Flying ex AMS - have I got this correct ??

Just playing around with flights to HKG next May and found a saving of over 1K by flying from AMS with BA (AMS-LHR) and then VS (LHR-HKG). So my question is have I got this correct? it seems too good to be true.

Here's the breakdown;
Dates: 23rd May - 29th May (just me travelling)
Class: Upper
Direct flight booked with VS £3119.06
Indirect booked with Opodo £2003.17

Also the return flight is HKG-LHR and then LGW-AMS
which I won't bother taking.


Couple of other questions assuming the above is correct, firstly can you claim FC miles and tier points and secondly can you "request" your seat in advance (ie, get a eticket or locator number to access "my bookings" on the VS website).

-Steve

Yes
Yes
and, Yes

Yes
Yes
and, Yes

Wow! No brainer there then y)

Yes
Yes
and, Yes

Thanks for that Slinky oo)

I knew flying ex AMS was cheaper but over a £1000 (1/3 of the price) just seemed unreal.

It's also good that the first flight (AMS-LHR) is after 16:00 which means I can get a cheap flight to AMS mid morning thus not needing an overnight and the expense of a hotel.

-Steve

[Darren Wheeler]

My tip. Look at KLM for the LHR-AMS-LHR leg. My experience of BA was not positive.

As Darren says, he did this recently, as did Honeylamb, both to SFO (search for their TRs for their experiences).

You have to use a booking service like Opodo (I think Expedia also allows?), and the saving is huge if you can put up with the extra hassle. There is a risk of course, that something affects your journey to / from AMS, but it's a worthwhile one!

Do you have to book by phone - how do you specify Virgin online when they don't fly the AMS route themselves. Even in multi trip it only allows for one airline to be chosen

[Darren Wheeler]

I used ebookers. You just select Virgin Atlantic as the airline of choice and the system does the rest for you.

Great - thank you!

I did CPH-LCY-JFK and as I live close to LCY, did CPH-LCY the day before, then went back to LCY the next day and checked in my bag for the JFK flight, saving me having to get my bag to CPH and back again.

Lots of Tier points and a massive saving in the BA European sale.

As said, there's a risk that your flight gets delayed or cancelled to get you to AMS, meaning your whole trip is then cancelled.

Watch out though that sometimes an offered AMS-LON leg is to LGW or LCY rather than LHR so check that carefully.

On Opodo you can choose VS in the airline drop down box.

Don't choose 'multi-trip' either. Just put in AMS - Destination.

[honey lamb]

I did it using Expedia. Absolutely no problem and the bous for me was that it was priced in euros so no nasty shocks when the credit card bill came in. I knew exactly what I was paying for at the time