using miles question

Hi,

Apologies if this an obvious question but I can't find the answer on the website.

I'd like to book a flight for my wife to America to join me out there in January.

I'd like to use my miles - and if need be I'd be happy to purchase more to get her a better class of flight.

I've got around 60,000 miles already, so could get over 90,000 with the maximum purchase.

I'm trying to book outbound to Boston, and return from New York.

In economy, there is availability and it would cost 37,000 miles.

In Premium and Upper it is telling me there is no availability. Is it basing this on fact it knows I have 60,000 and therefore automatically says there aren't enough or if there was availability above my 60,000 it would give me the option to purchase the extra miles needed?

I'd quite like to do this all online and not call Virgin at the moment what with all the people that really need to get through to them, so any help gratefully received

thanks

[Neil]

No, it isnt using your mileage balance when telling you if rewards are available or not. If none are showing then it means none are available. Do check them as one way rewards also, as quite often there could be a reward seat on one leg but because there is nothing on the return (or a date close by) it returns the search as a negative or the whole trip.

A couple of things: firstly, the VS Web site is pretty buggy in searching reward availability, only this morning I looked at UC to LAX in May next year and it told me, yes, then gave me economy options (so keep trying is the answer), and secondly if you share the dates you're looking at, some kindly soul here will no doubt search availability for you to see how the land lies.

Neil - thanks for clarifying it - I'll try the one way option.

Slinky - I'll keep trying!

I'm looking at out to Boston on VS011 on 19th Jan and returning from New York on any flight on Sunday 30th if anyone could assist with a availability check?

BOS on 11 Jan is showing a A343 and on EF availability as J9 D9 R9 Z9 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9, so if no reward seats currently show, I bet they will soon.

From New York on 30 Jan availability is currently:

VS18 J9 D9 R2 Z1 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O0
VS4 J9 D9 R6 Z0 W9 S9 K3 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS46 J9 D9 R9 Z0 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS2 J9 D9 R0 Z0 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS10 J9 D9 R9 Z3 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9

Looks like nearly all the Zs are gone, which may be why currently no availability in UC, but with all those J / D / R 9s I'm guessing some will open up. All flights in PE seem to have lots of availability so maybe a glitch or the revenue team just haven't got to releasing PE seats on this date. Moral, keep checking!

BOS on 11 Jan is showing a A343 and on EF availability as J9 D9 R9 Z9 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9, so if no reward seats currently show, I bet they will soon.

From New York on 30 Jan availability is currently:

VS18 J9 D9 R2 Z1 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O0
VS4 J9 D9 R6 Z0 W9 S9 K3 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS46 J9 D9 R9 Z0 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS2 J9 D9 R0 Z0 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9
VS10 J9 D9 R9 Z3 W9 S9 K9 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9

Looks like nearly all the Zs are gone, which may be why currently no availability in UC, but with all those J / D / R 9s I'm guessing some will open up. All flights in PE seem to have lots of availability so maybe a glitch or the revenue team just haven't got to releasing PE seats on this date. Moral, keep checking!

Brilliant - many thanks for that.

So it's a case of holding my nerve for a little longer and check regularly - my instinct it to get something booked as the learned behaviour when you're paying for something is to book as soon as possible. With the 'using the miles' game it may be better to hold on to see what opens up....

[Neil]

Don't forget you can book an economy ticket with miles and then if a better class of reward becomes available you can just use more miles to upgrade then. I would say if you want to use miles on a certain date then it is best to book sooner rather than later.

Don't forget you can book an economy ticket with miles and then if a better class of reward becomes available you can just use more miles to upgrade then. I would say if you want to use miles on a certain date then it is best to book sooner rather than later.

Ah - interesting, I didn't know that.

I'm still learning about using miles, so bare with me... but can I use some of my miles to book the economy ticket and then use more miles to book the upgrades? And does it tend to equate to the same amount of miles used as if by some crazy chance I get UC availability today to use just miles from the outset?

[Neil]

Yes, to both your questions.

Great - many thanks for all your help - I do appreciate it. It's a minefield out there!

Does the option to use miles to upgrade happens once I've purchased the economy miles flights?

[Neil]

No, you will have to keep checking for mileage seats and then you would have to call FC to upgrade. There would be a £25 change fee also.

No, you will have to keep checking for mileage seats and then you would have to call FC to upgrade. There would be a £25 change fee also.

Thank you once again!

And checking for mileage seats means either looking at the load check for the flights I want or calling FC? (which I would need to do anyway to book it.)

Am learning so much this morning!

[Neil]

Yes, you can either do a dummy booking, or just give FC a call.

I'm sure there used to be an FAQ section on the old edition of this site that dealt with these kinds of queries, might have imagining it mind you!!

No, you will have to keep checking for mileage seats and then you would have to call FC to upgrade. There would be a £25 change fee also.

1: ExpertFlyer.com is your answer. Take up the free trial, make a reward seat search, see what availability there is. If you don't find what you want set up an alert to email you when there is some. It still send you an email even after the trial is done. This is how I scored 2 perfect seats to New Zealand in the new year, when none were showing available...

2: Are your miles with Virgin itself or Amex/Starwood transferable miles? There are other ways to book reward seats on VS if they are Amex/Starwood miles

best of luck

[Neil]

1: ExpertFlyer.com is your answer. Take up the free trial, make a reward seat search, see what availability there is. If you don't find what you want set up an alert to email you when there is some. It still send you an email even after the trial is done. This is how I scored 2 perfect seats to New Zealand in the new year, when none were showing available...

Expert Flyer does not show Virgin reward seat availability, so that will be of no use.

aha - apologies. I was using it for Air NZ, and thats why it worked for moi. question 2still stands.. then.

then you must use VS or the ANA tool, I guess (see Flyer Talk)

Just to (nearly) complete the circle, having watched the date availability shrink I've gone ahead and booked UC on the way out and had to go for PE on her return as it's not showing and UC availability yet.

Hopefully something will become available soon.

Once again thanks to all who contributed with the help and advice!