V-Flyer

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/ideas-lowestfares.html

No real surprises, although some nice PE fares at £700+

Book by 22nd Jan

Interesting the list includes Tobago after March 2013 when it appears from recent news there will be no flights from then for the summer

Tobago is only suspended during summer and is back in the winter.

Yep, but flights are being offered during the period of suspension

Will have to look at DXB if there is PE there for around 700 (tends to be one of the cheaper routes) given that in theory my 80 TPs will give me the ability to upgrade from Ks...

jwoodley wrote:Yep, but flights are being offered during the period of suspension

Well then that is silly - sorry didn't look at the exact dates!

Thanks for the heads up woogledog y) y)

buns

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=13&t=278019&rb_v=viewtopic

why is it VS sales always start after BA start theirs... Do they sit there with all the material ready to go and when the other hits the button, these lot scramble? Gave me a good chuckle...

vsharan1 wrote:http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=13&t=278019&rb_v=viewtopic

why is it VS sales always start after BA start theirs... Do they sit there with all the material ready to go and when the other hits the button, these lot scramble? Gave me a good chuckle...

Frankly I find the best way to predict a VS sale is to read the BA Flyertalk forum, the folk there always seem to know when a BA sale is coming, VS then follows rapidly.

slinky09 wrote:

vsharan1 wrote:http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=13&t=278019&rb_v=viewtopic

why is it VS sales always start after BA start theirs... Do they sit there with all the material ready to go and when the other hits the button, these lot scramble? Gave me a good chuckle...

Frankly I find the best way to predict a VS sale is to read the BA Flyertalk forum, the folk there always seem to know when a BA sale is coming, VS then follows rapidly.

Much better than the Mayan strategy, I must say Will VS ever take the lead and let BA follow suit? 'Cause I'm still rootin' for VS... ):

Just tried some dates on BA for September to MCO and their Biz Class coming in at £1700 Rtn, VS not matching (sadly!)

I'd imagine that's because BA's 777's have about 48 Club seats, whereas VS' 747 fleet has only 14 UC seats.

Therefore fewer seats = higher fares.

ratechaser wrote:Will have to look at DXB if there is PE there for around 700 (tends to be one of the cheaper routes) given that in theory my 80 TPs will give me the ability to upgrade from Ks...

I have managed to use my 80 TPs upgrades from Ks...a quick call to the premier team and all was sorted...you shouldn't have any issues.

horburyflyer wrote:

ratechaser wrote:Will have to look at DXB if there is PE there for around 700 (tends to be one of the cheaper routes) given that in theory my 80 TPs will give me the ability to upgrade from Ks...

I have managed to use my 80 TPs upgrades from Ks...a quick call to the premier team and all was sorted...you shouldn't have any issues.

Thanks, that's good to know. I assume the usual rules apply around there needing to be G availability?

ratechaser wrote:

horburyflyer wrote:

ratechaser wrote:Will have to look at DXB if there is PE there for around 700 (tends to be one of the cheaper routes) given that in theory my 80 TPs will give me the ability to upgrade from Ks...

I have managed to use my 80 TPs upgrades from Ks...a quick call to the premier team and all was sorted...you shouldn't have any issues.

Thanks, that's good to know. I assume the usual rules apply around there needing to be G availability?

RC, Gs need to be available and actually when I came to claim my miles/TPs from what I thought would be a K....they were actually an S which when thinking about it not sure why I was so surprised!! y)

I really wish they had UC in the Virgin sale, need a cheap UC fare to NYC for early February!

Gerrym wrote:I really wish they had UC in the Virgin sale, need a cheap UC fare to NYC for early February!

I wouldn't give up hope yet, but I agree with you that it's a pity UC isn't included at the moment.

Was hoping that UC might have been included, like in last years sale in Dec, looking to pick up some Z's to NYC for next April. Perhaps UC will be added at some point.

There do seem to be some reasonably good Caribbean fares at the moment, £1,500 in UC to CUN for example (BA has Montego Bay on at £999 in Club). But yes, by this time we're normally in the midst of a proper UC sale. Even over on FT the BA folk are scratching their heads about the lack of J sale fares this year, some ruminating that they'll have to wait until the end of January.

The best way to know when a VS sale is about to happen is to sign up to BA Executive Club, as soon as you get BAEC emails about a sale on BA, VS follows .

Hmm I don't like this waiting game much to see if an upper class sale will come along. Last years UC flights were booked well before now. Got Hotel reserved for April, would like an UC sale with some decent Z fares to get me there in style. Just hoping the don't decide not to have an UC sale this winter. Least the hotel can be cancelled at no cost

Totally lost wrote.

Hmm I don't like this waiting game much to see if an upper class sale will come along. Last years UC flights were booked well before now. Got Hotel reserved for April, would like an UC sale with some decent Z fares to get me there in style. Just hoping the don't decide not to have an UC sale this winter. Least the hotel can be cancelled at no cost

v(

Have you tried the Amsterdam trick? - My U/C Shanghai flights mid January just under £4000, however via Amsterdam currently £1574!

International Hitman wrote:
Have you tried the Amsterdam trick? - My U/C Shanghai flights mid January just under £4000, however via Amsterdam currently £1574!

I'm guessing that as Virgin don't fly from Amsterdam, this couldn't be booked through Virgin though right? Would I need to use something like Expedia to do this?

totallylost wrote:

International Hitman wrote:
Have you tried the Amsterdam trick? - My U/C Shanghai flights mid January just under £4000, however via Amsterdam currently £1574!

I'm guessing that as Virgin don't fly from Amsterdam, this couldn't be booked through Virgin though right? Would I need to use something like Expedia to do this?

I've done this on more than one occasion booking via Expedia. The flight from AMS is on BA, is on the same PNR as your VS flight and is in Club Europe.

honey lamb wrote:

totallylost wrote:

International Hitman wrote:
Have you tried the Amsterdam trick? - My U/C Shanghai flights mid January just under £4000, however via Amsterdam currently £1574!

I'm guessing that as Virgin don't fly from Amsterdam, this couldn't be booked through Virgin though right? Would I need to use something like Expedia to do this?

I've done this on more than one occasion booking via Expedia. The flight from AMS is on BA, is on the same PNR as your VS flight and is in Club Europe.

How do you get Expedia to offer the route via LHR?

In Expedia, Ebookers and others, enter Amsterdam as your starting point, select Virgin as your preferred carrier option, enter business [= VS upper], prices are normally way below anything achievable directly through Virgin,and as HL states the connecting flight is Club Europe/BA.
Normally offered many options on connecting flights from 2 hours to 24hours.
Only downsides are, it doesn't work on all routes, you have to get yourself to Amsterdam and of course as you dont want to complete the final return leg [LHR - AMS]so you need to make sure your luggage is available at LHR not booked through to AMS.
Flight to Amsterdam is easy and Ive often gone the afternoon before, booked a hotel and enjoyed this as part of the experience, arriving at the LHR clubhouse about 5 hours before departure, on the return I have either requested luggage is not booked through to AMS or alternatively chosen a return flight vis Gatwick [normally one of the booking options as mentioned above] --- never had a problem with any of this and the savings make it all very worthwhile