A bit of confusion...help!

If I purchase a flight in economy and then upgrade to UC with miles would I therefore earn economy miles/UC miles/no miles? ?| Just want to make sure so I can weigh up my options.

You would earn miles and tier points for the economy fare you paid.

Thanks for clearing that up

Just done this and gumshoe is spot on. It is not an be automatic process though, you need to call FC on your return and ask them to add the miles and TP manually. I did this last Friday.

That is true. A quick call to the FC helpline the day after you get back will sort that instantly.

Worth noting also that you get FULL economy miles and tier points if you buy an upgradeable economy fare, not the half miles and reduced tier points you get with the cheapest non-flexible tickets.

So you have to call? You can't do it by logging into flying club online?

[Neil]

So you have to call? You can't do it by logging into flying club online?

No, you have to call. The VS system can't understand the whole booking one class but flying another, so an agent has to do it manually otherwise you won't get any miles or TP's.

Also to book an upgradable flight could I simply buy the economy 'lowest' fair, paid with money only?

[honey lamb]

So you have to call? You can't do it by logging into flying club online?

Nope you have to call!

*Resisting the urge to make smart-assed comments about VS's IT system*

Correct. Call them to book (though you can use the website to ascertain fares and the availability of G seats).

Then call them again after you get home to ask them to credit the miles as for reasons only known to VS it won't happen automatically like it would for a normal cash booking.

Have to say that I'm not a big fan of using the phone (even for a girl!!) but the CS team are really awesome!! Very friendly and helpful.

Also to book an upgradable flight could I simply buy the economy 'lowest' fair, paid with money only?

No. The cheapest economy fares are not upgradable with miles.

You have to book a flexible economy fare which is considerably more expensive.

Second what waatp said ,the FC team are really good,spent over an hour recently booking flights to NY because I wanted to go through a lot of options ,the lady was very patient and helpful

You have to book a flexible economy fare which is considerably more expensive.[/quote]

I didn't realise that. In that case I won't bother trying to upgrade, I'll just slum it in economy and look on longingly to my usual PE

It might be worth getting a quote because the difference between a normal economy fare and an upgradeable one can be smaller than you imagine. Indeed VS recently changed the rules, which allows you to upgrade from M rather than L fares - even better.