Reward Flight Questions

Hi Guys,

I've been an avid reader of this forum for a while but this is my first post

I'm aiming to save up enough miles for four reward flights to West coast USA in August of 2017. I'm well on my way and hopefully come September of this year I will be there or there abouts with the number of miles I need.

I have the Virgin Black Card and should get the two premium economy vouchers. The aniversary of opening the account is a couple of days before I want to book, assuming availability on the first available date. In practice how long do the vouchers take to reach your account ?

I'm flexible on departure/return airports with this in mind is it better to wait until the return legs are released or book the outward leg then a couple of weeks later book the return leg as they become available ?

Thanks for any advice

Phil

They're posted in your Flying Club account on the credit card's anniversary date.

Hi and welcome.

I'd be inclined to book each leg as it becomes available. The taxes & fees can be less that way.

Your PE upgrade vouchers should hit your account pretty promptly.

Just bear in mind it's never guaranteed that reward seats will be available on the day the flight goes on sale. There's no apparent pattern to it but if there's nothing available when you first look the key is patience and persistence. Checking daily usually results in success, even if it takes a while.

Many Thanks for your speedy reply gumshoe. My first aim is to get four tickets on the plane in whatever class and hopefully sometime before we go get them all to upper class

Does anyone know what time virgin releases the days flights ? I've checked at midnight but it doesn't seem to be then ?

Thanks

Phil

They can take up to 30 days.
Believe me.
Been there & argued with MBNA the Card issuer!
Even if it takes 30 days, it is only valid until the anniversary date the following year.
Again I have tried arguing with them that it means I do not get 12 months to use it!

My anniversary date is 14th April
my 2015 voucher was valid until the 8th April 2016
Voucher hit my account on the 29th April

If I didnt have the miles to 'hold' the PE seats until my vouchers hit my account, I would have lost them.
Virgin bent over backwards to help me. MBNA not so.

Many Thanks for your speedy reply gumshoe. My first aim is to get four tickets on the plane in whatever class and hopefully sometime before we go get them all to upper class

Does anyone know what time virgin releases the days flights ? I've checked at midnight but it doesn't seem to be then ?

Thanks

Phil

Its completely random! I got to the point of checking 4-5 times a day!
Also, you might want to check if you can upgrade to UC from a PE voucher seat.

As Gumshoe says, there is no apparent pattern to the release of reward seats.
Well there can be a sort of pattern in the background.
I was checking twice daily on the run up to getting my tickets for next year and did screen shots. I was planning to make a gif of the changing pattern but as yet haven't had time. In some cases they do appear on the day the ticket is released. But sadly some days don't appear at all. Other days they come and go.
In my case the tickets I wanted did appear on the day of release when I did my first check at 5.30 am
I had them in the bag by 5.45

Dick D

Many thanks everyone for your helpful comments you've certainly given me food for thought. Dick D I've just started the screen shots based on what you've all said think I'll give them up
Thanks again
Phil

You cannot upgrade the PE seats gained from the voucher to UC

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/credit-card/black-card.html

Once you have redeemed your Premium Economy reward upgrade you may not use miles to upgrade to Upper Class.