V-Flyer

Way in advance, but I will be looking next year for reward seats from Manchester to Orlando August 2016. I've read on here that they can be released, but generally not as early as the flights themselves are.

I was wondering if anyone had experience of when they are released if at all? Also, for non reward seats, do August prices ever drop below those first released in Virgin's sales? I just need to decide if I can hold my nerve and wait or should book when the flights are released.

If it makes any difference, we are probably looking at the last 2 weeks of August but will have flexibility.

Reward seats do become available to MCO in August, it is really just a matter of checking every day from when the flights are released.

As for prices, usually when a flight is very first released it is only the higher fare codes so they are very expensive, give it a few days and the lower ones then are released too. Prices fluctuate all the time, it is really deciding when is right for you, if your dates are pretty set then it may be worth ensuring you get your tickets early, if you have flexibility you might be able to save more money by holding off.

When I booked Gatwick to MCO for next year I did it as soon as the tickets were released buying upgradeable Economy. I was able to upgrade to PE immediately. This was April for a Feb out March return flight.
So if you are looking for reward seats in Economy or PE then pretty much same time as flights are released Sept 2015.
For Upper reward seats it was a different matter but the outward journey was only 5 days later and return 2 weeks after that.
Which class of travel will you be getting?
Are you using all miles or just miles to upgrade?
Dick D

Thanks for the advice. I am ideally looking to get Economy or PE seats (depending on how many miles I have saved) using all miles. I'm not really interested in buying EC and upgrading to PE, but would consider buying EC and upgrading to UC!

Looking at what is available right now, most of the reward seats that have been released for July are PE, so I aiming for that in case EC seats aren't released.

That new 'flight search calendar' showing the monthly availability of reward flights for all cabins, is really helpful Hope VS get the rest of their IT dept in better order soon