V-Flyer

Does anyone have any advice on how to get UC reward seats on LGW-MCO/MIA-LHR? I have already booked reward seats in PE for next July but want to try and upgrade using miles. Apart from checking online every day to see if UC becomes available, does anyone know of any tricks either before departure or on check in?

Welcome to V-flyer.

There are no tricks.

It simply comes down to checking everyday and nabbing them by calling VS if/when they appear.

The issue you will have with the LGW-MCO route is that there re only 14 seats in the UC cabin and if VS can sell those for cash then they will.

You will likely have more luck on the MIA-LHR leg as it's a much bigger UC cabin.

At check-in you could simply ask as the VS ticket desk.

Upper Class Reward Seats .... As common as Rocking Horse Poo !

You may find some on the MIA-LHR leg but I wish you luck finding some on the outbound, very difficult but just keep looking and maybe phone VS every once in a while.

Thanks I will try phoning and keeping fingers crossed!

Laphroaig wrote:Upper Class Reward Seats .... As common as Rocking Horse Poo !

Well are I the luck poo collector. We did MCO last year in Upper on reward seats and I have my Upper reward tickets for next year.
I'm not saying it was easy, I did have to check a lot and several times a day as sometimes they could appear and disappear in the same day.
It helps if you can be flexible. Next year we added a day to the holiday because Upper seats appeared on the Sunday.

My one tip would be when trying a dummy booking do each leg as a one way trip.
Dick D

dickydotcom wrote:Well are I the luck poo collector. We did MCO last year in Upper on reward seats and I have my Upper reward tickets for next year.
I'm not saying it was easy, I did have to check a lot and several times a day as sometimes they could appear and disappear in the same day.
It helps if you can be flexible. Next year we added a day to the holiday because Upper seats appeared on the Sunday.

My one tip would be when trying a dummy booking do each leg as a one way trip.
Dick D

Agree completely - we've spent 300k on UC seats in the last few months. It takes a bit of looking but it's totally possible - and well worth the effort.

Same as. It can take a bit of work/knowledge so don't expect it to be easy or to be able to dictate your exact dates

I've spent a lot of miles recently on reward flights, too. The keys are persistence, a bit of knowledge, flexibility and luck, as far as I've been able to ascertain!

Me too!
Snagged LGW MCO reward flights in upper June this year and have 2 seats for the same journey UC reward for May15.
Also managed UC rewards to Antigua last Jan and Jamacia for Jan 15. All M to Gs.
I do check daily, two or three times and then pounce when they come up. It helps that we can be flexible and don't tie ourselves down to anything except a vague time frame.
Our November trips we usually pay out right for so have never looked at reward availability then.
I have either been very lucky (unusual!) or the reward flight availability is good if you are patient and stalk flying club!
I love Virgin!

I managed to get 5 yes 5 UC rewards to MCO next June. At the time of booking there were several days in that month with that many seats available. I was amazed. I assume it's not busy as kids still at school with many doing exams?

Sadly it's PE on the return. Now MCO-LGW in UC really are like rocking horse poo!