VA Amex "Free upgrade"

General question

Is it really worth using the Economy to PE upgrade you get from using your VA Amex card (Economy flight bought with miles into PE) all the surcharges don't seem to make it worthwhile. As when I normally fly I buy a PE fare and always use the miles to upgrade to upper class, after check availability of course.

So am I better of using the miles as I currently do or using their "upgrade" offer to fly PE for a change.

I got the email a few weeks back so just want to see peoples opnions.

The 'surcharges' from PE to UC appear less than from Y to PE as when you are already in PE you have already paid the higher rate of APD (you only have to pat some extra fuel surcharge) but when moving from Y to PE you have extra APD AND fuel surcharge to pay.

As to whether the voucher is good value or not depends on your attitude to collecting and using your miles.

[Neil]

We have used the voucher numerous times. In total it cost us just over £650 for 2 x PE flights to MCO (plus miles of course), when the cheapest fare (incl sales) on our dates haven't been lower than £900 per person, giving us a nice saving of around £1150. They are even better value for money if you can buy the economy reward seat when there is a sale on.

Do just bear in mind that if you use the voucher you cannot then upgrade with with more miles to UC.

Do just bear in mind that if you use the voucher you cannot then upgrade with with more miles to UC.

Thanks there will be no saving on on the economy fare unless there is a reward flight mileage sale on only NYC at the moment. I know you can't upgrade the reward flight to upper using miles thanks for the heads up though.

Yes, we got 3x EC seats to MCO in the reward sale last June for 25k each plus £700 taxes, then I used our vouchers to upgrade 2 of the tix and miles for the 3rd, plus £296 fees. So have paid £1000 for 3 returns in PE. Bargain
I didn't realise you could use the vouchers to upgrade sale reward fares, pleasantly surprised for a change when ringing VS !
It helps that we are travelling off peak, probably the last time ever as L2H jnr starts school in Sept.
Roll on 17th Feb, need some warm weather

Roll on 17th Feb, need some warm weather

You and me both, but have you checked out the Sunshine State's weather for the next 15days on weather underground? I wasn't a happy bunny when a tv weather person referred to "washout Florida" They apparently need the rain, yeah right but can you wait a while please and put those clouds on hold y)

it depends where you are headed...the forecast is not brilaint but remember, out here a t storm can be gone in under an hour

Yes, we got 3x EC seats to MCO in the reward sale last June for 25k each plus £700 taxes, then I used our vouchers to upgrade 2 of the tix and miles for the 3rd, plus £296 fees. So have paid £1000 for 3 returns in PE. Bargain
I didn't realise you could use the vouchers to upgrade sale reward fares, pleasantly surprised for a change when ringing VS !

I suppose it depends if you put a value on the miles. I do kind of rate them as £150 per 10000 (cost of buying them from virgin), so your cost would be £1000 + 7.5x150 = £2050 really...

Have used upgrades from Amex card for last 3 summers going to USA with family.
Usually buy one revenue PE fare, one milage PE fare and use the 2 upgrade Y to PE rewards for the kids.
Means we get 4 PE returns for less than the price of 4 economy tickets. well worth in my opinion.

Do accept that with the new upgrade levels that PE to UC is probably better use of miles if not travelling with the whole family!

I suppose it depends if you put a value on the miles. I do kind of rate them as £150 per 10000 (cost of buying them from virgin), so your cost would be £1000 + 7.5x150 = £2050 really...

If you have to 'buy' VS miles to enable you to use the AmEx voucher then the process is not cost-effective. I've got a voucher which will expire in July but to use it I'd need to buy alot of miles in order to get a reward fare. So that method doesn't work. However the way Neil describes his use of the voucher/s makes it worthwhile and a good way of upgrading.

[Neil]

I suppose it depends if you put a value on the miles. I do kind of rate them as £150 per 10000 (cost of buying them from virgin), so your cost would be £1000 + 7.5x150 = £2050 really...

You see I don't look at it like that at all. Buying miles is a very expensive way of collecting miles and does not really represent the true value of the miles.

For me I pay £140 a year annual fee and then just buy *everything* on my CC instead of paying out of my current account. So those miles I am now earning just cost me £140 per year, however many I earn from it. Then I do free surveys and earn miles when staying at hotels, hiring a car etc, all things I would do normally, but I choose partners that earn me miles, so again not costing me extra to earn those miles.

Yes same here, do not buy miles just use my Amex (and now visa!) to buy everything and pay off with cash. It soon adds up.

FLABOUND - we are doing a week in MCO and then a week on Marco Island 8D
10 days and counting !

I recently used this voucher for a return trip from LGW to MCO for my brother, we used it when there was an economy miles sale on so used 30000 with the voucher plus taxes. When we got to the airport there were still available seats in upper (where myslef and my mother were sat) so we managed to get him an upgrade to upper class for 12500 miles.

Apparently different upgrade rules apply at the airport and if there are seats still available it's definitely worth it.

Thanks

Cat

47500 miles each and used my Virgin Amex upgrades to PE, tax was £373 each,
That's £750 for 2 of us to Las Vegas return in Premium Economy
I think that's a pretty good deal