A plea! London - NY over New Year!

Dear V-Flyers

Wondered if your collected knowledge might be able to help me. I have 45,000 miles and have planned to use them to go to New York over New Year having been given the thumbs-up by my mate who lives out there.

Imagine my horror having checked today and nothing seems to be available whatsoever, having gone through the Virgin website. Just wondered if anyone knew of any tips. I've tried miles+money and using all the miles. I would like to go Dec 27-29, coming back Jan 2-4.

Will more tickets be released nearer the time?

Maybe it serves me right for not pulling my finger out early enough!

Many thanks in advance
Richard

[Nottingham Nick]

Richard,

The tip for using miles during any school holiday is -book early.

There are only a limited amount of seats on each flight and obviously during school holidays the number is less, as they don't have difficulty getting revenus for the seats.

I don't know if any more will bereleased, but I would doubt it, Christmas is traditionaly a very busy travel period.

You can check the loads on the planes, mitchja did an excellent guide on how to do it earlier today in this thread.

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2798

Sorry can't be of more help.

Nick

As Nick said you are leaving this a bit late.

I did a bit of perusing and the only thing left into NY (that I can see) is Xmas day or NY Eve (gets in about 5pm) - Getting out is difficult until the 7th.

However you might want to consider Boston which is still quite open over the Xmas period. A flight down to NY (return) will cost you around £130.

Washington still has a little availability (try the 29th out) and you could fly up from there for about £80 (if you're lucky)!

Otherwise - there's always next year.

Hope this gives you an extra option.

Phil (Buffy)

If it is your miles you wish to burn, you may be able to get flying club to do it on BMI from Manchester via washington? I think that is also 40,000 miles but I am not 100%

A pain, not virgin but at least no cost?

Just a thought

The Boston option hadn't dawned on me - so I've been able to book that. £57 as well, brilliant! And then take http://www.limoliner.com for just $69 from Boston to NY for a bit of luxury coach travel on the way down.

Many thanks to all - you're all on my Xmas card list !!

Richard

Richard

Glad it worked out.

Phil (Buffy)

[ChuckC]

When you're in NYC maybe check with VS reservations to see whether any return has opened from JFK or Newark -- just so that you don't have to trudge back to Boston for your flight.

Have a great time in the City.
Regards,
Chuck-

Really? Will I incur any extra cost for changing the flight?

Would be handy on the way back purely because going out I'm staying over in Boston so don't mind spending a night or two there.

You would have thought I might have know these things being a silver flyer. Must try harder !

Cheers
Richard

[ChuckC]

Rich,
Hey, don't worry about what you don't know. As Pix and the other here keep reminding us, the only dumb question is the one we don't ask.

As for change fees, you'd need to consult with VS reservations on what may apply to your fare basis. I've seen some situations with our US airlines where change fees get waived if you are very pleasant to the res or gate agent. The fly in the ointment for you is that you'd be changing the inbound city pair and that is likely to cause a change fee at the very least.

Nevertheless I would call VS while in NYC and see what they say. Perhaps the additional cost will still make sense versus the expense and time of slogging back to BOS.

Regards,
Chuck-