Very limited PE miles availability to the Caribbean

Hi, I just realised we have 2 of the old MBNA/AmEx PE upgrade vouchers that will "die" in July if we don't use them, so I thought I would check for flights to the Caribbean in Jan/Feb/Mar next year - and there is absolutely *NO* availability at all on the direct flights; sometimes the PE miles search will show routings via MCO for ridiculous amounts but no return options.

Does anyone have any insight why this should be - or am I just too late and others have snaffled the seats already? I have called FC and they can't shed any light on this....

Maybe I will just lose them, but maybe this doesn't bode well for future miles availability?

I've found exactly the same. Last year I bagged 2 PE reward flights to MBJ almost as soon as the February fights I was interested in had been released. This year - nothing so far despite looking every day.

I’m seeing 2 Flights a week through March with availability going out to Montego Bay. 4 flights in month of March for returns so should be easy to get PE dates to suit in March to Jamaica?
Also dates Weekly for St Lucia through March for PE

Hi Vegas4me, are they rewards or for sale as I can't see any rewards...

Unfortunately we have to go in February and I'm not seeing any reward flights for then, yet.

https://rewardflightfinder.com/virgin-atlantic/searches?virgin_atlantic_search_query%5Bsource_code%5D=LON&virgin_atlantic_search_query%5Bdestination_code%5D=MBJ&virgin_atlantic_search_query%5Btravel_class%5D=premium&virgin_atlantic_search_query%5Bnumber_of_passengers%5D=1&virgin_atlantic_search_query%5Btrip_type%5D=return
Slim pickings on PE coming back and now only 3 returns in March.

Thank you Vegas4me - what a fantastic website, I didn't know about it before!

https://rewardflightfinder.com/ Deserves to be pinned to the top of the forums I think.
As well as covering Virgin Atlantic and British Airways reward redemptions they have a Delta beta which would be of great interest to here.
The free version is fine if flexible for dates, but for £3 a month you will get access to the Elite version and email updates (checked hourly) when seats are released for specific dates

In the end, I did manage to get 2 returns from LGW to UVF going out 7th March and returning on the 21st, but it wasn't straightforward. No options were showing up on the "return" searches, so I looked for them as singles which did show some availability so I worked out the dates that made sense to us, and then rang FC. Initially they couldn't see them, but after a bit of clicking they did find them so all booked! But nowhere near as easy as it used to be... and I managed to use up the old MBNA Amex vouchers.
That looks like an excellent website - it should be pinned!

I also have two PE upgrades from the old MBNA Black card that expire in July. Do i need to fly before July or just book before July?

I also have two PE upgrades from the old MBNA Black card that expire in July. Do i need to fly before July or just book before July?

Book before expires, I have one that runs out in June too

You need to book before they expire, but you can travel up to 11 months later - provided there's availability!