Expiry for companion flights/ premium economy upgrade?

I have just looked at my account to see that I have qualified for a credit card companion flight - does anyone know within what space of time I have to book this?
Also, I qualified for a premium economy reward upgrade in January this year - any time limit before this runs out?

I am thinking of planning a trip for a group of 5, next August from LHR-YVR and then LAX to LHR. Ideally upper both ways using miles, by booking an L fare in economy, and then upgrading to upper.

Just wondering what the best way is to use the two rewards I have?

Just a side question - do people think that the Vancouver route next year will still be on A343s- Maiden Tokyo, African Queen etc? I sincerely hope not!

Many thanks.

The rewards have to be booked within 12 months of hitting your account. The actual flight can take place outside of this time frame though. y)

Companion tickets are hard to economically use. You have to buy full fare tickets in order to cash them in and usually 2 of the discounted fare tickets will turn up cheaper - there are of course exceptions.

No idea about planes used next year.... don't believe VS will have an idea until the day Probs going to be the A333s though!!

To get UC for 5 people for that route LHR-YVR.. LAX-LHR will take some serious mileage and cost in taxes and surcharges too with little gain in the terms of TP and miles.. The trick will also be to snag 5 G reward fares in UC.

Companions will do little good here as you will not be able to upgrade the companion fares.. also the PE reward upgrades get you from Eco to PE and no further.... even with miles, t&Cs don't allow it. That would be too easy :w

Sorry to be all doom and gloom. :# :#

Hmm ok, thanks for the info. So if I buy an L economy fare, will I be able to use my companion to get another person for free, just paying the taxes? And then use miles to upgrade both to upper? And is the companion a return ticket?

Also, with the premium economy upgrade, are there restrictions on when this can be used? If I buy a non-flexible economy ticket, can i just then use the upgrade to get to premium with no extra cost except the increased APD for PE?

Thanks

If you buy an L economy fare only you can upgrade to UC... The companion ticket cannot be upgraded using mileage at all unfortunately.

Yep L class can be used to get a companion and you will have to pay taxes and surcharges on that ticket too. Companion is a return ticket if your ticket is one... think of it as a buy one get one free(ish)

PE reward upgrades can only be used when redeeming miles to purchase an Eco ticket - it is an all miles transaction (and of course taxes and surcharges ): ). Think of these as getting a PE mileage ticket for the price of an Economy one.