Using Air Miles

Hi everyone - i'm a newbie here so I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong place.
We have accumulated a large amount of airmiles and so were hoping to use them to upgrade to upper class on the LHR to hong kong route. Does anyone have any experience in reward seats? I have heard they are notoriously difficult to get hold of, but we were planning on traveling on 24th or maybe even 25th December, so were hoping that this would increase our chances, as well as there being nearly 50 UC seats on this route compared to the very small number on the Boeings out of Gatwick. This is for December 2012 not 2011 but it's always good to plan ahead!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.

There are plenty of threads on this subject and also on LHR-HKG. Searching will lead you to discover that you need to book either a L fare or above in economy, or a S fare or above in premium to be able to use miles to upgrade. Then, there's additional tax and surcharge to pay (much more from Y to UC than PE to UC).

You can search for availability by going through the online booking process selecting 'Spend Miles' in the booking search page, that will show whether G fares (the Upper Class redemption class) are available on your dates.

Yes, it has been reported that ever since the second HKG flight was cancelled after the GFC it has been difficult to get rewards on this route, but many have been successful. Unfortunately for you, those people probably planned much further ahead, but as you say on Christmas Day you might be luckier.

[honey lamb]

Yes, it has been reported that ever since the second HKG flight was cancelled after the GFC it has been difficult to get rewards on this route, but many have been successful. Unfortunately for you, those people probably planned much further ahead, but as you say on Christmas Day you might be luckier.

Erm, slinky, the OP did say it was for Christmas 2012 so I'd say they're well ahead in their planning

Just checking , but they need to be Flying Club miles (not Airmiles, as the two products are not interchangeable).
DL

Erm, slinky, the OP did say it was for Christmas 2012 so I'd say they're well ahead in their planning

Oh I blame the early hour then ... indeed, in which case it's too early to check for availability, since that will only come on line sometime late January, if at all then.

Thanks HL :# .

Then, there's additional tax and surcharge to pay (much more from Y to UC than PE to UC).

Difference in Fuel Surcharge Y-PE = £ 37
Difference in APD Y-PE = £ 75
TOTAL = £ 112

Difference in Fuel Surcharge Y-UC = £ 94
Difference in APD Y-UC = £ 75
TOTAL = £ 169

Difference in Fuel Surcharge PE-UC = £ 57
Difference in APD PE-UC = £ 0
TOTAL = 57


(all based on a Dec 2011 dummy booking so obviously subject to change for 2012)