V-Flyer

Quick question,

I am wondering if anyone has experience using the booking system to get a reward ticket. I am moving back to the UK in April, so I want a one-way and using miles is the easiest way to do that. I also want to book Upper Class because I believe it's a waste of miles to use them on anything else.

So I want to fly in April, but it seems the only days to fly are Mondays and Tuesdays, but the Thursday between those days would work best for me (I'm staying with friends temporarily and it would be better on them to arrive at the weekend).

Do days on there open up? One reason I'm confused is because the flight on the Thursday I want has (literally) zero people booked for Upper Class (I checked on ExpertFlyer). My logic would think that they would limit booking Upper Class on days where they were getting full.

Cheers for the help,
-Matt

Having just booked 3 reward flights and having an 'interesting' time saving the miles up and having to then book through the premier team I got to speak to the VS staff (who are fantastic!) and get a general feeling for how Revenue Dept work. In simple terms even the VS staff cant understand it sometimes. They (revenue) will basically check regularly as to see how they are selling and maybe increase/decrease the reward flight allocation so best bet is to check up on the site. I agree tho logic would dictate to limit reward flights when fares are selling well.

In my own case I was booking reward seats on a flight with 9+ reward seats in Upper then suddenly all the seats went, but weren't booked.... I called and spoke someone and she assured me they would probs release some more seats as none had been used. By this point I had 2 upper class rewards, but not enough miles for the 3rd thankfully a friend came to my rescue so know need to fly to get my miles back to him, one more (am taking my family on there first Upper class trip) finally bought one as thankfully another seat was released afew days later.

Good Luck and enjoy the front of the plane!

Platinum Leo

Hi Matt

We might be able to make some suggestions if we know where you are flying from.

I would also suggest that if you are pretty fixed about when you want to travel you might want to consider booking a PE reward (U), if that is available. Then if a G (upper) becomes available you can phone the premier team to cancel the U and book the G.

Regards
R3dV

What date in April do you want to fly as that might have some bearing

Dont forget it'sEaster and the Royal Wedding !

Wow, thank you for the excellent replies!

I will be flying from IAD to LHR and I'm looking for a date around the 15th of April.

Interestingly, enough, I already see where the available dates have changed since I originally posted this. I recall the 7th was an option (my birthday), but it's no longer available. But 3 Wednesdays have now become available as well as the 2nd of April, a Saturday.

The 13th of April might work for me, but it appears I should just keep trying back every day. It sounds like what platinumleo was saying, about the revenue staff checking regularly and updating the reward flights holds some truth!

You are right, keep checking every day, but just be prepared for seats to go as people book them as well as new ones become available. If you leave it too long, you might find yourself with limited options. Also remember, you can change the date of a booked reward seat for $50, so if you end up booking one date, but then a more preferable date becomes available it is easy enough to change.

Neil

Don't forget that there is only one IAD-LHR flight per day which reduces the options and numbers of Gs that are available.

Might be worth looking at a connection from Washington to JFK/EWR then London. 5 flights versus 1 per day...

15th April...
Weekend before School Easter Hols finish in many cases, this could be another factor..

northernhenry wrote:15th April...
Weekend before School Easter Hols finish in many cases, this could be another factor..

Think you mean START - Good Friday is fri 22nd and Easter Monday the 25th.

Plus as OP is coming to the UK Easter probbaly won't make much difference.

tontybear wrote:

northernhenry wrote:15th April...
Weekend before School Easter Hols finish in many cases, this could be another factor..

Think you mean START - Good Friday is fri 22nd and Easter Monday the 25th.

Plus as OP is coming to the UK Easter probbaly won't make much difference.

Think I mean END.. |:) Weird holiday arrangements, they return after a fortnight for 3 days then the Easter weekend!
Hence the heads up..

Yes, school Easter holidays are all over the place this year, and throughout the whole month of April you will find some schools off.

Blimy twas never so complicate when I was a kid - two weeks off at easter with the bank holidays in the middle !

And this year the royal wedding / may day holidays too !

I think I'll just book the 13th of April flight. That might work well for me now that I think about it. I'll have a day to adjust to jet lag, etc. and be ready to spend time with my friends for the weekend.

Plus, if it's only $50 change fee I have little to lose!

Cheers,
-Matt

Update:

So, of course, I went ahead and booked for the 13th of April and today the 15th (my ideal date) is available! I just looked quickly online to try to change my ticket around, but I don't see anywhere to do that.

Is it not possible to change the flight online, or do I have to call them?

Cheers,
-Matt

You have to call them. If it's less than 24hrs since you booked, you should be able to change FOC, otherwise it will incur the change fee.

Thanks, Neil. Called them up this afternoon and had it switched to the 15th for $50 in a matter of minutes. Thank you, Upper Class direct line!

Cheers,
-Matt