Upgrading PE-->UC

hey just wanted to ask people's opinion on the option i have from FC when i spoke to them yesterday about upgrading a PE seat to UC using my miles.
I wanted to fly LGW > LAS May 2013 but they had no availability at the moment, so i looked at LHR>SFO spend a few days in san fran do an internal to LAS then a week or so in LV then fly LAS>LGW.
They could put me in UC for LHR-SFO but could only offer an up-gradable ticket from LAS on the way home, they said i can keep calling back for an upgrade but they cannot confirm anything.

They have quoted £2480 plus 50000 miles S-class ticket (that's combined for me and the wife) is that a fair price?

Also what are people experience with up-gradable seats being released is it worth the risk or just sit tight and try back in a week / months time?

Thanks in advance

Is that the price for two or for one? If the former I'd say it's very good for UC one way and PE the other, but really only you can say. At this time without confirming the return upgrade they should only deduct 25,000 miles (12,500 per person for the LHR-SFO leg). LAS has a small UC cabin and it is difficult to get redemption seats, so consider that when setting expectations - if there are no upgrades now there may be none at all and so you then have to consider whether the price will change for the better or the worse (more likely the latter).

Is it an option for you to do LAS - SFO and then SFO - LHR? There will be greater availability and increased liklihood on a reward upgrade doing it that way as there are only 16 seats on the LGW - LAS return route so chances are you won't get 1 G fare seat let alone 2 I'm sorry to say.

Regarding the price, seems fair enough to me for the 2 PE 'S' class over to the west coast US, but it's totally up to yourself as to how much you are willing to fork out on flights. I would just add there is little point in paying the 'S' class fare price straight away if there is not going to be a chance of upgrade, as slinky says they will only be deducting the 25000 miles for the one way upgrade to SFO straight off. I would also check to see if a one way UC from LAS-LGW is an acceptable price to you guys, who knows it may undercut the PE upgrade price and guarentee you an UC seat Optimism was that??

Hope you have an awesome trip y)

The only UC reward availability for LGW-LAS in May at the moment is on the 7th, 20th and 21st. Coming back there's nothing in May or June.

SFO is a sensible alternative - have you considered flying back from there as well? Or to/from Los Angeles? Both are only a short hop from Vegas but have much higher UC capacity with 2 flights a day each and a much larger cabin. Plus you get to use the superior LHR clubhouse and/or Revivals lounge. Reward availability is usually a lot better, especially LAX. And you should be able to pick up internal flights for about £30-40 per person each way assuming it's not a holiday or weekend.

Having said that, don't give up checking for UC availability to/from LAS. New reward seats do appear at random. Keep looking and be prepared to snap them up asap.

£2480 plus miles for 2 sounds about right.

thanks for all the comments thus far, i think going in to SFO and out of LAX could be an option but knowing how me and the wife like to shop when we're in the states i may be paying a lot for additional baggage on the internal hop!! Gotta love those outlet malls.
I had a quick look at the option suggested by joeyc and the costs are over 2k each but was worth a look.
If by a stroke of luck VA hold a sale be that a normal sale or an UC sale would i benefit from it as im trying to buy S class tickets?

I had a quick look at the option suggested by joeyc and the costs are over 2k each but was worth a look.
If by a stroke of luck VA hold a sale be that a normal sale or an UC sale would i benefit from it as im trying to buy S class tickets?

Really it cost over 2K p/p just for the inbound leg LAS-LGW?? Will be something you would need to call VS to look into for you. If so, wow busy cabin, adios upgrade potential. To reiterate what I was suggesting from the VS side of things was 'G' class LHR -SFO and then 'Z'(or maybe 'I') class from LAS - LGW.. Upper all the way and poss without the heavy pricetag ?|

Otherwise a bit of excess baggage might be worth paying ii)

Trying to buy, no.. Actually purchased, maybe.. you will need to have a close look at the T&Cs of the fare you settle on regarding how easy it is to change classes. There will be change fees per ticket and also the diff in fare, it is unlikely to be worth it though.. but you are def spot on with it being a stroke of luck with VS y)

If you book S class and a sale comes along yes you can buy UC, people did in the recent sale and going from PE to UC for some cost £10s or small £100s. You'd also get some miles back. However, sales to LAS are rare.

thanks for all the comments thus far, i think going in to SFO and out of LAX could be an option but knowing how me and the wife like to shop when we're in the states i may be paying a lot for additional baggage on the internal hop!! Gotta love those outlet malls.

Southwest, who fly between LAS and LAX roughly every hour, allow 2 free checked bags per person. You can normally pick up one-way tickets for about $50/£30.

Unfortunately they don't fly SFO to LAX but Virgin America do - they charge $25 per bag but at least you can earn VS miles and tier points. Flights can normally be had for about $65/£40.