"combi-fare" and multi-centre booking question

Having recently started thinking about ways to burn some FC miles, I have a question about combi fares:

Would I be able to do M-G on the way out, and pay PE (probably the cheapest fare bucket) on the way back? My chat with an online advisor suggests that I can’t do this as a combi, as both sectors will be revenue fares. Am I right in thinking, therefore, that if both sectors are classed as revenue bookings, I won’t actually need to rely on it being a “combi fare” to “protect” me from paying the one way premium for the return sector?

An additional complication is that I’m potentially thinking about doing this as a “multi-centre”. The current thinking is that we would fly LHR – SFO (not sure how readily available those Gs will be) and then back from LAS (to LGW?). Not looking for this year anyway so there’s plenty of time, but it would be great to get a good understanding of how it all works. The other option (rather than the west coast road trip probably for 2 weeks) is a week-long visit to Chicago, where G availability seems pretty healthy. Appreciating that those are two completely different places to visit (but I’m putting them as alternatives because I only have enough miles to book one of them for now), any suggestions/recommendations/thoughts are very welcome!

Thank you

If you are upgrading to a G on the way out then no, you don't need a combi fare. Open jaw flights shouldn't be a problem either.

Thank you Hamster, I suspected as much but wanted some confirmation in addition to what I've been told on online chat

My chat with an online advisor suggests that I can’t do this as a combi, as both sectors will be revenue fares. Am I right in thinking, therefore, that if both sectors are classed as revenue bookings, I won’t actually need to rely on it being a “combi fare” to “protect” me from paying the one way premium for the return sector?

That's right, a combi-fare is one sector a revenue seat and the other sector is a full reward, you can do the reward seat either outbound or in. The usual configuration is the UC reward (G) and then a revenue in Y or PE. If you book the revenue seat in an upgradeable fare bucket (so M for Y or S/W for PE) then you can upgrade it with miles should there be availability. As has been said, the open jaw shouldn't be a problem, but the combi-fare can only be booked with an FC agent and not online.

My partner and I are doing that exact trip on 10/9 to San Fran, PE S upgraded to G, and then PE K fare from LAS back.

I have to say after lots of research, I had to ring virgin the day the 2 G's came up to SFO (336 days advance) and 'reserve them', before waiting a week for the return to become available, and being able to buy the ticket. (Revenue not combi)

If you want G's to SFO, you have to act fast as they are becoming impossible to get!

Hope you get it sorted!

Chrisfinch, well done on getting those Gs! I didn't know that they could reserve them for you for so long - I thought it could only be kept for 24 hours only. What did you do to "reserve" them, may I ask?

Thanks very much for your helpful input.

When I called the contact centre, I asked how long I could reserve the G's, they said 72 hours so I did, at the end of that, I was able to call up and explain I needed a few more days until the return fare became available and the nice agent agreed to hold them for the remaining duration!

I have to say not all agents have been so helpful, some refusing longer than 24 hours. It would seem that it definitely depends on who you speak to! If one won't do it, id ring back and speak to another as they just might!

It seemed 2 G's were coming up on several flights that week, but when I called to complete the booking, there were none, so I guess many people do this! (It probably helps it's so far in advance!)

That's really helpful, thank you again chrisfinch_2000.

After some discussions with Mr W, we've decided to do Chicago next year in the summer, as just can't justify 2 expensive trips next year (especially as he's going to NYC with his family for a week too in addition to those).

But the west coast is firmly on our list for 2016... so I would be interested in any tips that you might have once you've had your trip in September