L fares Companions and UG's

This will test your fare code knowledge.....

Buy 1x L fare
Use Companion voucher (with T availability)
Utilise Credit Card Y-PE Upgrade to the T fare (With U Availability)
Upgrade original L fare to UC (with G availability)

This gaining me a companion seat in PE and a G in UC for the price of one L fare (with all associated surcharges/stealth costs etc..)

However, availability for outbound U unavailable on dates I need n(

Could I upgrade 2x T fares to U for return only...(considering the upgrade vouchers are good for return travel..)
?|

what is this?

Round Britain Quiz?

[Neil]

So, you mean instead of using your AmEx voucher to upgrade one flight both ways, you want to use one voucher to upgrade the return leg only but for 2 pax?

I can't say I have ever heard anybody try to do this, and think as it is a round trip upgrade voucher you wouldn't be able to, but it's certainly worth asking, and think really only FC will be able give a definite yes or no.

I know you can use it on just one leg, but you then just lose the other half of the voucher, it can't be banked, and that would lead me to think it would be a no also.

I also can't see anything either way in the T&C's

Let us know how you get on

Hi.

A further complication is that you usually can't upgrade one "reward" with another - i.e.using a companion fare and a voucher in conjunction, even though the companion books into U like a pure miles ticket.

The companion books into the same cabin as the revenue fare. Providing the revenue fare is upgradable, the ticket holder can updgrade further but the companion stays where they are.

You can updgrade economy reward tickets (U) to PE with the vouchers. You can use one voucher to do a one way but you lose the other half, if that makes sense. So to do 2 one way T>U updgrades you'd need 2 vouchers.

Regards
R3dV

R3dV, you got me looking.

The wording is typically woolly in respect of combining, although 7.3 may hint at it- but not exactly..http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/tsandcs/rewardlimitsandexclusions.jsp

Also just noticed L fares don't class for U/G's or companion on USA routes??
(is this new?)

Hi NH

4.4.1.2 also covers, the relevant bit being the "revenue" fare. So if you upgraded an L with miles, the revenue element is still an L and that's where your companion stays.

I think L's as an upgradable fare from the US went some while ago. I know when I used VS miles to fly business on NZ to LAX last year it had already gone.

Regards
R3dV

I'll play around with scenarios and sit back and do the long haul thru to someone at FC.... hopefully not India!

NB Any Mods:

May need to check Fare code guide as don't think it reflects the L code issue to USA

[Neil]

You can upgrade an L fare with miles still for flights to the USA on a UK originating ticket, nothing has changed there at all.

You can't use a L fare to upgrade with miles, if the flight is originating in the USA, which is what that link provided states, and that has always been the case.

Neil

Just to add, yes you can use one Amex voucher to upgrade two people to PE one way. Have done this a number of times. At the time FC told me that this was very common where only one reward was earned!

Ok I've got it re the Y - PE upgrades oneway but just to clarify - Is it possible to book a companion ticket and get that companion ticket upgraded in anyway? My understanding was that you can up the revenue but not the companion...someone?

[Neil]

Ok I've got it re the Y - PE upgrades oneway but just to clarify - Is it possible to book a companion ticket and get that companion ticket upgraded in anyway? My understanding was that you can up the revenue but not the companion...someone?

Yep that is 100% correct. You can upgrade the revenue ticket, but you cannot upgrade the companion ticket with either miles or cash.

Just to add, yes you can use one Amex voucher to upgrade two people to PE one way. Have done this a number of times. At the time FC told me that this was very common where only one reward was earned!

It would be good to get more feedback on this as it seems to be one where YMMV. I had to use 2 vouchers for 2 one way T>U's on the 31 December this year. Then again, I've been able to use them previously with miles sale tickets when you're not supposed to be able to.

Anyone else had Moley's experience?

Regards
R3dV

If this turns out to be true and standard practice if requested, I'd be putting in a complaint to FC and demand one of your vouchers back R3dV