Flying Club Reward Seat sales?

ok I am sure I sound like I am obsessing! but can anyone tell me if vs usually do a flight sale like the one they have going now? its 29950 miles to fly to New York.

Apparently they just finished one which was 30000 to Orlando.

Is this the best way to use the miles, if I have reached a upgrade milestone or 2, do we then get a pe seat? and how do I upgrade the kids? or should I leave them at the back? (I can't they are 8+5 )

Hi SM

There have been a few of these over the years, but they are not what you would call routine or even predictable.

Economy redemptions are not usually considered to be good value when full price (i.e. 50K miles) as, by the time you've paid the feea and taxes the saving over an outright cheap economy ticket is minimal. Reducing the miles might be better value, but the fees and taxes stay the same. The reductions generally don't coincide with peak demand times, for obvious reasons. And you don't earn miles on reward flights.

Using miles to upgrade to PE means you have to book an upgradable economy fare (which would be L, B or Y from the UK) and these are more expensive than the cheapest fares. To upgrade all four of you for the round trip you would need 80k miles (4 x 20k). But you do earn miles on the base fare.

There is a lot to weigh up but carry on reading and you'll learn a lot. I think upgrading, or outright miles redemptions for PE and upper are the best value for me, but only 2 of us travel. Economy redemptions, and miles plus money, can make sense for others who don't rack up miles by frequent flying or credit cards, etc.

Regards
R3dV

Leave the kids at home - they can ruin a holiday!

Reward seat availability is something of a black art, and don't forget you will still have the taxes/surcharges to pay.

Just because you have the miles does not mean there will be a seat - one option is to ring the flying club and explain when and where and ask them to check for the deals. Being flexible on dates can help.

Otherwise, just do a dummy booking on the VS website and see what comes up.

Good luck!

thanks for that.

how does everyone else spend their miles then?

thanks for that.

how does everyone else spend their miles then?

I'm saving them for 2 x return reward tickets to SFO which are 100,000 a piece at the moment.

Just used mine to book Man-Las next year for may birthday grabbed them when they became availalbe in May.

Just used mine to book Man-Las next year for may birthday grabbed them when they became availalbe in May.

did you use a reward flight, or m+m and what level did you fly in

I have bought an economy seat and upgraded to UC to in 2008 and used m&m in 2010, and used miles for a premium economy seats to Orlando in December

I used some of ours to buy 2 x 'L's to upgrade to UC for LGW-MCO in Feb this year & have used more to buy 2 x 'L's to UC for LHR-MIA in the autumn

Some V-flyers wouldn't think this is a good use of miles but we do, we bought at good prices on the dates that suited us, therefore result y)

Everyone has different opinions.

Have fun searching for what suites you.

R-P

I always use mine for G's but I buy them for family/friends as a gift most of the time. Good value on west coast US routes.

Just used mine to book Man-Las next year for may birthday grabbed them when they became available in May.

did you use a reward flight, or m+m and what level did you fly in

I spent them on Upper Class for me and the Wife (reward)

Just blown 100K FC miles on UC reward flight LHR-JNB-LHR, plus ££516 taxes and fees.Not a bad deal at all for a long haul UC trip ..including CH at LHR and JNB!
I had to be patient and made very regular checks on availablity but got what I wanted. y)

My view,is that this is the best way to get value from FC miles.Other V Flyers have their own views and priorities on how to use miles, but this way works for me.

Only thing now is building up more FC miles to do it again! ):

Cheers

Paul

Have more than enough miles for a Tokyo Upper Class return for myself and DW. I had every intentions to use it this summer and availability was readily available until the earth quake hit.

I reviewed going to other destinations and decided to travel to Orlando in economy instead using miles so it doesn't hit my miles balance so much and I can still save again for an Upper Class trip to Tokyo in the future.

Tickets booked to Orlando in September with miles in economy then a week later received a free PE upgrade voucher from AMEX (perfect timing). Used the free upgrade voucher to PE and use more miles to upgrade the second ticket to PE too.

So now travelling in PE to Orlando.