Booking UC for next Sept

After our recent UC experience to SFO and back from LAS we're well & truly hooked, so just looking at the most cost effective way of flying UC next year. We figured that as we have enough miles to upgrade from PE to UC a good option would be to pay for a PE ticket (of the right fare class of course )and use miles to upgrade.

We love Dubai as well as West coast USA so are looking at both options. I was really surprised at the price differential between the two routes, i.e. PE return to DXB comes in at £806.50 whereas PE return to LAX is £1,278.40 Key question is, surely the PE figure quoted for DXB must be a fare class that doesn't allow miles upgrades. Would I need to call FC to find out as the web site doesn't state fare class?

Also interesting, to buy UC outright for DXB is only £1,206.50, whereas LAX is £2,872. So now I'm thinking there's no point using miles for DXB as we can get UC for around £1,200!

Any thoughts/guidance welcome.

[RichardMannion]

DXB is a cheap route - you can buy a full fare J ticket for ~£2500. So I think I may look at using a companion voucher instead of buying two Z's. Will qualify for any promo that is running, and the obvious benefit of the CDC transfers.

To use the miles for the upgrade, you need to book an S class PE ticket. If it was me in your shoes, I would be using miles for the upgrade to SFO as its a much longer flight and UC is a lot more money on that route. And then purchase your choice of PE or UC for DXB - the flight is not too bad in legth so i would be quite happy with PE, though at the the price difference, I'd probably go in UC.

So yes, call VS for the S Fare to SFO or you could use your free queries at ExpertFlyer.com instead. When you call, be sure to ask them to check for availability in G class too on your intended dates of travel, as this is the fare class that will need to be avialble in advance for you to utilise miles for an upgrade to UC. TBH, with the SFO G classes are not too hard to come by, especially if booked way in advance.

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks for the informative reply Richard, much appreciated.