Using Miles at the Airport

Travel PE to LAX likely options of getting two seats in UC by using some miles?
Return leg currently in PE heading SFO to LHR? Again mileage options would be good.

Gut feeling is the LHR-LAX route is a busy one with limited availability to UG Anyone having success on last min UG's with miles at the chk-in desk?

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to the site.

Have you rung the Flying Club to see what the chances are of upgrading in advance?

Also, have you read the V-Flyer FAQ's about upgrading with miles? A few useful tips in there.

Nick

Thanks,
No not yet, however tickets were discounted so, not likely?? I'll give it a go. (we're not on a straight return i.e. into LAX out of SFO)

You can only use miles if you are S or W class. I don't believe this rule is ever bent. Your e-ticket will identify which class your tix are.

If you've got K tix then you can only upgrade for cash; usually about £500 each way. You could ask for cost to upgrade from K to S. I heard this was possible but haven't ever done this. Would depend on S availability on your flights. Will probably cost as much as you paid for your return Ks but still cheaper than the £500 each way on-the-day upgrade.

Once you are at S then you need availability in G class. You can check G class availability by querying the VS web site book flights section for Upper Class rewards. If there's a G on your dates, call the Flying Club or Upper Class reservations. If there's no G showing on the site then you would have to risk the on-the-day miles upgrade.

It's a bit of a rollercoaster. Usually best not to purchase anything until you have spotted G class availability around your intended dates of travel. You then ask the Flying club to hold the G for you while you make the revenue booking. With Gs you are at Virgin's mercy so it helps to be prepared to adjust your flight dates. They usually only pop up on flights which have thus far had low sales in UC and PE.

Oh well can't expect too much given its a K. Thanks for the info Andrew.(assume that the conference went well- why did every one cheer about a headphone jack on the new Iphone??? bizarre..)
Click into Silver after first leg (which doesn't hold much weight I assume), and failing a unexpected no-show by half the plane, will have to be happy with the fake plates and Econ food. At least we'll not have our 3yr old beast with us, (adult party time in Vegas & SFO for a week- at last!!)

[honey lamb]

On a couple of occasions when travelling on a K and the flight has been seriously oversold and they are looking for volunteers, I have been fortunate when checking in to score a miles upgrade at no extra financial cost

The Conference is going great. Flying by too fast.

The headphone jack on iPhone v1 caused a lot of incompatibilities with various third-party headphone sets and some other headphone jack-related accessories. So correcting the jack was in the top five feature requests. Hence the cheering.

Originally posted by honey lamb
On a couple of occasions when travelling on a K and the flight has been seriously oversold and they are looking for volunteers, I have been fortunate when checking in to score a miles upgrade at no extra financial cost

Do you think your Au status influenced your getting this Honey Lamb?

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by mcnaugha

Originally posted by honey lamb
On a couple of occasions when travelling on a K and the flight has been seriously oversold and they are looking for volunteers, I have been fortunate when checking in to score a miles upgrade at no extra financial cost

Do you think your Au status influenced your getting this Honey Lamb?

No, as I was Ag at the time [:D] I think they were really desperate for volunteers and anyone clearing a PE seat was good news. Aer John was with me so that was two K to UC upgrades

I am booked PE out of LAS on Saturday (14th)- bought PE to/from and am now looking for upgrade but no luck so far on the outbound. Only a few UC seats left, in fact. We searched for any upgrade availability out of LAS, LAX or SFO (I live more or less near all of them) and was luck just to get the purchased PE out of LAS.

No problem on the return- Thursday to LAX. Was able to confirm that UC upgrade at time of purchase.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed they release a seat closer to departure.

- Greg

Thanks for the info, We'll just try our luck at the desk, maybe with a AG level on return some extra hope.

Does the change from Red-Silver happen automatically, i.e tier points update on the day and the account reflects this?? (realise the AG pack will come later)

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by northernhenry
Does the change from Red-Silver happen automatically, i.e tier points update on the day and the account reflects this?? (realise the AG pack will come later)

Your status will show on the VS system straight away, you will get a new Flying Club number, but it will be linked to the old account number.

Don;t expect too much from your elevation. [;)] Aside from the bonus miles when flying, and the ability to use the PE check in when flying in economy, silver doesn't exactly give a huge raft of benefits. [:D]

Nick

[HighFlyer]

I've also upgraded with miles when on a K ticket before. Technically, its against the rules but as per Honey Lamb's example, if they are looking to upgrade a few individuals you may be in luck, just dont assume it as a right. Ask on the day and see what they say. [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks for all the info, assume it best not to check-in online, or doesn't this matter? If we are to try asking at the desk?
Persistent I know, but a weeks break for 2 stressed people without our 3 year old, Grand parents- don't you just luv em.. (got to try every trick in the book)

[Neil]

Originally posted by northernhenry
Thanks for all the info, assume it best not to check-in online, or doesn't this matter? If we are to try asking at the desk?
Persistent I know, but a weeks break for 2 stressed people without our 3 year old, Grand parents- don't you just luv em.. (got to try every trick in the book)

I would say still use OLCI, this way you still have your preferred seats all confirmed in the most likely scenario that you can't upgrade they way you want too and do fly PE. If you get lucky and you can upgrade using miles on your K, then they will still be able to do this.

Enjoy your break!

Neil

I take it if you upgrade using miles at the airport from economy or PE to UCS then you still get clubhouse/revivals access?

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by dan87027
I take it if you upgrade using miles at the airport from economy or PE to UCS then you still get clubhouse/revivals access?

Yes, the only UC passengers that don't get Clubhouse / Revivals are op-ups.
UC pax can take a guest into the Clubhouse, but not Revivals.

Nick

Thought that would be the case but thanks for the confirmation!

Didn't get to find out as traveling on a K, Doh! 'computer says no..'
Learnt lesson on travel class.. although shouldn't complain as the seats were good value..