Miles redemption for UC to MCO - realistic chance?

Planning ahead for next November (week after Thanksgiving) wanting to use my miles to upgrade from EC to UC (and then fly to Vegas internally for 4 nights and use miles for UC home again).

I always read about lack of availabilty on these routes. Indeed I have just checked VA site for availability for 11 months ahead, and even today for flights on July 31 next year (most recent date released to become available) there is no availabilty. Does this mean there never was or is?

In an honest opinion, would I realistically be better off using my miles to fly to MIA and get an internal to MCO and on the way home go internally from LAS to SFO and use miles to LHR?

You may say wait until nearer the time, in case seats become available on the MCO route. But could I wait and wait and lose out, when possibly I can secure the MIA flight? Last yeat we stopped off in New York and did same route thereafter and had no trouble using miles, but I know MCO route only has 14 seats available - are any as a reward?

What is the best course of action and what would you recommend?

Thanks.

Ian,

I looked yesterday at this route on the end of July dates.

I don't think the reward seats have been released yet - ISTBC but I believe they are always a couple of days behind the revenue seats. I guess it will be the same for your Nov 09 trip.

I also believe that only one (?) G class is released as it is such a small cabin, but not 100% sure of that as I have never managed to secure one !

[Neil]

It won't be easy. We struggled to get two G's for MCO in February, which is one of the quietest months on that route. In the end we could only get G's for our outbound and had to combine with some Z's for the return. All you can do it keep checking, speak to FC on a regular basis and hope you are lucky, there doesn't seem to be a set system as to what/how reward seats are available for each flight/date.

Your other option of flying in/out of MIA is not a bad one, there were more G's available for these flight when we were looking, and you could of course drive up to Orlando.

Good Luck
Neil

Originally posted by Ianflies
In an honest opinion, would I realistically be better off using my miles to fly to MIA and get an internal to MCO and on the way home go internally from LAS to SFO and use miles to LHR?

Yes - or LAX on the return where there are usually more options. That said, MIA is horrid (see other post) so you might consider New York, Newark or Washington instead.

[Darren Wheeler]

Remember that seats only get released 330 days beforehand. Your best bet is to keep a close eye on the latest date released and call the FC that day. Same for the return leg.

As there are only 14 UC seats on the LGW 747's flexability is the key to success. You snooze, you loose, as someone else will snag those seat.
Good luck.

Ian if theres only one of travelling then checking each day you may well be lucky. If there is more that one travelling we've never been able to get the seats so this year we've opted for via IAD on the way out and EWR on the way back and have got six G seats each way.

Altough not ideal, you could book G's to MIA and returning from LAX. Then at a later date, change to your preferred airports if they become available.

I do this with my trips to LAS. Invariably I am booked into and out of LAX and I change at the last minute, availability permitting.

Thanks all - as I expected, little hope, especially wth probably only 1 G class becoming available. Guess it could well be MIA, just a pain though, as MIA isawful so I have read, but only 1 hour from MCO - the good and the bad! - Cheap flights too though.

Thanks again for your views and tips!

Hi Ian.

Looking at the MIA option myself but I think MIA is more like a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive, unless your talking of flying up

Could be wrong tho

David

We just got back this morning. We got 4 x G fares going out MAN-MCO but couldn't get them home, we flew PE back on cash. We originally booked PE both ways, but I checked constantly and one morning about 4 months before our flights there they were, so keep trying!

In the end we could only get G's for our outbound and had to combine with some Z's for the return.

[:?]...
We asked about this (a couple of years ago).
We were told we could only purchase a D or J as a one way fare.... Z's were only available as a return fare.
As a one way D was more expensive than the return Z, we paid for Z's and got G's when we had earnt enough miles for a return flight.

We were told we could only purchase a D or J as a one way fare.... Z's were only available as a return fare.

Indeed... I learned this the hard way when I needed to change an outbound Z flight. I had to upgrade both legs to D. The CDCs were very nice, but I would have preferred to keep a bucket load of cash!

Originally posted by 2Tinks
We just got back this morning. We got 4 x G fares going out MAN-MCO but couldn't get them home, we flew PE back on cash. We originally booked PE both ways, but I checked constantly and one morning about 4 months before our flights there they were, so keep trying!

Did you have a good flight Paula ? I am sure you did. xx

Very frustrating living here in Orlando.It is very difficult to get direct flights and almost monthly have to go to jfk.Its not all bad jfk is always a breeze and Jetblue offer cheap ,reliable flights.Nicer planes, less kids...It would be nice to see the refits so long coming !

[Neil]

Originally posted by Tim

In the end we could only get G's for our outbound and had to combine with some Z's for the return.

[:?]...
We asked about this (a couple of years ago).
We were told we could only purchase a D or J as a one way fare.... Z's were only available as a return fare.

Sorry, should have been a little clearer. I actually bought an L fare and then upgraded to a G, didn't just buy a straight G (still earn miles and TP's and saved me 40k miles). You are correct that if you use miles one way only then you have to buy a flexible fare (D or J) for the other leg.

Neil

[Decker]

I have a vestigial memory of buying a one way on a US Credit Card ex-US to get around this...

Originally posted by David
Hi Ian.

Looking at the MIA option myself but I think MIA is more like a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive, unless your talking of flying up

Could be wrong tho

David

Flying - maximise Disney Time!!!

It took us less than 3 hours to drive up from Miami to Orlando, around 2hrs 50mins. Not bad really.

especially once you have rechecked your bags, been back through security and struggled to your new gate in Miami...