Stupid Question? FC and booking u/g

OK Im a little embarrassed to ask this question since I've been flying VS for donkeys years and upgrading and using miles etc

BUT... it's been a long time, and I'm now red FC.

I want to book MAN-MCO economy, u/g outbound to PE and return to UC anytime at all through May. I'm so flexible I can lick my own elbow.

I tried FC yesterday but they weren't that helpful, telling me that there were no seats in PE or UC available (even though there were plenty of all fare codes in expertflyer - I might be wrong but I thought some of those fare codes related to upgraded/upgradable? seats? I checked your flight codes section and it seemed to suggest that too)

Now I'm sure in the past I've called FC (albeit silver) and said I want to do this ... can you help and they have, does this still apply? I've always found them soooo helpful in the past and I must admit my patience probably isn't what it used to be but I just want someone to tell me when I can go see Micky and sort it all out for me

I await your response with excitement, apologies if I've babbled on but that's me!

Hugs S xx

[Neil]

Hi,

To upgrade to PE or UC with miles, then there needs to be reward availability, (U for PE, G for UC), it is irrelevant if all other fare codes are available. None of the fare codes that show on Expert Flyer are the reward fare buckets, only the VS website or FC can tell you this.

The MCO route is very hard to get reward seats on, especially UC and just having a quick check on the VS site, it is showing none available for April/May/June (the only months I quickly checked). PE is sometimes a little easier but you really need to be booking as soon as the flights are released or a few days before the flight, when, if there are some empty seats still available, they *may* release some extra reward seats. I just tried to book some on the MCO route for November and nothing is available then either.

Unfortunately there really isn't much you can do apart from keeping checking the VS site and calling FC, but I really wouldn't hold your breath.

As another option have you thought about maybe flying in/out of MIA, there is more UC seats on these a/c so there are more rewards available? Yes, you do have the 3/4 hour drive to Orlando, but it is an alternative.

Neil

Thanks so much for your very clear explanation Neil, as I said it's been a while. Had been thinking MCO would be less stressful than our normal haunt of LAX, LAS but sod it - now Im going to look further afield.

Thanks again
S xx

quote:Originally posted by shazam
Thanks so much for your very clear explanation Neil, as I said it's been a while. Had been thinking MCO would be less stressful than our normal haunt of LAX, LAS but sod it - now Im going to look further afield.

Thanks again
S xx


By repute, LAS is usually very difficult, MCO difficult but ever so slightly less so if you plan far ahead and LAX relatively easy by virtue of x2 daily LHR configured planes (i.e. many more UCS seats) ...

Thanks again for your help guys, I've successfully booked my flights now - stuck with what I know, LHR-LAX return.

S x