Query re connecting with a reward flight

Two of us traveling BOS-LON in August using miles: Was able to get 1 PE return on dates needed and 1 PE LON-BOS but nothing available on outward journey. FC suggested NY which would be fine but a hassle re travel to and from airport as it is 3 plus hours by train/car and parking/traffic is a nightmare.

Noted that if I were booking the same seat with money BOS-LON, my choices include many NY flights shuttled from BOS same price with Delta to VS. It would be fine with me to use that same route and switch the second ticket so we are both outward BOS-NY-LON and return LON-BOS (which we already have). Is there precedent for this with FC?

[Neil]

It will all depend if their are miles seats available to change your full reward to for the NYC-LON leg. You will have to pay for the BOS-NYC journey (probably ticketed separately) for that ticket also. There will also be a change fee.

Thanks Neil,

So that was my question--if I can book a BOS-LON flight on VS site (no flight connector, this is on the list of offerings when BOS-LON typed in) which includes a connection via NYC for the same fare as direct BOS-LON -why is that same offer not available for miles if reward seats are not available direct (and there are plenty NYC-LON same date and change fee is understood)?

[Neil]

The reason will be because what you are seeing above is fine if searching for a revenue fare, as all the sectors are being paid for with money.

When you are searching for a miles ticket, it is just looking for miles options, and because the BOS-NYC leg doesn't have any miles options to offer you it will not return that choice. Plus the system can't show you a mixed and miles and revenue fare on the screen.

If you give VS a call then they will be able to offer that sort of routing, just not on the web.

Thanks--I did want to know if anyone had been able to book that--called FC who were very helpful but unable to book without an additional 25K miles for an hour's flight! Odd that the connection is offered for fare pax but not rewards. Ah, well--back to having to check in with rewards in spare time. Did have two seats available originally but by time I got through to FC to put them on hold, one was gone.

What is interesting to me is why you are still only earning 4 TP's for the trip BOS>JFK>LHR>BOS.
Should that not be 5 at least or are they just showing the VS TP's as they are not sure of the partner airline??

Good point--and it's delta!