Amsterdam trick

please can someone explain the Amsterdam trick that I've seen reference to on this site?

It's a sneaky - but entirely legal - way of saving hundreds of pounds on business class fares.

It involves starting your long haul flight somewhere other than the UK - normally Amsterdam, Dublin or Brussels. It relies on the fact that (a) taxes are much lower there than here and (b) VS has more competition there so offers cheaper fares to people willing to fly via the UK instead of direct.

The disadvantage is you have to actually get to Amsterdam, Dublin, Brussels or wherever which obviously involves extra time and hassle.

Have a go - the easiest way is on Expedia. Enter your route and dates (eg Brussels to Los Angeles) then under additional options at the bottom make sure you select Virgin Atlantic as your preferred airline and Business Class.

Remember your "stopover" in the UK can be up to 24 hours so if you want a morning transatlantic flight, you can enjoy a day trip to Europe the day before and go home for the night!

I should also add it also works on other airlines, not just VS, and in lower cabins although the savings will be much smaller meaning it probably wouldn't be worth the extra time and inconvenience.

As an example I've just searched for flights to LAX going out on 3 June and returning on 10 June. VS are quoting £3300. However via Amsterdam Expedia's quoting £1934, a saving of over £1300 which is not to be sniffed at (though of course you'd have to pay for a flight to AMS and possibly a hotel there).

It makes you realise how much we're being ripped off ...

[preiffer]

Just be careful - I did the "Amsterdam trick" once, and for many reasons (cough) nearly didn't make it back in a stable state to pick up my VS flight the next morning...

Just be careful - I did the "Amsterdam trick" once, and for many reasons (cough) nearly didn't make it back in a stable state to pick up my VS flight the next morning...

Same here --- I don't remember anything about my flight that next morning ):

[preiffer]

The only recollection I have of the journey home is courtesy of CCTV footage. Oooops...

Am I right in thinking this only really works for US bound destinations. Appreciate VS/V-Flyer do tend to be very US flight centric..

I've flown from Paris before, and more recently BCN to fly to SIN with QR.

Am I right in thinking this only really works for US bound destinations. Appreciate VS/V-Flyer do tend to be very US flight centric..

No it can work going east too. I have heard of cheap fares to Australia going via HEL for instance. And I think there are lots of other examples -- connecting in Frankfurt for example.

NH I have flown to SYD in the last few months from BRU and saved £2.3k compared to a LHR departure, sectors flown BA Club via LHR-SIN-SYD.

Thanks

Wow....did not know about this. Have just done a dummy booking for Sept VS23 & VS24, the price was £4489 ex LHR or £2130 ex AMS......cannot believe there is such a difference.

[honey lamb]

Wow....did not know about this. Have just done a dummy booking for Sept VS23 & VS24, the price was £4489 ex LHR or £2130 ex AMS......cannot believe there is such a difference.

O indeed there is. I've done the AMS trick twice - once with VS to SFO and the second time to Buenos Aires with BA and each time saved a bundle. It doesn't always work so don't automatically assume it will but when it does, well ^) ^) ^)

Oh, and if you're doing an early morning AMS-LHR on BA avoid the cooked breakfast. I didn't and was :$ all the way to SFO v(

Do you have to fly the final leg on the return flight?

Do you have to fly the final leg on the return flight?

No, just ask for your luggage to be labelled London to avoid it ending up in AMS or wherever.

You do, however, have to do the first leg - if you fail to show the entire ticket will be cancelled.

Do you have to fly the final leg on the return flight?

And that's where it all gets awkward. Contractually, yes. Practically, no. You can arrange it so that you can collect your bags at LHR, but I wouldn't make a habit of it personally.

Just tried this with a price to HKG return in October.

From AMS: £1780
From LHR: £6721!!!! :0

That is crazy. Surely that can't be right!?

[honey lamb]

Do you have to fly the final leg on the return flight?

And that's where it all gets awkward. Contractually, yes. Practically, no. You can arrange it so that you can collect your bags at LHR, but I wouldn't make a habit of it personally.

There is anecdotal evidence that BA has from time to time audited BAEC members
accounts and if there is a pattern of using the ex-AMS trick and not completing the final leg, the account and miles therein have been cancelled.

Just tried this with a price to HKG return in October.

From AMS: £1780
From LHR: £6721!!!! :0

That is crazy. Surely that can't be right!?

Yes it can if VS has sold the cheaper buckets but the allocation to third party agents such as Expedia haven't been used up.