V-Flyer

Apologies if this has been covered, I've checked the fare codes section and run searches and have succeeded in unearthing a load of stuff on the AMEX T>U upgrade vouchers but not quite what I was after. My question is - can miles be used to upgrade a U class fare that has originated from a "T + Amex voucher"? For example, I use 45K miles to purchase a T to east coast USA then use a voucher to upgrade to U (availability permitting of course). Can I then use another 40K miles to move up to G, in other words end up with a return UC ticket for 85K miles? If the answer is yes then it would seem that the net saving of injecting the voucher into the equation is only 5K miles and that I may as well use 90K to obtain a G outright and not have the headache of T & U availability along the way?

Thanks
James

I don't think the U class fares are upgradable with miles. From the "Spending Miles" T&Cs on the VS website:

"4.3.9 Qualifying fare levels for Premium Economy to Upper Class upgrades and Premium Economy Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights:
Any full Premium Economy fare booked in W or S class. Excludes APEX and Excursion type, seat sale or any other special/promotional type Premium Economy fare."

If you could though, the current offer for East coast flights for 50% fewer miles would mean you could save quite a bit more.

Cheers,

Ben

Thanks Ben, I think I'll do some more digging as I'm sure the info you've kindly found on the VS site refers to cash purchase qualifying fares for miles upgrades, ie. W & S for PE and Y,B & L for EC. There's no mention of whether or not a U fare that exists - either through an upgrade from EC or an outright miles purchase - is then upgradeable again to G. It's just occurred to me that this may well be covered in Richard's VFlyer book, so I'll check there!

Actually, U classes are normally upgradable with miles, no problem. Going from a miles ticket to another miles ticket is absolutely fine.

However, the introduction of the T>U voucher is what complicates this. Might be one that needs some assistance from Juliet to work out... [:?]

Originally posted by preiffer
However, the introduction of the T>U voucher is what complicates this. Might be one that needs some assistance from Juliet to work out... [:?]

Thanks Paul. Juliet, should the T>U voucher be an issue, surely a U is a U regardless of how it came about, meaning that miles can be used to upgrade to G regardless? I'll phone FC anyway to and get their thoughts as it won't be long before flights for next June open up and we're keen to make use of the T>U vouchers and then inject miles to get G's.

Thanks
James

All U's are not created equal... Don't forget that you also cannot upgrade companion Us so it is not just the T->U vouchers that have this issue.

You're right Matt, I've just come off the phone to Flying Club. I spoke to a very helpful lady who, once she had checked with a colleague, explained that injecting miles to upgrade to G would need to relate back to the miles purchased T fare, not to the "voucher derived" U fare. Hence there's no point doing that as the voucher is then worthless! She added that on BOS routes there are generally plenty of T' and U's - so looks like we'll stick with PE on this occasion

Useful to know... Probably going to return to Killington skiing next year so may book up soon with my PE vouchers!

Thanks

Sorry about my delayed response!
You seem to have found the correct response... only the T class has had miles spent on it; to get to G you would need to have spend IN TOTAL the normal amount of miles for that route for the G class. (either as companion J/G or as full reward level) so the T-U upgrade voucher would be 'ignored' in this case.