In Desp need of 10 Tier points by 31st Oct

I just noticed I am 10 points short of moving up from Silver to Gold status for the Virgin Flying club.

I would normally travel to Shanghai and back which would allow me to get these points, however time is a precious commodity at the moment.

Any advice on best way to achieve this:

Shortest route I can think of is London > Dubai > London on Upper Class

Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Shak

Well, 10 TPs is simply one UC return ... so it's a best price / best trip option. BOS is surely the shortest? That or five day returns to Edinburgh on BMI in a qualifying fare ... which may be cheaper than a D to BOS or DXB???

Makes sense, although I can only spare a weekend as such, ideally 48 hours or so, hence I was thinking Fri night flight to Dubai, and returning on the Sunday Morning flight. that then only takes up about 40 hours or so of my time.

[Neil]

Originally posted by slinky09
Well, 10 TPs is simply one UC return ... so it's a best price / best trip option. BOS is surely the shortest? That or five day returns to Edinburgh on BMI in a qualifying fare ... which may be cheaper than a D to BOS or DXB???

Why a D? Surely a Z or R would suffice to get the 10 TP's?

[Pete]

Doesn't Z (and possibly R) have advance purchase restrictions? Maybe that's why a D?

[Neil]

Originally posted by Pete
Doesn't Z (and possibly R) have advance purchase restrictions? Maybe that's why a D?

You are, of course, 100% correct. 42 day advance purchase required for a Z! Thought there would be some advance purchase rules but didn't imagine it would be the long before the flight date.

[Neil]

Ok, now I am confused.

On a BOS flight, the conditions for a Z said, 42 days advance purchase, but then just looking at DXB, it says only 21 days. Does it vary depending on destination?

To the OP, it is about 2.5k for a UC to DXB, 3k for BOS, so not cheap, but I guess it depends on how important Au is for you?

Neil

[HighFlyer]

Sat 25th- Tues 28th October to Mumbai is ~£1500 for a Z fare. That extra day or so, if you can spare it, greatly reduces the cost. The only downside is needing a visa for India.

Thanks,
Sarah

Gaining Au is one thing, do you think you will retain it next year ?

Also, if you typically fly UC, are the minimal benefits of Au worth spending the money to obtain it ?

[Pete]

Once you've earnt it, it's 10 points less for renewals; so if Shak managed to get that this year already, then one could assume it won't be a stretch next year.

... And once you have Au, it's very difficult to say goodbye to it. [;)]

Just as a clarifier, to get the TPs, date of counting is date of flight rather than date of booking right ? as I have just booked a UC to Shanghai but in Novemeber.

[Neil]

Yes, the TP's are only earned once you have taken the flight, so if you need 10TP by end Oct to gain Au you will need to take another flight.