First time upgrading

Hi!

I've been reading the posts on this forum for a couple of months and have finally registered - everybody here is so helpful and I've picked up so much useful info for when I make my booking!

I think I have a lot of the details that I need to call up, but there are a few things I wanted to double check/ask, so here goes!

I've currently got 25k miles (25055 to be specific!) I want to travel LHR to LAX on July 21st 2014, and JFK to LHR on August 1st (which obviously isn't quite available to book yet).

I want to upgrade the LHR to LAX leg only to UC using my 25k miles, and as it's the first time I've ever travelled UC I want to maximise Clubhouse time so would be looking at VS023 rather than VS007 (currently there is reward availabilty on this flight, I think!).

When it comes to checking prices though, I'm struggling due to the multi-city nature of my trip. If I search for round trip tickets in M class from Heathrow to LAX or Heathrow to JFK I can get prices, but when I go back and change it to a multi-city search, even if I select M class the tickets it shows me are always X. Is there any way I can check this before I call up so I can be fully armed with costings, or am I just going to have to phone up and let them work it out?

Although I'm only planning to upgrade one way I do want both legs to be upgradable as I have a stash of Tesco clubcard vouchers (enough for around 10k miles at the moment with more still to post) so am hoping to scrape together another 20k miles to upgrade the journey home too - at some point between now and then, subject to there being any reward availability.

Due to the time of year I know there's never going to be a super cheap way to do this, I just want to be prepared so that I can get it done as cheaply as I'm able! My dates are slightly flexible (I need to be in LA before Weds 23rd and could travel home any time from Thurs 31st, Mon 21st and Fri 1st are just my preferred dates)

(Oh, and my LAX-JFK leg is covered - I have enough United airmiles from a trip I took this summer to get there for $5!)

Thanks in advance!

When it comes to checking prices though, I'm struggling due to the multi-city nature of my trip. If I search for round trip tickets in M class from Heathrow to LAX or Heathrow to JFK I can get prices, but when I go back and change it to a multi-city search, even if I select M class the tickets it shows me are always X. Is there any way I can check this before I call up so I can be fully armed with costings, or am I just going to have to phone up and let them work it out?

Hello and welcome to the board. Just checked it out myself and the M fares do keep changing to either an X or an O fare on open jaw itineraries.... how bizarre (and annoying) - sorry a call to VS is in order ii)

Sounds like you have everything sussed, any further questions though ask away 8D

If you want that reward seat, I'd call up immediately and grab it. UC reward seats are few and far between these days and there's no guarantee it'll still be there tomorrow or even in an hour.

They'll gladly keep your booking "on hold" for 24 hours (and sometimes longer) if you don't want to commit on the spot - and I've always found their sales staff to be extremely helpful and patient when it comes to pricing up different fare & reward combinations.

I regularly do open jaws to the US and the Virgin site can't handle the type of fare you are asking for so you will definitely have to call up for a price.

Out of interest, if the OP does indeed book the outbound G fare to LAX now, won't she face a higher one way fare when it comes to booking the JFK-LHR leg? One ways are notoriously more expensive. I don't have much experience with this though.

Out of interest, if the OP does indeed book the outbound G fare to LAX now, won't she face a higher one way fare when it comes to booking the JFK-LHR leg?

Nope not at all given it is part of a return booking.

If you want that reward seat, I'd call up immediately and grab it. UC reward seats are few and far between these days and there's no guarantee it'll still be there tomorrow or even in an hour.

They'll gladly keep your booking "on hold" for 24 hours (and sometimes longer) if you don't want to commit on the spot - and I've always found their sales staff to be extremely helpful and patient when it comes to pricing up different fare & reward combinations.

Can I do that even though my return date isn't available to book yet? That's honestly the only reason I haven't called up already, because I was waiting for August 1st to show up for the return leg!

Thanks for the quick responses everybody!

Ah sorry, no you'll need to wait for the return leg to open up. July 31st is available now so could well be tomorrow (or midnight tonight if that's the time they open up a new day).

UC reward availability for LAX looks very good next July so with any luck a G will still be available. As for the return from JFK - there's a reward seat available now on the 31st so check again tomorrow to see if there's one on the 1st.

I don't currently have enough miles to upgrade both legs and the LHR to LAX is more appealing to me - if I miss out on the return I won't cry about it!

I'll be checking tomorrow to see if August 1st has appeared and then calling up - I'll be sure to stop by and let you know how I get on! Thanks for the tips (and the confirmation that I can't get a price from the website - I'd rather know it's actually not possible than finding out later there was something I missed!)!

Return flights now showing for your dates, once you have the extra miles to upgrade the return leg it is always possible to switch to a different flight if there are no reward seats on your original choice, (you can virtually always find seats on one of the flights daily out of New York) On an M class fare it costs £100pp to change

Best of luck with your reservation

Thanks for the help everybody!

I ended up waiting until today to book - risky I know, but work was crazy yesterday and I just couldn't find a minute to get things sorted. The Monday flight I had preferred had gone, but checking on rewardseats.com both the VS7 (11.30am) and the VS23 (15.45) were available for the Tuesday. That still works out fine for me, I just needed to be there before Wednesday.

Anyway, I just called, spoke to a lovely chap who didn't think he'd be able to help me (thought August 1st was too far out) until I told him it had appeared on the website and he said "Oh that will be okay then!"

I'm all booked! Unfortunately despite rewardseats.com and the VS website still showing availability on the VS23 in the afternoon, he told me that the only one available was the VS7 in the morning. (And since I booked, VS7 has disappeared from rewardseats.com but VS23 is still showing - strange!) Rather than risk that disappearing too I booked it anyway - it's disappointing to have a few less hours in the clubhouse but it won't spoil the experience considering it's still more time than I've ever spent in one before!

And I'm on the 22.10 flight home from JFK, so should I manage to upgrade that, I'll be sure to arrive there in plenty of time to use the clubhouse there!

And I'm on the 22.10 flight home from JFK, so should I manage to upgrade that, I'll be sure to arrive there in plenty of time to use the clubhouse there!

There are three VS flights out of JFK in the evening (VS4, VS46, VS10) so hopefully you should be able to upgrade onto one of them.

Result on the bookings, always good when a plan comes together 8D

Which website do you use to search for class availability/costs of seats that can be bought for FC mile upgrades?

Many thanks in advance........

Which website do you use to search for class availability/costs of seats that can be bought for FC mile upgrades?

Many thanks in advance........

For cost, the VS website - appears it does have a use after all

This link should help. You can change the fare code that you want ticketed in the search box at the bottom.

For availability, I use FlightStats

TVM for those links