A few redemption queries

Greetings,

I'm a long time lurker. Firstly, thanks for such a great forum. You've given me some invaluable knowledge and helped me build up a nice pile of VS miles that I'd appreciate your help on how best to spend!

I'm looking to fly UC using some/all miles (2 tickets)

A few queries:
1. If I book an L economy fare and then upgrade, what flexibility (if any) do I get on my G UC ticket?
2. Do L economy fares (or any of the other more expensive upgradeable fares) vary massively in price during the sale (i.e. do I need to get my skates on and book before 25 Jan?!)
3. I've been doing the sums, trying to work out the best value for mileage redemption and it seems to me that buying an L economy fare and upgrading gives around 30% better value than a PE with upgrade or a straight reward flight (based on calculating the value of the miles against a cheap Z UC fare) Does this sound right (I've done the sums for LHR-LAX and LHR-HKG)? Any tips here?
4. Can you book open jaw reward flights or upgrades?

Thanks very much in advance

[Neil]

Welcome to the site, glad you find it useful

1) You are binded by the L fares rules and restrictions, but most things are changeable for a fee

2) Not really. Sale fares are in the lower fare buckets, so the higher fare codes aren't affected by them. Obviously prices do still fluctuate in all fare buckets

3) It all depends on what you want out of your ticket really. The cheapest way is by using just miles, but I like using L fares upgraded as it offers a good saving over a straight UC fare, but still allows me to earn miles and TP's, everyone is different though

4) Yes you can.

Thanks,
Neil

Superb. Thanks Neil!

Question 2: Be mindful though I've seen all fare costs shoot up the day after sales have ended, and significantly so; L's,S's etc.. assume depends what is left in that code for the flight. You'll always kick yourself if they do rise (as we did in the pre-xmas offerings)

One other point would be that the L fare is not guaranteed an upgrade to UC or PE...whereas if you just book the straight reward fare you know what you're getting. If you're chasing tier points/miles though an L is a good way to do it as Neil says.

Also two pence in for the little used flying company account where you can upgrade K class PE to UC...

Surely if you book an L fare and upgrade at the same time (obviously assuming G is available) then you get ticketed an UC seat and that's guaranteed?

Can you elaborate more on the K fare upgrades? I thought they weren't eligible for upgrade with miles.

[Neil]

Yes, if you book an L fare and get it upgraded to UC miles with on to a G, then it is a confirmed ticket/seat on the flight.

seanpep is referring to flying co which is for business travellers/companies. It has difficult rules etc compared to normal the normal FC, but isn't something that you need to think about really. You are correct that for you, a K fare, isn't upgradable with miles.

Sorry Neil, didn't mean to add confusion