Points and Planning

Hi,

I know this topic seems to be asked every other day, but I could really do with some help with maximizing our miles.

I will keep the facts to the point, as this might help keep things clear.

Travel Details

1. We are looking to fly to Japan March/April 2014
2. Want to fly UC
3. Will be flying from MAN - LHR - NRT
4. When in Tokyo, will stay there are few days, then head to Osaka, Kyoto and maybe a few other places before going back to Tokyo for a few days - then flying back

Details about Point

My VS account - 70,000
Wifes VS account - 26,000
My AVIOS account - 90,000

Between now and flying I will earn more miles, but not sure if it's essential, or which account to save them in.

My question is, how do we maximise all miles for this holiday?

First thought was buy W,S ticket and upgrade with 25,000 miles each to UC. Leaving just under 50,000 miles in my VS account. This could be used for a hotel for a day or two, along with the avios points.

However, is this the best use of miles? Can miles be used for any trains in Japan?

When I've looked at spending points on hotels, the rooms seem quite limited. We don't live the 5 star lifestyle at home, but on holiday we like to stay in decent rooms or suites. It doesn't look like this is possible when spending miles.

So, the questions:

1. Any ideas on how to make the miles go as far as possible? 2. Should I look at topping up my wifes VS account, rather than keep adding to mine (online shopping c/card etc)?
3. Should I switch to saving Avios now, if I have enough VS points for flight upgrades?

Thank you for your help, I hope the above makes sense
Andy

Not to worry I like these kind of questions... keeps the brain active (and tbh I do like a good puzzle y))

Lets get started.. If your budget can stretch to W/S fares then that is a cool way of saving some miles for a rainy day. If you are looking to save a bit of money then have a look at M fare Economy class - still upgradeable to UC for 50K miles p/p (both ways) Looking at your VS mileage balance you are short 5000 miles in your account.. think you will get this by the time you fly? Trust me it will save a fair wad of cash.. 8D

As long as you link the accounts it does not matter where the miles are as long as you keep in mind that the miles for each section of travel can only be taken out of one account.. 26K in your wife's account is a good number. It can pay for the one way upgrade Eco - UC for one of you (25K needed).. true that will leave 1000 left to play with. Can use that later on - If I were you I would keep building on your number y) y)

In terms of the MAN-LHR internal flight, who would you be looking to fly with? If BA then you have more than enough AVIOS for a reward flight, with VS they are 750 miles each way (someone correct me if I'm wrong..) Again there is no earning on a full reward ticket, I would spring for the ticket in your position to snag the TP and miles ): Although there is a spare 1000 miles kicking around in the wife's account... could take one reward ticket.. Completely your call.

In terms of spending at hotels/transport etc... A couple of years back I managed to use a stash of AVIOS (yes I know people I fly BA some times :0 ) to upgrade our rooms at the intercontinental... was only for one night though so went all out, it wasn't the best mileage use rate I have ever got though.. I would say have a browse of the AVIOS website, they have a calendar that lets you know what you can get for your miles.

In answer to your last question... this holiday has the potential to completely drain your VS account.... The AVIOS will also be hit with the spend at hotels that it may allow.. Time to make that all important choice I guess, which airline gets my loyalty I am guessing you are using an amex and pushing the MR points to one loyalty programme or another.. you could always leave them in MR limbo until you are planning your next trip, decide who you are going to fly with and then transfer the miles. For me, VS usually wins y) y)

I hope I have not confused further.. I do have a habit of wandering off on random tangents, so if you need any further clarification just let me know 8D

Thank you for the long and details reply Joey.

Not thought about an up-gradable Economy fare, as I thought there wouldn't be much difference in price after the additional taxes etc. I will definitely have enough miles to use 50k each by the time we book. We can't book tickets until April/May this year, so will definitely have the extra 5k required by then. It does give more options, but will also require me to work out just how much it will cost.

1. Economy + Upgrade
2. PE + upgrade

Will have to look into that, but possibly the economy route might be the best use of miles.

For the MAN-LHR we will be going with VS, as I heard there is a service starting over the next few months. Hope to book it all togetgher with VS, so we don't have to start checking in luggage at LHR, and can head straight to the CH. ): Will be flying VS, without a doubt. The wife loved UC and the CH last time we flew, and the UC team were brilliant in helping us when we were stuck in Japan after the earthquake, couldn't praise them enough.

The Avios points have been 'earned' via our mortgage. I had no idea until a statement came through the door 6 months ago. I know collect Shell Drivers Club points and convert them to Avios.

I'm starting to think all VS FC points will be used on flights, then the Avios on hotels. I don't feel too confident in the room type when booking with Avios though, as they are only standard rooms. I just had a look on the website and the points will get us a standard room for 3 nights (room only). So I guess we could use this on part of the holiday.

You're right, the holiday does have potential to drain both VS and Avios accounts, but nowhere near as much as the bank account. Damn expensive place to visit, but worth it. :0

Thanks again for your help.

[Neil]

Just to add my opinion to the great reply from Joey. In terms of getting the best value from your miles, buying an upgradable M fare and upgrading to UC with miles, will return the maximum possible that you could get from the options available to you. Of course a full reward is the ultimate best value, but you are a long way from having the 100k per person required to do that, plus you will still earn miles and TP's on the economy fare if you go down that route, which is a nice bonus.

Thanks for the input Neil.

I've just done a quick check on the VS account.

M Fare = £1,050

S Fare = £1,800

Yep, looks like the M fare is the way to go. I hadn't realised the difference in price. :0

Had I been in my old job I would have hit the 100k by now. Sadly, it wasn't to be. Ah well, whilst I got to travel and earn miles/points, it did take the fun out of travelling.

Seems like the VS points/miles will be used for upgrading M fare to UC.

Thank you for the help. Things are looking clear..... for now.

VS man flights go into LHR T1 so it's a fair walk over to the VS clubhouse in T3. Hopefully you can check your bags all the way through but not too sure .

I wasn't able to pay for my MAN-LHR ticket in April 13 using the 75k VS miles that I have so whether this is an option is open to question.

BA want 15k Avios plus £30 but seats are not available on busy flights and they are stopping the MAN-LGW route on 31/3/13 so I would expect the LHR flights to be busier from 1/4/13.

[Neil]

I wouldn't waste any miles on the internal flight, you still have to pay the taxes and they make up nearly all of the fare, so you are just wasting your miles.

VS man flights go into LHR T1 so it's a fair walk over to the VS clubhouse in T3. Hopefully you can check your bags all the way through but not too sure .

Ahh a very good point on the diff terminals at LHR.. I don's see any reason that your bags will not be checked through to final destination so at least you won't have to lug heavy bags across an airport y)

I'm with Neil on this one, would not use miles on the internal flight as the taxes/surcharges will make the 750 miles be worth about £2 ... might as well earn the miles and TP instead.

I wasn't able to pay for my MAN-LHR ticket in April 13 using the 75k VS miles that I have so whether this is an option is open to question.

Really, 75 000 miles to get from MAN - LHR ?| Is time travel involved?

Ha, I think they are waiting until the flight actually goes live before they will allow the mileage redemptions.. just a guess 8D

I was just going to ring VS and say I want to book 2 M tickets from MAN to NRT and that I wanted to use points to upgrade to UC.

However, given the comments about MAN - LHR I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do.

In 2011, my wife booked LHR - NRT in J, then realised we needed to get to LHR ?| . We then booked separate flights from MAN - LHR through VS, but on BMI Metal (I think it was BMI). Whilst this was okay, we did have a bit of a walk to T5, and had to get our luggage to check in again.

So, should be book the MAN-NRT in one booking? - this would mean not having to worry about luggage at LHR
Do we just book LHR-NRT -We would need to then check in bags at LHR, and book a separate flight/train (Virgin train perhaps)..... oh the options. ?|

If we booked MAN - NRT in M, would the 'tax' charge for the upgrade only apply to the LHR - NRT sector? I assume so.

Sorry for all the questions. My wife does say I over analyse things. She's right, but this is how we manage to get holidays we otherwise wouldn't be able to.

Thank you yet again. It's amazing how many questions a simple flight can have.
Andy

Gotta love questions.... hopefully I can answer them all.

Yes.. Answers most of them

Do it all in one booking with VS so that you can get the luggage checked through and with one booking ref it helps if there are any delays on the MAN-LHR route.. it is then on VS to get you moving again.

You are asking for the cheapest fare available for the MAN-LHR and the LHR - MAN segments.... don't know which letter this will be until they start flying - the service starts on 31st March 2013.

The LHR - NRT, and NRT - LHR you are asking for an M... tell them you will want to upgrade to UC so, to confuse matters more, a G fare (Upper reward fare class) will also need to be available. Be flexible with the dates and you should be fine.

Remember though that you won't be able to book until 11 months out.... just a little early.

Good Luck 8D

You could try a Virgin MBNA credit card and use it to buy everything! That would soon boost your miles and if your shopped via the Virgin website, especially at Xmas that would boost your balance as well.
You may then get enough for G reward fares and although the taxes are hefty it would save you lot of cash. Good luck and have a great trip!

Gotta love questions.... hopefully I can answer them all.

Yes.. Answers most of them

Do it all in one booking with VS so that you can get the luggage checked through and with one booking ref it helps if there are any delays on the MAN-LHR route.. it is then on VS to get you moving again.

You are asking for the cheapest fare available for the MAN-LHR and the LHR - MAN segments.... don't know which letter this will be until they start flying - the service starts on 31st March 2013.

The LHR - NRT, and NRT - LHR you are asking for an M... tell them you will want to upgrade to UC so, to confuse matters more, a G fare (Upper reward fare class) will also need to be available. Be flexible with the dates and you should be fine.

Remember though that you won't be able to book until 11 months out.... just a little early.

Good Luck 8D

Thanks again.

Yes, we can be as flexible as possible. We just want to go sometime Mid March - End of April for two weeks. We are a little early, but are ready to buy the flights as soon as there is availability. Will ring in May, only 4 months to wait.

You could try a Virgin MBNA credit card and use it to buy everything! That would soon boost your miles and if your shopped via the Virgin website, especially at Xmas that would boost your balance as well.
You may then get enough for G reward fares and although the taxes are hefty it would save you lot of cash. Good luck and have a great trip!

I have the VS MBNA cards already, and seem to buy most things with them. I've done most of my shopping via the VS portal, and should have a couple of thousand points about to land in the account any day. Unlikely we will have enough for 2 G tickets, but we might get one, then go for an up-gradable W or S.

[Neil]

The best thing to do is just to price up all the options and see which one works out cheapest.

Don't forget you can buy some miles, and that is an option to consider also, if it offers a saving.

The best thing to do is just to price up all the options and see which one works out cheapest.

Don't forget you can buy some miles, and that is an option to consider also, if it offers a saving.

That's where the 'fun' starts. trying to work out fares + upgrades + 'taxes' etc.

We have quite a few tesco vouchers so might use them to get my account up to 100k. Oh, the options.

Do remember Andy that Tesco have a Virgin promotion on till 5th March, where if you change your points and a new Feb points statement is out very soon in the next fortnight I think.

For every £2.50 you have in voucher value you get 937 Atlantic airmiles |:) regards Linda