V-Flyer

Hi guys ...
I'm new to this forum but have been reading a few of the threads ... I'm Lisa and its me BF and between us we have 3 kids (two stroppy teenagers and a 9yr old).
Me and my two (the stroppy teenagers) have been flying with Virgin for the past 10 years (love florida ) and we have now managed to get BF and his lil one hooked too after only 3 trips but this is the first time I've really thought about the flying club.
It seems like you guys are the oracle of flying club info and as I'm really hoping to get some UC upgrades for next year (just me and BF) and PE seats for our family trip I'm hoping you can help
So just wanted to say hi ... Before I start quizzing you ... If I've posted in the wrong board please move me
Lisa x

Evening and let me be the first to welcome you. I'm sure you'll find us all a friendly bunch and I certainly remember when I first joined up I had so many questions, and everyone was just so helpful. So fire away with your questions because I'm sure you'll get the help you're looking for.

Have you joined FC and started collecting miles yet?

Hello Lisa,

As Bretty says, have you joined FC yet? You need to do it pronto and backdate those flights if you can (you can claim for flights in the past 6 months). My few pointers would be:

Make sure you join and refer your BF through the Miles For Friends referral scheme http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... iends.html and then you refer all those stroppy teenagers, that way you will maximise your miles from the beginning.

Claim back flights made in the last 6 months. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... works.html

When buying online do so via the Shops Away portal on VS website. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... -away.html

Don't waste Tesco Clubcard vouchers http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... tesco.html , stash them until you need to top up (when there is a bonus on = like now!).

Sign up to Head For Points (for daily emails with tips for points accumulation).

Look at taking out an Amex Card…..see Head For Points for the latest comparisons on biggest points earners.

Hopefully that will help answer some questions. Then it's just a case of deciding what to spend all those lovely miles on.

Welcome! You will already have gathered this is a very friendly and helpful forum, so post away and do not feel any question is "too stupid"

The advice above says it all sfor starters I think.

Look forward to seeing you around on V-Flyer. Right time for me to get to work!

Welcome.

You don't say where you are, but if you are down south Orlando from Gatwick is not the easiest route to get UC reward seats.
Not impossible because I've done it three times by booking early and checking availability 6 times a day.
Others have done it by flying via Atlanta which have more seats in upper and so more reward availability.
Just beware, points collecting can become a bit of an obsession.
Best of luck with points collecting and nabbing those seats.

Dick D

And a warm welcome from myself Lisa , some great advice already offered so have fun accumulating the miles and even more fun deciding how to spend them .
As has already been said don't be afraid to ask lots of questions ,it's a great forum

Hi guys ... thanks for the warm welcomes

We are from the north east so we normally fly from Manchester but don't mind traveling if we need to, we prefer direct though as with 3 kids in tow its a pain with connections (I swear they get worse as they get older )

As I have been checking out some of the threads before joining I have already found some fab tips from you all, so I have joined FC and refered kids and BF, have taken out the gold amex . I hit target a couple of weeks after getting the card as we are getting an extension to my house, I have also taken out the black VA card I am about £500 off the £3000 target on that too but I should hit it next week as I have more building supplies to pay for I only received the cards around the 10th of this month.
I do have a fair few clubcard vouchers in my account about £80 I think so will look into changing them over.

so couple of questions ..
does anyone know when the points from the black card will hit the account, I have already transferred over the amex 20000 ? and are there any other miles mounting avenues I have not pursued yet

we are planning on trying to book flights for mine and BF trip next October, we are flexable on dates and can go any time from end of September to beginning of November .. when do you think is best to look for flights we were hoping to get 2 UC upgrades ? and are there any pros and cons to which airports to fly from ..
I have around 50000 in my account from the refferals, past flights and amex bonus and BF has around 18000 in his and kids around 10000 each. We do also have the option to boost from our flight last month ?
Thanks
Lisa x

Jedimum wrote:Hi guys ... ..............It seems like you guys are the oracle of flying club info and as I'm really hoping to get some UC upgrades for next year (just me and BF) and PE seats for our family trip I'm hoping you can help ..........

Hi Lisa and welcome from me also.

Just a word of warning... be very careful with the UC Upgrades... once you have secured those elusive upgrades, once you have turned left, you'll be hooked.... a therapist might be needed if you have to fly a lower class again. V-Flyers are a no cost way of experience this therapy.... fill yer boots with the questions

Hi and welcome to V Flyer.

As you have already found, we tend to be a helpful bunch here, so do not be afraid to ask questions.

Your desire to get to UC is to be commended, though as has already been said, once you have tasted that fruit, you will be hooked and may well have to sell your grandmother as I have had to do

As I have found this year, flights out to Orlando around October (and with that half term) can be full for a lot longer than just the immediate half term period.

I, like many others, have found that the higher UC capacity on flights to Atlanta have proved more successful in using Rewards rather than relaying on getting a Reward amongst the 14 seats on the 747s that currently fly direct from either Gatwick or Manchester.

The final piece of advice is that if your searches uncover a price you are happy with - grab it

buns

Hi guys ...

Thanks for the advice ... I'm sure I could think of worse things to be hooked on lol
I'm just hoping to be able to do a UC flight when it's just me and BF as I'm guessing the chance of getting 5 seats would be like finding a hens tooth

We don't really mind when we fly but would like to be in Orlando for Halloween horror nights which is last weekend September to first of November.

One question ... From what I have read the lowest upgradeable ticket would be a m fare then it goes up, but how much are these around ... I'm really hoping you say between £700-£1200 each (pinkies crossed) oh and am I better booking the outbound flight when it becomes available then adding the inbound at a later date or am I best to wait and book both together ?
Oh and would I get any miles from this booking as I know you don't from a miles only booking ?
Sorry that was 3 questions

Thanks guys
Lisa x

Lisa, you ask about pros and cons of specific airports. The big pro of LHR has to be the Clubhouse. I know you are in the North but I would drive down to London so as to use DTCI and the CH- it's a great start to any holiday!

Hi Lisa,

One of the things you can do now you've hit the bonus on the Amex gold is refer your BF for the card, assuming he's accepted you'll get another 9000 MR, and once you've collected you can transfer your points and close your gold Amex account and get a supplementary card on his. When the target is reached on his card he will get 22000 MR. After at least 6 months you can reapply for a gold or platinum Amex and collect another bonus - get your BF to refer, and so the churning cycle starts...

You can also refer BF for the VS black Amex and that will get you another 3000 miles.

As has been suggested, any online shopping you do try and go through the shops away portal, including holidays / hotels, even for short breaks. Sites like hotels.com usually offer 4 miles per £ but often have bonuses with 6, 8 and occasionally 12 miles per £. The miles soon build up. And yes, the M fares, depending on time of year and route, are around £1k per person. To give an example I've booked LHR-NYC for Christmas for 2 with M fares upgraded to UC with miles. Total cost £2140 inc taxes etc and 80,000 miles (40k each to upgrade).

Now, do you know what packing cubes are..?

Jedimum wrote:Hi guys ...

One question ... From what I have read the lowest upgradeable ticket would be a m fare then it goes up, but how much are these around ... I'm really hoping you say between £700-£1200 each (pinkies crossed) oh and am I better booking the outbound flight when it becomes available then adding the inbound at a later date or am I best to wait and book both together ?
Oh and would I get any miles from this booking as I know you don't from a miles only booking ?
Sorry that was 3 questions

Thanks guys
Lisa x

If your strategy is to go for M Fares and use Miles to upgrade:

1. Yes the prices are about what you will pay - remember taxes are higher for PE and UC
2. You will need 20K miles per person, per sector (i.e. 80k miles in total) available in account(s) to be able to upgrade
3. If you do not have that many miles available right now, then upgrade to PE, earn miles as Bretty has suggested and keep watching UC availability - it is what I have done on more than one occasion

4. M Fares earn miles after you return home

The important thing is to book the return M Fare through FC on the phone - that way you can upgrade according to how many miles you currently have available . Thereafter keep checking Reward availability

buns

I paid £1847 for my two upgradeable economy tickets and the taxes to upgrade to Upper back in April for my trip next Feb going from Gatwick.
It was 12500 miles per sector per person so 100000 altogether.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... ights.html

We found better chance of reward fares flying out on Friday and back on Sunday rather than Sat to Sat.
We were going Friday anyway but it mean we had to add a day to our holiday on the way back. Not a terrible hardship.

Dick D

Thanks guys ... I didn't realise about the gold referral and cancelling
And no bratty no idea what a packing cube is

Regarding the airports I dont think I can get LHR-MCO I think it's jusy gatwick for the London airports ? Do you think it's worth the flight to gatwick for the lounge, it would mean Glasgow-gatwick the night before then gatwick - orlando Then I would hope to get direct back to Glasgow. Or it would just be the normal man-mco flights ? We are sort of between Glasgow and Manchester so not really any difference there.

Thanks a million
Lisa x

Although I have never been to the LGW VS lounge, I do not think I would bother if flying from Glasgow. Would I to LHR? Yes, but if I had children in tow, maybe not!

Not heard of packing cubes? Bretty will soon be back to educate you He is V-Flyers resident Packing Cube Evangelst!

But here is a taster...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Aw-DNzbCo

Maximus wrote:Although I have never been to the LGW VS lounge, I do not think I would bother if flying from Glasgow. Would I to LHR? Yes, but if I had children in tow, maybe not!

Not heard of packing cubes? Bretty will soon be back to educate you He is V-Flyers resident Packing Cube Evangelst!

But here is a taster...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Aw-DNzbCo

Aah but you beat me to it Maximus!

Maximus wrote:
Not heard of packing cubes? Bretty will soon be back to educate you He is V-Flyers resident Packing Cube Evangelst!

Yep - he converted me to the virtues of said cubes. They're wonderful things and have revolutionised my packing

DL

I do fly from Gatwick and the lounge is good, but not worth doing an extra flight for.
The food and drink is much better than say No1 lounges, but level of comfort only slightly better.
I'd go from my nearest airport.

Dick D

Bretty wrote:Aah but you beat me to it Maximus!

I did
But I am a convert too. Love the shoe cubes. I have just ordered some more from Amazon and a few extra medium-sized cubes for our Vegas trip. I was going to see if I could make full use of my 90 Kg luggage allowance. But we think that even if we packed every item of clothing we own, we may struggle to reach our combined 180 Kg allowance. Unless I put our walking boots and Wellingtons in too!

Maybe DL could give me some tips as I think she finds keeping to under 90 Kg a challenge?

Maximus wrote:

Bretty wrote:Aah but you beat me to it Maximus!

I did
But I am a convert too. Love the shoe cubes. I have just ordered some more from Amazon and a few extra medium-sized cubes for our Vegas trip. I was going to see if I could make full use of my 90 Kg luggage allowance. But we think that even if we packed every item of clothing we own, we may struggle to reach our combined 180 Kg allowance. Unless I put our walking boots and Wellingtons in too!

Maybe DL could give me some tips as I think she finds keeping to under 90 Kg a challenge?

I think I'm going to convert and order some this week

We're going to do the unheard of in our house, for our 5 day NYC trip at Christmas we're going cabin baggage only - 1 piece each with a man bag each. Packing cubes and folders will definitely be in use to maximise space. Somehow got to find room for a folding bag "just in case", you know, for Macy's or Nordstrom. But it probably means only 1 pair of shoes...!!!

we are closest to MAN too and since our first UC flight (MAN - LHR to Cape Town) we think the main reason to fly UC is the LHR CH. off to Florida in January and although we could fly out of MAN we had enough miles for a one way upgrade so are flying BA MAN to LHR the night before. (less than £50 single) Staying at the Sofitel (Free Hotel.com night + £65) then spending around 4 hrs in the CH before flying out. We are PE return (MCO to MAN) but don't mind those seats for what isn't a very long flight really.

I do like the whole UC experience but the CH is the icing on the cake for me, so do consider a flight down to LHR if you can find a flight from there that suits . UC without the CH ? I'm not sure about that . Some would say UC without DTCI is less of an experience - one day we will aim for that too . Fun 'ere innit !!

Bretty wrote:We're going to do the unheard of in our house, for our 5 day NYC trip at Christmas we're going cabin baggage only - 1 piece each with a man bag each.

I salute you, sir. We are minded to do the same for our post Christmas trip, but for three things;

1. We like having as few things as possible to lug around the airport,
2. If the temperature is anything like Boston was at the same time last year cabin baggage will not hold enough layers,
3. Shallow person that I am, I like to feeling of the cases magically vanishing out of the boot of the car at DTCI

hi snora .. I didn't realise that virgin flew from LHR to mco I thought it was only Gatwick
Thanks
Lisa x