Looking to upgrade using flying miles - Advice please

Hi All.
Totally new to this forum, but thought it a good place to start.

I am looking at going to New York December 2014 (I know I can't book just yet...)

My aim is to travel out between 24th and 27th returning on 2nd/3rd January

I am almost at 80,000 miles and I am going with my partner.

I want to know what my best options are to upgrade to Upper Class both ways for both me and my partner, how is best to book, what should I look for and what should I be warned about?

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions welcomed.

I read that it can be hard to get these upgrades so I have around 26/27 days before I can book anything so need to get my head in the game.

Thanks in advance

Matthew

[Neil]

Hi Matthew, welcome to the site.

The best use of your miles in my opinion, would b to buy two economy M fares and upgrade them to UC miles miles (40k per pax round trip).

There isn't really anything to be careful of, the only issue you could potentially have is no UC reward seats being available of your chosen dates. Saying that, you have picked probably the easiest destination to get reward seats to, simply because NYC has the most daily flights. Also, the fact you can be slightly flexible on your dates will help, so I would be very surprised if you couldn't get any.

You might find that the reward seats don't become available straight away, this isn't uncommon, but start checking from the day they are released, and keep checking on a daily basis. The only other thing I can think, is be prepared to be slightly flexible with which flights you ideally would like. Sometimes reward seats aren't released on every flight, so keep an open mind for morning or afternoon flights, and also to/from JFK or EWR.

Any more questions, just ask away.

Neil

HI Neil.

Thanks for your quick reply. All of what you have put is very welcome news, just need to keep my eyes peeled now for some deals to become available.

Is it worth ringing flying club as soon as they are available to see what there is? Should I take the first seats they have or is there any method in waiting and see if they become cheaper?

[Neil]

You don't have to call FC to check miles availability. Just do a dummy miles booking on the VS website, this saves having to call all the times.

Personally, if you find some reward seats in the dates that work for you, then I would book them. Yes, the economy fare price might go down, but it might also go up, and the reward seats might go and no more become available.

Thats brilliant thank you.

I have one last question (I hope) if I am booking a package with VH what is the process for upgrading?

[Neil]

If you are booking through VH, you cannot use miles to upgrade. Miles can only be used on direct bookings with VS.

VH do have set upgrade prices, which are usually £299pp one way from Y to PE and around £599pp from Y to UC one way - but best to double check with them.

When we did a return trip to Orlando last Feb/Mar we bought the economy tickets well in advance and then got the upgrades in stages as they became available. First to PE then Upper out and PE back then Upper back. with the final upgrade made in June. I think we changed to a later flight for the final Upper upgrade.

Dick D

When we did a return trip to Orlando last Feb/Mar we bought the economy tickets well in advance and then got the upgrades in stages as they became available. First to PE then Upper out and PE back then Upper back. with the final upgrade made in June. I think we changed to a later flight for the final Upper upgrade.

Dick D

I'm really new to all this so I'm bit confused - how does all that work?? do you only pay for the final upgrade?