UC availability

I know this is probably one of those 'how longs a piece of string' questions but to those who use their miles to upgrade/for reward flights often, is MIA-LHR one of the harder routes to get an UC upgrade fare? would be for early-mid May and preferably a sat or sun. Is there normally a better time to get them? when first released, 6, 4 months before etc?
I know how to check for availability and atm theres quite a bit(no saturdays though) just curious if this is common for May and is the online system accurate? or is there possibilty more may be available when calling?

And there is no problems booking the cheapest Econ far out and a Y, B or L for return, i just need to do it over the phone right?

Sorry for so many questions but I've never used my miles for anything before, so not really clued up with best way to make use of them or how it all works properly yet.

May can be busy, there are of course a couple of bank holidays and often half term can fall in May. MIA is not the hardest route to get rewards on, but it certainly does get busy in holiday season, winter and summer.

The collective advice of the V-Flyer community is:

- check as far ahead as possible, reward seats are first released around 330 days before each flight (not precise), the earlier you check the better
- be flexible, if you want Saturdays try Sundays or Fridays instead, for leisure travel Saturdays are always busier so I'm not surprised to see that there are none for MIA in May (VS also does a lot of cruise ship connections, don't the cruises leave on Saturdays???)
- if you see an option that works for you (reward or paid), go for it, holding out for something better gives equal measures of disappointment or potential pleasure
- more reward seats can be released closer to the flight date, in my experience something like a month ahead and then perhaps three days ahead, but that's a lottery chance that you will take

As for booking, there is an option on the VS Web site to book specific fare codes, and I've lost the link but am sure someone will step in with it. But you'll have to call FC to book the upgrade so I'd complete all the booking on the phone anyway ...

Good luck!

[Neil]

Just to add to what slinky has so rightly said. MIA in May can be busy as it is often used by people wanting to go to MCO for Easter (which is very late April next year and a 2 week holiday runs in to the start of May), and with MCO UC availability low, and even lower next year, there is a very good chance more people will look to MIA to get their UC rewards.

I would also say the fact there aren't any Sat/Sun available now, but other days are, would suggest the G's on those flights have already gone and it could be much nearer the time, if at all any become available.

As for booking, there is an option on the VS Web site to book specific fare codes, and I've lost the link but am sure someone will step in with it. But you'll have to call FC to book the upgrade so I'd complete all the booking on the phone anyway ...

Hereis the link mentioned to allow you to book the upgradable fare codes, but you can only do it for a round trip booking, you can't combine it with a 'lowest available' fare option for one of the legs.

To be honest, and like slinky has said, I would just call FC to make the booking, it is so much easier and you would have to call them anyway to do the upgrade.

Thanks for the advice much appriciated, fingerscrossed these miles i have can be put to some use

Even though I can't combine an upgradable fare with lowest available online, this is an option on the phone? or not at all?

[Neil]

Yes, it is something you can do on the phone with FC, just the online booking system can't do it.