REWARD SEATS

Good morning
it's our 50th wedding anniversary (June 5th) next year and we plan to spend 4/5 days in New York. I have enough miles for 2 return Upper flights. When is the earliest I can try for seats? Also any tips and helpful advice would be welcome
Thank you

Whenever flights become available is the earliest, and tips are

1. Be flexible over dates
2. Be flexible over times
3. Be flexible over which airport to fly into / out of
4. Keep trying

You've also a bit of a balancing act over how much do you want to do the trip over how much do you want to do the trip in upper. It may be worth securing the flights themselves by a paid (upgradeable) fare (or reward in another cabin)and then keeping an eye out for upgrades, or you risk not making the trip at all...on the other hand grabbing a flight as suggested then effectively constrains your upgrade options to that same flight.

In short, it's not straightforward...

[Neil]

You will be able to start looking from 11 months from your return date.

I think it's eleven months before you can buy.
I have a trip to MCO booked out in Feb back in March.
I was able to buy tickets on an upgradeable E in April 11 months before the return date.
I upgraded straight away to PE
5 days later bagged UC on the way out.
Then 6 weeks before I could get UC on the way back.
I agree with pjh on bagging the flight early then upgrading.
I think NY has more reward seats than MCO so you should find it easier than I did.
As I understand it there's no fee for changing flight on the same day but it can cost £100 to change days.
I did have to change days to get my final upgrade on the return but if you do a few dummy bookings looking for reward seats for earlier dates you should see which days are the best to go for.
Enjoy your anniversary.
Dick D

A tip (from my experience) for travelling to NYC. I personally find that I suffer less from jet lag if I choose a flight arriving in New York in the evening. Depending on the schedule and flight you choose 7-11pm. Then by the time I get to my family I can go to bed at a reasonable time and wakeup relatively unscathed!

I pick VS45 for that reason.
Scheduled time into JFK is 1640, so usually reach a Manhattan hotel between 6 and 8pm,
depending on immigration and transport!

Flying back is more tricky - I don't think I've found the ideal flight time/schedule..

As I understand it there's no fee for changing flight on the same day but it can cost £100 to change days.

DDC

I paid a change fee (£28 per ticket) when I switched flights within the same day to NYC last year. Ticket was a cash Economy + miles upgrade.

As above really, be flexible on dates and be prepared to compromise on different flight times. NYC does have good availability whenever I've checked.
Good luck!

If possible take the VS9/25/17 on the way out, and the VS18/28 on the way back. These offer the best flight times IMO for jet lag.

If possible take the VS9/25/17 on the way out, and the VS18/28 on the way back. These offer the best flight times IMO for jet lag.

I'm with McCoy, VS45 outward and possibly VS46 back. We're still trying to find a good flight back but definitely not VS18 for us which is way too early to have to get to EWR anyway and certainly wouldn't allow any time in the CH.

And congratulations on the upcoming Golden Wedding anniversary, what a fabulous way to celebrate.

Thank you everybody, I'll be trying from 9th July so I'll let you know what happens.
JS

but definitely not VS18 for us which is way too early to have to get to EWR anyway and certainly wouldn't allow any time in the CH.

Which is dry that time of the morning too.... (or is that just JFK?)

Vs18 does, however, mean that you have a full day / evening in NYC and aren't in that "hanging around waiting to get the flight" mode and you get a full waking day to experience the joys of UC (albeit in the UCDS).

The Waldorf Aastoria is a nice historical hotel to stay - I got married there. There are posher hotels now in NYC but none with such history and grandeur.

[Neil]

Hello all
I asked the original question on 22nd June and was pleased with the response, so thanks to those who gave me the benefit of their experience.
One thing I failed to mention was that our journey starts from Manchester so that had a significant effect on the booking.
Well I have just come off the phone with a delightful member of Flying Club and this is what I have gone for:
Leaving MCR at 06.50 on 3046, arriving LHR at 0755 then onwards on 001 departing 09.45 arriving Newark at 12.35. Do you think this will give us any time in the Clubhouse, I do hope so.
The return journey is out from JFK on 004 departing at 18.30 arriving LHR at 06.30, then on 3046 arriving MCR at 07.55. The return journey should give us plenty of time to enjoy the JFK clubhouse.
So all in all a very satisfactory outcome, roll on 4th June 2015.
Once again, thanks to all who contributed with their thoughts
JS
ps, oh and I have sufficient miles to book the TriStar chauffeur service for each leg of the journey

You should get 45 mins or so in the Clubhouse on the way out - a bus will meet you off the MAN flight and take you straight to T3 departures - no need to go through security again.

On the way back - I assume you mean you're on the VS3041 to MAN leaving about 0930?

Most V-Flyers would probably say spending 17,500 miles each leg for the limo service is a very poor use of miles. Assuming you value miles at 1p each, that's £175 for a glorified taxi. If you've got miles to burn fair enough but if I were you I'd save them for a future flight or upgrade and pay cash for a decent taxi, which will probably be a lot cheaper.

Hello all
I asked the original question on 22nd June and was pleased with the response, so thanks to those who gave me the benefit of their experience.
One thing I failed to mention was that our journey starts from Manchester so that had a significant effect on the booking.
Well I have just come off the phone with a delightful member of Flying Club and this is what I have gone for:
Leaving MCR at 06.50 on 3046, arriving LHR at 0755 then onwards on 001 departing 09.45 arriving Newark at 12.35. Do you think this will give us any time in the Clubhouse, I do hope so.
The return journey is out from JFK on 004 departing at 18.30 arriving LHR at 06.30, then on 3046 arriving MCR at 07.55. The return journey should give us plenty of time to enjoy the JFK clubhouse.
So all in all a very satisfactory outcome, roll on 4th June 2015.
Once again, thanks to all who contributed with their thoughts
JS
ps, oh and I have sufficient miles to book the TriStar chauffeur service for each leg of the journey

Nice one well done.

You should probably have about 45 mins absolute max in the clubhouse at LHR.

Your inbound will arrive at T2 and you leave from T3 plus you will be called to board around 45 mins before the 001 departs.

On the return you won't have LHR CH access, I am surprised that a sub 90 minute connection is within the minimum time allowed given the terminal change. Should be fine but you may need to get your skates on!

MCT is 75 mins, so 90 mins should be fine

[honey lamb]

I did T2 to T5 transfer on Wednesday via Flight Connections and it was very quick. The walking time between T2 and T3 landside is also quite quick. You'll be fine.