Redeeming Air Miles for a Special Trip y)
Posted: 09 Sep 2014, 18:51I have just discovered this excellent site after having just booked flights for a trip to Cape Town next year - and just before Vigin drop the route too 
I shall of course post a TR (got the jargon already !) but wanted to say how impressed I was with the member of staff at the Virgin Flying Club. I had naively thought I could redeem my airmiles via the website relatively easily but was quickly disabused of that when I tried. Much prefering the personal touch I waited 29 mins to get thru' to someone (not good) who managed to meet nearly all my requirements (and those of my wife) regarding dates and internal transfers - all for the sort of cost I'd anticpated but which the experiences of others suggested would not be possible. Success was entirely down to this individual's efforts (who i won't name in case his efforts were 'above & beyond' and my deal may come unstuck!) but my faith in Virgin as a brand has been restored.
I first flew with Virgin to NY in 1988/9 and their funky style and service impressed me sufficiently for me to remain loyal to them for the subsequent honeymoon trip and o/seas business trips to date. This booking is a belated anniversary present and an opportunity to see our son play in a football tournament in SA (my wife has never seen Africa!).
Until the trip next February I have a couple of questions that the 'wise travellers' here might be able to answer:
1.We are flying out PE to Jo'burg (with an internal connection to Cape Town via SAA a few days later) whereas the return from Cape Town is Economy. The ticket code for the return leg is X. Will this coding preclude us from upgrading to PE as by that time I will have c. 30k airmiles ? (I believe I could upgrade to UC on the outward leg with that no. of airmiles as the coding there is P)
2. The return leg in economy includes exit row seating for more leg room which I've never used before - does this make the differential between economy and PE less material? We're not too bothered by the cutlery/comp champagne benefits of PE - more the space and comfort? In other words, if the answer above is "yes" should I upgrade?
3. (the 'Special' bit) Returning from honeymoon in Boston (1993!)we were treated to a bottle (proper size) of Champagne - I guess someone tipped them off we were newly weds. I'd like to arrange something similar for the flight back (economy class remember!) and wondered how best to do this ahead of time? Would I call 'Customer Services'? Can you still get proper sized bottles now or does airborne 'elf & safety mean only those weeney bottles are onboard?
I shall of course post a TR (got the jargon already !) but wanted to say how impressed I was with the member of staff at the Virgin Flying Club. I had naively thought I could redeem my airmiles via the website relatively easily but was quickly disabused of that when I tried. Much prefering the personal touch I waited 29 mins to get thru' to someone (not good) who managed to meet nearly all my requirements (and those of my wife) regarding dates and internal transfers - all for the sort of cost I'd anticpated but which the experiences of others suggested would not be possible. Success was entirely down to this individual's efforts (who i won't name in case his efforts were 'above & beyond' and my deal may come unstuck!) but my faith in Virgin as a brand has been restored.
I first flew with Virgin to NY in 1988/9 and their funky style and service impressed me sufficiently for me to remain loyal to them for the subsequent honeymoon trip and o/seas business trips to date. This booking is a belated anniversary present and an opportunity to see our son play in a football tournament in SA (my wife has never seen Africa!).
Until the trip next February I have a couple of questions that the 'wise travellers' here might be able to answer:
1.We are flying out PE to Jo'burg (with an internal connection to Cape Town via SAA a few days later) whereas the return from Cape Town is Economy. The ticket code for the return leg is X. Will this coding preclude us from upgrading to PE as by that time I will have c. 30k airmiles ? (I believe I could upgrade to UC on the outward leg with that no. of airmiles as the coding there is P)
2. The return leg in economy includes exit row seating for more leg room which I've never used before - does this make the differential between economy and PE less material? We're not too bothered by the cutlery/comp champagne benefits of PE - more the space and comfort? In other words, if the answer above is "yes" should I upgrade?
3. (the 'Special' bit) Returning from honeymoon in Boston (1993!)we were treated to a bottle (proper size) of Champagne - I guess someone tipped them off we were newly weds. I'd like to arrange something similar for the flight back (economy class remember!) and wondered how best to do this ahead of time? Would I call 'Customer Services'? Can you still get proper sized bottles now or does airborne 'elf & safety mean only those weeney bottles are onboard?
