Help booking UC flights

I originally posted this on flyertalk, but realized that this probably is the better place. And my apologies in advance: I suspect I could research many of the answers to these questions myself, but I decided to be lazy and go right to the pros.

I am going to use flying club miles to send my parents, who live in Sarasota, Florida, to LHR next May. Although the closest VS gateways are MCO and MIA, my priorities in booking flights for them are:

-- making the eastbound flight easier for them by putting them on a day-time flight; and

-- increasing the odds of getting an Upper Class Suite.

Here are my questions:

1. Am I correct that the only day-time flight operated by VS is VS018 from EWR?

2. What are the odds that the A340 that operates VS018 will be fitted with Upper Class Suites by next May?

3. Does VS offer award flights to its gateways for award travel to LHR, or will my parents be on their own for getting to MCO/MIA/EWR/JFK (or wherever)?

4. I am a few miles short of what I need for both tickets, so I plan to transfer in what I need from my AMEX Membership Miles account. Will VS hold my reservations while I do this? (I tried making on-line reservations, which I learned cannot be done if you don't have sufficient miles in your account.)

5. On the westbound flight, am I correct that all JFK flights will have suites? What is the likelihood that flights to MIA or MCO will have suites by next May?

That's it for now; I'll supplement if I think of any more. And thanks in advance for your help.

[Nottingham Nick]

Hello Blumie, welcome to V-Flyer.

In answer to some of your questions

1. No VS54 operates out of BOS, Sun, Tue and Fri - leaves 0800 - arrives at LHR 1930

2. The rollout is ongoing - someone else will be able to tell you about the A340s, there seems to have been a lot of discussion about recently.

3. Try the VS website, it depends on partner flight availablity.

4. I think, unless your are VS Gold, or get a very nice agent, the miles have to be in your account before they will book the flight - I stand to be corrected on that one.

5. MIA flights will have suites before MCO as the MIA flights are out of LHR and the MCO flights are out of LGW.

Nick

Hi Blumie
I live in Sarasota and the UK and so do that run once a month at least. I've tried MCO, MIA and am now set on JFK-LHR for a number of reasons.
I would avoid MCO if at all possible, the route really is bucket and spade . Look at some of the early forums on LGW-MCO planes and you'll see why. MIA was a route I used to use but after 9/11 AA Eagle and Comair dropped their flights to SRQ and MCO became their gateway.It might be worth looking at the connections as I havn't checked for any changes recently.
There are greater choice of VSflights on the New York route, I use Jet Blue or Delta Song to connect from Tampa airport ( an hour away) and Delta can check your luggage right through to LHR from TPA so no rechecking....they can also print your boarding pass if you want. But as I live in eternal hope of an upgrade I like to show my face to the VS check-in crew at JFK. (not that you get too many smiles at JFK !!!)
All JFK planes are suites (unless they have a problem ) so if you manage to upgrade them a day flight won't matter so much as they will hopefully get a good nights sleep on any evening flight. I usually book the VS46 but am at JFK early enough to get transferred to the VS4 if they have availability. I tend to use Jet Blue on the JFK-TPA section as the VS45 often gets in early and I rush to the Jet Blue terminal and easily get on standby for the 1.30 flight which means I'm home in SRQ by 6.30pm
Last time I looked the only doable flight from SRQ was into EWR but as I've never flown that route I can't give you any practical tips. I would love to be able to fly direct from SRQ to any Virgin Gateway,,,,are you listening Virgin America??? there are loads of us VS flyers living in the Sarasota area.
Hope this helped a little.
SRQ

I believe that you can earn VS miles if using Delta/Song and America West (not sure if they would do those eastern routes though).

Matt

Havn't had any luck recently getting miles with Delta/Song. Last check-in comment was that they'd dropped the scheme [?] Got miles with Delta instead but was not a hasppy bunny [:(] Won't stop me showing my VS card next time though just incase it was a mistake.

SRQ

Jeez, Delta really are useless - they've tried that with me before (at MCO & SLC in March/April this year - see http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=638 & http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=775), and AFAIK it's not true - see http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/flying_club_partner_airlines.view.do#10. If they won't add your FC number to it, just keep the boarding card & tickets and claim when you get home

Cheers

Michael

Thanks Michael
read all the links and they just confirmed what I thought, I'll prepare to have another go next week or take the easy route and add them later.
Srq

[honey lamb]

Hmmm! I flew Delta on July 27 and the miles are already in my account.

SRQ - I think if you badger them enough, they'll give in

Honey Lamb - I think it depends on the DL check-in staff, since I had absolutely no problems at SMF. Indeed after they'd grudgingly entered my FC number, the mileage credit for some legs was quite quick - had to chase up a couple of them though.

Cheers

Michael

[honey lamb]

Well it surprised me as I had asked them to tag my bags through to Cork and they didn't know where Cork was!

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
Well it surprised me as I had asked them to tag my bags through to Cork and they didn't know where Cork was!

LOL!

Cheers

Michael

SRQ

quote:Originally posted by SRQ
Thanks Michael
read all the links and they just confirmed what I thought, I'll prepare to have another go next week or take the easy route and add them later.

BTW, if you do have any difficulties such as "the scheme has been dropped", be sure to let FC know the details (airport, etc...) - they can pass them to the liaison officer for DL

Cheers

Michael