LHR -DEL BOOKING HELP

Hi everyone,

firstLy this is my first post so forgive me if I have made mistakes. I am looking to book a flight to Delhi in Feb. I am totally flexible and would like to return 21 days or so later again totally flexible. At present I have 61334 miles and am looking to spend some miles on one half of the flight and pay for the other half. That is where it gets more confusing for me, I would like to maximise my miles earning potential so miles and money is out and I am really confused as to what class I should book? Ideally would love to go out PE on the way out and first class on the way back or vice versa but am totally confused what is the best way of doing it or do I book a certain class and look to upgrade on the day with miles? would that maximise my miles earning potential? as my main requirement is earning as many miles as possible. I know there are specialists on the forum who have a magic way of looking at what is available. Would be SO GRATEFUL for help on this if any other info is needed please let me know.

thank you thank you

Welcome to the V-Flyer Im sure someone will be along soon to answer your question

Hi and welcome, and no problem at all re. your questions.

Looking at your mileage and your desire for PE out and UC back I suggest your best option is to book a L fare economy ticket. L fare is the minimum you can book and use miles to upgrade with. Upgrading from L to PE will require 12,500 miles, and L to UC for the return will require 25,000 for a total of 37,500 (noting you could aim for UC both ways with your miles). You'd have maybe £300 or so in taxes and surcharges to add to this. You would then earn miles and TPs for your original L economy booking.

Booking with miles one way and case the other is likely to be costlier, because one way bookings are priced in the most expensive fare class.

Alternatively book PE and upgrade to UC both ways for 25k miles total about about £50 tax, similarly earning TPs and miles for the PE journey.

Slinky

Am I right in assuming if you upgrade with miles you get TPs and miles for your original booking,but if you pay cash you get discounted TP's miles for the class you have upgraded to

thank you so much for your kind kind help slinky. can i ask a few more questions? if i go for the PE option with 25k miles upgrade both ways wat is the cheapest class I could do that in? and also is Jodash correct is it better for me to pay cash on the day for the upgrade and earn the discounted miles?

thank you so much for your kind kind help slinky. can i ask a few more questions? if i go for the PE option with 25k miles upgrade both ways wat is the cheapest class I could do that in? and also is Jodash correct is it better for me to pay cash on the day for the upgrade and earn the discounted miles?

S class is the cheapest upgradeable PE fare. Just make sure there is G (UC reward availability) before booking the fare. There is no guarantee of on the day cash upgrades, it's a gamble you take (and they can often be expensive) . What about a combi fare?
DL

You have enough miles for an upgradeable fare to UC.
A full G reward fare is 100,000 miles and £562 in taxes for Feb 2013 (no miles or tier points!)

If you as others say you book an upgradeable fare (there must be G availability in UC) you can save money, lots of miles and earn tier points.

Current prices for leaving early Feb and returning end Feb are (return):
Econ (L), £950 - 50,000 miles to upgrade to UC (earns 8338m and 6 tier points)
PE (S) £1126 - 25,000 miles to upgrade to UC (12,508 and 8 tier points)

Think these 2 options are good value judging by taxes for a full G reward fare.

Good luck, I'm planning a similar trip in September.

[preiffer]

As DragonLady says, don't rule out the option of a "combi reward" too....

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... ifares.jsp

Current prices for leaving early Feb and returning end Feb are (return):
Econ (L), £950 - 50,000 miles to upgrade to UC (earns 8338m and 6 tier points)
PE (S) £1126 - 25,000 miles to upgrade to UC (12,508 and 8 tier points)

Think these 2 options are good value judging by taxes for a full G reward fare.

Good luck, I'm planning a similar trip in September.

Mind you, DEL in winter is the destination where sale fares are regular and can be as low as £1,200 (which if the PE price doesn't blow you away, might be worth waiting for).

Also, DEL is due the new A333 later this year to replace the A346, so UC may not be as desirable.

thank you all for your help ) it means a lot! i think i might go for the pe option and upgrade one way in uc. i think waiting for the sale is a bit risky as who knows if the uc upgrade option will be there. i think as there is so little between the L class e and PE class S it makes sense to cough up. will call VA today and see what is there and will let you all know what i booked.

thanks again