Best Use of Miles

Having decided to only use our miles (now 245,000) for UC, so I can get to experience it, and as I normally travel LAS and MCO there is always restrcited availability.

Thankfully, I now have reason to visit LA in November and there is adequate UC reward availability.

Would a season Virgin Traveller do A or B, and what actual value would you put on the 53,000 miles difference?

A) Buy a reward flight for 100k and spend 316 on taxes and charges.

B) Buy the cheapest upgradeable economy for 535 and earn 4 TP, 13500 miles and spend just 60k on the upgrade.

Thanks

B everytime for me! then you can collect TP & have plenty miles left over to keep travelling UC having only used 60k, that is ofcourse if funds are available.

cheers

alex

[Neil]

I would choose B, as for the price difference the miles and TP's are worth it, but of course each persons individual circumstance are different. I think that as long as you plan to continue to fly Virgin and aim to use your miles again, then B is without doubt the most sensible thing to do.

As to the value of the saved 53k by doing option B, then it is almost enough miles for you to do the Y>UC upgrade again, so very good value in my opinion.

Neil

Also, if you hold a Virgin (mbna) Amex, there are more miles to be earned doing B over A.

*I assumed the 13,500 was earned as a Silver FC member ?*

actually I forgot to add my 25%, so even more!

Option B for me too. If you have no luck with MCO or LAS reward fares why don't you use MIA for MCO (easy drive) and SFO or LAX for LAS (reasonable drive from LAX or a quick flight from either)?
DL

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by kingcole1974
actually I forgot to add my 25%, so even more!


Really? SFO on a non discounted Y fare (L in your instance) as an red FC member will earn you 10,716 miles, as you earn 100% of miles flown. So if you add your extra 25% for being an Ag FC member, it will earn you 13,196 miles.

Neil

For me it would be option B, keep the extra miles and as said if you have a VA MBNA pay using that and you can earn (black card) just over another 2000 for paying with it. If not then still option B, and use the rest of the miles to do the same on another couple of trips.

am kind of surprised you can buy an upgradeable Economy for just 535.00 normally the fare classes that can be upgraded cost an outrageous amount more. are those figures double checked?

quote:Originally posted by narikin
am kind of surprised you can buy an upgradeable Economy for just 535.00 normally the fare classes that can be upgraded cost an outrageous amount more. are those figures double checked?



Yup, this was an 'L' fare code, and checked yesterday via the flying club part of the site, where you can choose either a qualifying flight.

DL, agree about being easier to grab a reward flight to LAX for LAS or MIA for MCO, however, as I am based in the Brighton area, this also means a longer journey this end to LHR rather than a 20 min hop to LGW.