I am looking to book a return trip to the west coast USA for Jul/Aug 2018 (2 pax). My ideal scenario is UC rewards both ways and am happy with any of the four routes available (LHR/SFO:LHR/LAX:LGW/LAS:MAN/LAS). We are pretty flexible on outbound date and duration from 17-20 nights. Actually would prefer to upgrade EC-UC if possible to save some miles for next time.
I am well aware that the inbound UC reward seats are scarce (on previous trips had UC reward out and cash UC return). Given that I cannot do a combi award/cash return flight anymore I think I have the following options:-
a) If possible get the UC seats outbound before returns are released. When I look now LHR-SFO seems to have two UC seats for some days in June 2018, so may continue to be the case in July/Aug 2018. For this I think it has to be a full UC reward (not an upgrade). For the return I carry the risk that no reward seats are available on any day that works. If they are available then I may have to take an EC/PE reward and hope that UC pops up in the following 11 months.
b) Wait until both ways are on sale for dates that work for me, and then try and find dates with UC availability either way. I can then book a cash EC fare and upgrade where rewards are available, and then keep trying for the next 11 months to get UC rewards both ways (or even get to PE first and then hope for UC).
Are the above the two ways of doing this these days?
In either case if I manage to get an UC reward out but cannot get one back, could I do a cash upgrade on inbound flight if a sale came along, or is that prevented if I have used miles on the outbound?
I am well aware that the inbound UC reward seats are scarce (on previous trips had UC reward out and cash UC return). Given that I cannot do a combi award/cash return flight anymore I think I have the following options:-
a) If possible get the UC seats outbound before returns are released. When I look now LHR-SFO seems to have two UC seats for some days in June 2018, so may continue to be the case in July/Aug 2018. For this I think it has to be a full UC reward (not an upgrade). For the return I carry the risk that no reward seats are available on any day that works. If they are available then I may have to take an EC/PE reward and hope that UC pops up in the following 11 months.
b) Wait until both ways are on sale for dates that work for me, and then try and find dates with UC availability either way. I can then book a cash EC fare and upgrade where rewards are available, and then keep trying for the next 11 months to get UC rewards both ways (or even get to PE first and then hope for UC).
Are the above the two ways of doing this these days?
In either case if I manage to get an UC reward out but cannot get one back, could I do a cash upgrade on inbound flight if a sale came along, or is that prevented if I have used miles on the outbound?