Miles+Money fare higher than the regular fare

In my search for fares from IAD-LHR for March, I first entered info based on the lowest economy fare for mid-week travel and received a fare totaling $577 (roughly 375 pounds). This was fine, but then I went back, changed the request to use the miles+money option and discovered that instead of a lower fare, I actually got a fare hike to $596 along with the forfeit of 2000 miles. Am I missing something...you have to not only spend more money and use your miles to get a fare INCREASE?

Has anyone else seen something similar or am I just the lucky one?

There is a sale on at the moment which I suppose could be an explanation. Its all to do with the difefrent fare codes and the number of tickets within each code.

My giess would be is that iof you did a dummy booking for a non sale period the M+M fare would be cheaper.

Thanks, tontybear, for your insight. I took your advice and tried a dummy booking for early April (no flights available) and then one for mid-April fully expecting to see what you described. But again, the fare was not just $20 higher, but more than $70 using miles+money over the regular fare alone. I tried one more dummy booking for mid-May and finally received a lower fare using miles+money...so it must be as you say, simply about what is in the bucket.

However, I would still say that it makes no sense for VS to charge Flying Club members a higher fare + miles when the regular fare alone is less costly ($20-70 less). At the very least, I would think that VS would simply not show availability for the miles+money option. As my Nan would have said, "Tis Barmy!"

T

[Neil]

MPM fares are strange, sometimes offering a good saving, other times next to nothing and as you have found, even more sometimes, there never appears to be any system or reasoning behind them.

It just shows that it is always worth checking all the options out before booking.

Miles & Money fares are generally best avoided.
Not only is the money saving neglible, you also miss out on Tier Points and miles - a bit sickening when you consider that in some cases they are more expensive.
But, like other replies, it's good to check all the options! You never know - an MPM fare might be a bargain on some occasions.

I'd been looking at the fare sale, and out of interest I also then looked at MPM fares. As you all say, usually they're just not worth it - and indeed the 'savings' varied hugely. But LHR - LAX UC return was coming in at £1458, as against something in excess of £2200 in the sale - the saving was £788 each for 15k miles. Very good value - other destinations had much poorer miles value. I found myself clicking the 'book' button.....

And yep, I know I won't earn either tier points or miles for this, but it was too good to pass on....

[Neil]

And yep, I know I won't earn either tier points or miles for this, but it was too good to pass on....

Whilst that is what is stated in the T&C's for an MPM booking, it has been mentioned more than once on here that people have been receiving both miles & TP's on an MPM booking. Of course there is no guarantee but you never know and with such a big saving like you mentioned you could buy some miles if you really needed them.

And yep, I know I won't earn either tier points or miles for this, but it was too good to pass on....

Whilst that is what is stated in the T&C's for an MPM booking, it has been mentioned more than once on here that people have been receiving both miles & TP's on an MPM booking. Of course there is no guarantee but you never know and with such a big saving like you mentioned you could buy some miles if you really needed them.

My thoughts exactly!!!!!!!! y)

I have only ever seen a £15 / £30 saving on an U/C fare for MPM so £788 is Happy Days.

Someone once mentioned on here that they come into their own if they are available when booking close to the flight i.e. you can only book Y / W / J. The MPM are then much cheaper than these fares.

[Neil]

Someone once mentioned on here that they come into their own if they are available when booking close to the flight i.e. you can only book Y / W / J. The MPM are then much cheaper than these fares.

That is true, as there are no advance booking restrictions on an MPM fare like there is on some of the discounted revenue fare codes.

I don't know - the flights I booked are for August - and they're still there. I have no answer as to why the saving is as it is - and certainly, on any of the NY routes, the difference was negligable, as on the Boston route. As mentioned previously, I only thought to look at the route and date to compare with the sale fares!

The reason I have just lost my VS Au card is because I travelled on all MM fares last year as the prices I obtained were all too good to resist. But in the cold light of Silver I am wondering whether I did the right thing :0

RIP Gold benefits

A not so sunny Sunshine 8D