Greetings, everyone.
I’ve recently signed up for an AmEx UK Platinum card (in large part because of positive reviews of the travel insurance, which allows trips of 90 days, and the rental car damage/theft coverage; the other benefits should hopefully help tip things into more than offsetting the hefty annual fee).
The card earns Membership Rewards points at 1 point per pound, but 2 points per pound for all travel booked through AmEx travel.
I’ve always bought all my tickets direct from Virgin, as that gives me maximal freedom to get support for upgrades and changes from the VS FC Gold line.
I believe I’ve read on V-Flyer that there can be difficulties upgrading or changing tickets bought from travel agents with VS; that agents often “lock” a ticket so that only the agent can make changes.
My question: can anyone report their experience with upgrading or changing tickets on VS purchased from AmEx UK travel? Do you always have to go through AmEx for upgrades and changes, or can they be made with VS directly? And if one must always talk to AmEx, how are they on upgrades and changes?
A second question while I’m at it: does anyone have a firm view on the value of Membership Rewards points for transfer at 1:1 to Flying Club? I am trying to figure out if I should keep charging all my travel on my existing AmEx cash back card (at 1% cash back), or if I’d get better value earning 2 Membership Rewards points per pound and transferring the MR points to FC for VS upgrades from economy to upper. It’s hard to say exactly how to value the upgrade vs. cash back. I think I can earn enough MR points for a one sector US west coast to London economy to upper upgrade by spending around £24k on travel through AmEx UK travel. I’d earn about £240 cash back on the same spend on my cash back card. Is the upgrade worth more than £240? Depends on how you measure. Buying the Virgin points for that upgrade costs something like £870, but that price is almost certainly inflated, so the true value of the upgrade is some figure lower than that.
All experience with upgrades and changes on AmEx-purchased VS tickets appreciated, as well as thoughts on AmEx MR points value vs. 1% cash back!
Thanks,
Brad
I’ve recently signed up for an AmEx UK Platinum card (in large part because of positive reviews of the travel insurance, which allows trips of 90 days, and the rental car damage/theft coverage; the other benefits should hopefully help tip things into more than offsetting the hefty annual fee).
The card earns Membership Rewards points at 1 point per pound, but 2 points per pound for all travel booked through AmEx travel.
I’ve always bought all my tickets direct from Virgin, as that gives me maximal freedom to get support for upgrades and changes from the VS FC Gold line.
I believe I’ve read on V-Flyer that there can be difficulties upgrading or changing tickets bought from travel agents with VS; that agents often “lock” a ticket so that only the agent can make changes.
My question: can anyone report their experience with upgrading or changing tickets on VS purchased from AmEx UK travel? Do you always have to go through AmEx for upgrades and changes, or can they be made with VS directly? And if one must always talk to AmEx, how are they on upgrades and changes?
A second question while I’m at it: does anyone have a firm view on the value of Membership Rewards points for transfer at 1:1 to Flying Club? I am trying to figure out if I should keep charging all my travel on my existing AmEx cash back card (at 1% cash back), or if I’d get better value earning 2 Membership Rewards points per pound and transferring the MR points to FC for VS upgrades from economy to upper. It’s hard to say exactly how to value the upgrade vs. cash back. I think I can earn enough MR points for a one sector US west coast to London economy to upper upgrade by spending around £24k on travel through AmEx UK travel. I’d earn about £240 cash back on the same spend on my cash back card. Is the upgrade worth more than £240? Depends on how you measure. Buying the Virgin points for that upgrade costs something like £870, but that price is almost certainly inflated, so the true value of the upgrade is some figure lower than that.
All experience with upgrades and changes on AmEx-purchased VS tickets appreciated, as well as thoughts on AmEx MR points value vs. 1% cash back!
Thanks,
Brad