I haven't paid anywhere close to full price for UC tickets for a long while: assiduous attention to mile earning, plus taking advantage of prevailing offers is the answer, never mind the job.

BC

No one can really afford or justify U/C but some of us as 6ft 6" tall and I started going PE for leg room. Having spent that amount of money I then thought what the hell try U/C. Problem is once you have flown this class its hard to ever go back. I did a quick four day trip recently to Tampa on BMI/United in economy and it was terrible. Couldnt move my legs and knees for days.

But dont think I like spending all that money on a ticket especicially when being a Yorkshireman who are Scotsmen stripped of the generosity

Paul

[mitchja]

quote:Originally posted by PaulS
Problem is once you have flown this class (Upper) its hard to ever go back.

Paul

I'll second that!!!! as a 6' 4" Lancashire Lad here

Book well in advance, and put it on your credit card, pay it off in the meantime

[mitchja]

quote:Originally posted by AlanA
Book well in advance, and put it on your credit card, pay it off in the meantime

or book though, say VH and pay it off bit by bit every month.

[Nottingham Nick]

It is very true that once you have sampled the experience of turning left when you get on the plane you want to do it again..and again.

That is why it is excellent marketing to make premium class seats relatively attainable as reward seats -either exclusively with points or points upgrades.

I am not sure I could ever justify to myself paying full price UC - unless I was ridiculously rich - or could find someone else to pay.


Nick

quote:Originally posted by mitchja

quote:Originally posted by AlanA
Book well in advance, and put it on your credit card, pay it off in the meantime

or book though, say VH and pay it off bit by bit every month.

We have a villa out in FLa so have to book flights only

Paul

quote:But dont think I like spending all that money on a ticket especicially when being a Yorkshireman who are Scotsmen stripped of the generosity

Ah, well said that man - although my traditional Yorksha thriftiness has had to be beaten out of me since I moved darn Sarf [xx(]

Cheers

Hi 748748

The two times I've flown UC, I've used miles to upgrade a full fare PE ticket. I find that maximising my miles earning capabilities and then using them when opportunities arise works fairly well for me

FWIW, yes, I have a pretty good job - you too can obtain a similar role if you've got the same experience and certifications that I have

Cheers

[Decker]

I'm guessing an MCSE based purely on profile [8D]...

Decker - Go wash your mouth out with soap & water - I don't do M$ [:p]:D

748748 - Whilst I really don't see what benefit it'll serve you, my role is at the last level of technical support for customers in Europe, Middle East & Africa, supporting a program produced by a major software company (no, it's defintely not M$ [:p]). Certifications-wise, I'm a CNA4, CNA5, CNA6, CNE5, CNE6, Master CNE, and have an IT Project Management cert too

Cheers

[Decker]

Ooooh let's you and me have a little chat about TurboDis.nlm...

I book a lot of flights through VH and up front through VS I have never paid full fare in my life as the cash is all out of my own pocket.Wife and I have always enjoyed travel for pleasure and we personaly get good value out of it.Only problem is I run my own business and taking the time off to travel is hard so its always shorts trips 1 to 4 days maximum.

I got to fly quite a bit with my previous role and, as others have said, got far too used to travelling in comfort.

From those trips I learnt about FF programs, fare classes and how to keep an eye out for offers. I would never pay over 3k for an UC return to the US, but I'm happy to pay 600 or 700 quid for PE, as I think it's worth it for the room. Do that a few times, use a Virgin credit card etc and you can build up the miles for reward flights.

I think there is an attitude as well, for me the flight is the start of a holiday, so I'll pay a bit more to enjoy it, it's not just a flight to get me there, I want to enjoy it as well.

VSlf

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Ooooh let's you and me have a little chat about TurboDis.nlm...

Hehehehe, or maybe not?
Actually, I did a site visit to a customer this weekend, and it was the first time in 3 years that I've been in a live production environment - nice to do that rather than have a sterile lab to play in [:p]

Cheers

I don't buy hardly anything, including the lunch I am about to buy in about ten minutes, without receiving FF miles. Believe me, after a while, they DO add up. I'm using another airline's FF miles for two UC tickets on Virgin. I never buy anything just to receive a FF mile, but if I'm going to buy it anyway, like my lunch, why not earn FF miles. And I agree with everyone on this board that after you "turn left," you won't want to go back. As far as I'm concerned, my vacation starts when I leave my house, not when the plane finally lands at the destination, which means not only is the flight experience important, but the clubhouse too.

[RichardMannion]

mcuth, watch your step there.......

How is Larry nowadays?

Thanks,
Richard

Richard

That's funny, I thought you might make a comment
Besides, I'm sat down, no steps needed here

Larry who? [?]

quote:Originally posted by jm
I don't buy hardly anything, including the lunch I am about to buy in about ten minutes, without receiving FF miles.

Where do you earn your FF miles?

Just pay with a Virgin Credit Card, or point earning amex card. I rarely used to use a credit card, just used my Switch card. But now I put the majority of my daily spend on my Virgin mastercard, pay it off every month and I'm a couple of thousand of miles up. Over a year that can make a lot of miles, plus a free companion ticket (for what it's worth).

VSlf

quote:Originally posted by Vslf
Just pay with a Virgin Credit Card, or point earning amex card. I rarely used to use a credit card, just used my Switch card. But now I put the majority of my daily spend on my Virgin mastercard, pay it off every month and I'm a couple of thousand of miles up. Over a year that can make a lot of miles, plus a free companion ticket (for what it's worth).

VSlf

I have just done the same. Currently I use aGold debit card and pay off each month, normally around £1,000 (work expences) so that will mean 2,000 FC points per month

Yup, I got the Gold AMEX Charge Card in January on the special offer of 2x MR points on all transactions, 4x MR points on buying from VS directly (and BTW, this seems to include duty-free pre-orders ) - after March's statement, I'm up to 5755 miles already [8D]

The Virgin credit card miles soon add up (especially on the 2 miles per £1). If youve got your own business you can also pay your suppliers etc. I often earn 10000 miles a month this way. Also when you buy your flight on the VS card you get double the cost of the ticket in miles and if you you use VT you then get the amount in miles again.

Paul

I shall have to get a card! I spend around £600 a month on my credit card so it would make sence to earn miles at the same time!

[honey lamb]

Is the Virgin credit card only available in the UK? I'd love to be able to use it but as a non-resident I don't think I can and so am missing on gazillions of miles [:(]