantages I'm unaware of?

well the lounge as you mentioned is a great one, plus you're top of the list for OP upgrades I think, dh has been upgraded as a single flyer a number of times in the last 2 years when on business flights from PE to Upper, I think 5 times in the last 2 years. Saying that, I know others who've never been upgraded, but the route he flies is not termed a business route and generally heavy booked in Economy and PE and less so in Upper so maybe thats the case.

In 3 years and 60+ flights, I only got upgraded once when PE was oversold. I guess I just travel on quiet days or am just unlucky with regard to upgrades.

The lounges are great and will be missed should I not renew Gold this year.

quote:Originally posted by narikin
Finally have achieved Gold FC status


Congratulations [y]

quote:Originally posted by narikin
... after many many flights. Wondered if the smart folks here can recommend best way to maximise its advantages?


Hmmmmm [:?]

quote:Originally posted by narikin
I understand that me + guest can now use the lounges regardless of class ticket held


Absolutely and take advantage of this, don't forget revivals at Heathrow too and use the advance booking on the VS Web site for Clubhouse treatments, if you're brave, take your trunks!

quote:Originally posted by narikin
but... as for being in the air - does Gold status really help with upgrade priority? Should I be seeking out flights with heavy loadings in the hope of getting Premium>UC lifts, or Economy>Premium? and if so how do I find/track those?


Your best way to track these is to use Expert Flyer to see what loads are looking like on forthcoming flights. BUT this is a lottery, and like all lotteries you only win infrequently whereas booking half empy flights might actually be more comfortable?

Yes, as a Gold you are high on the list, but there is a heirarchy and just being Au may not put you top (e.g. Au and highest fare code may be higher rated than just Au).

And, don't ever expect. It just doesn't happen because you are Au. and how many flights are currently full?

Finally, don't forget the extra miles - unless you have cashed some in, you should have a good balance: the best way to secure an upgrade without paying for it is to use miles.

quote:
Finally, don't forget the extra miles - unless you have cashed some in, you should have a good balance: the best way to secure an upgrade without paying for it is to use miles.


thanks for the advice,and yes of course using miles to upgrade rather than buy outright should be a great way, it just seems that Virgin are over-punitive when it comes to mileage upgradeable tickets. It seems they don't want to allow you to use miles to upgrade, especially if you buy an cheaper PE ticket.

As an example, for my next flight (a simple JFK>LHR) an upgradeable PE fare is $1788, (S class) whereas a PE lowest price (K class) is $1337. So why buy the $450 more expensive ticket, PLUS spend 40,000 miles to get into UC, when you can just get an UC discount for $2332, i.e. $540 more, keeping your 40,000 miles plus gain 14,500 new miles for that UC ticket. It makes little sense. Doing an upgrade-able PE S class you only save $540 over buying a cheap UC ticket in return for cashing in 40,000 miles, plus loosing some extra UC miles. (the maths makes it .013c/mile cashed in to 'buy' the upgrade - bad value)

Upgradeable Economy > UC is $873 on same route/date, plus 60,000 miles, so maybe that makes a little more sense, as you are saving $915 on a PE miles upgrade, for just 20,000 more miles (i.e. getting .045c/mile - great value!). The PE>UC upgrade seems really bad value in comparison to an Economy>UC upgrade. Put another way: you save $1460 on the lowest UC fare for a spend of 60k miles. (.024c/mile cashed in, quite acceptable value)

Am I mistaking something here ?! - can you use miles on a lower fare PE ticket, eg 'K' class somehow - I was told not, but would love for that to be wrong!

I'm new to miles upgrades, and happy to be shown the best way on it all, or simply be told - upgrades aren't worth it - save your miles and get a full rewards ticket for 90k miles!

[honey lamb]

quote: Am I mistaking something here ?! - can you use miles on a lower fare PE ticket, eg 'K' class somehow - I was told not, but would love for that to be wrong!
Strictly speaking you can't, but I have been lucky enough to do it on both occasions when I asked. The first time was at LAX when checking in. The flight was seriously oversold and they were looking for volunteers in economy so any chance to upgrade someone into our newly vacated PE seats was eagerly grabbed. The second time was in IAD when, having checked in I decided I really wanted to be in UC and in the CH asked to be upgraded which was done without any problem

interesting... always worth asking, I guess.

one other thing I did find was that a miles ticket, even in economy, is worth it IF you are not staying the Saturday night in your destination.

That insane punitive jump from a $400 ticket to $1400 ticket in Economy, because you don't stay a Sat night, does not exist for miles tickets, so you can make a short trip for 25,000 miles + taxes.