Cheapest UC return to get gold before the changes...

Wow, interesting times ahead...It seems we are in the same boat as many of you on here: we fly UC only at least 4-8 times per year for pleasure and are loyal to virgin..I so hope these changes still make it viable for us to stay with virgin. :

In light of the changes, to get my Au it looks like I'm going to have to grab a quick flight to earn my 10 TPs before the 13th Nov if I understand all this correctly...

The best deal I am seeing is DUB-MIA out 11 Nov , back 13 Nov (Dub - Lhr on BA) coming in at around £1600.

Does anyone else have any other routing ideas or would I be better looking at Delta or other partner airline...can be out of any EU airport.

Would really appreciate any other ideas from you experts as I need to book and do this quickly!! Thanks for your time all. Hope everyone is well.

Why the hurry?

After 13 Nov your existing TPs will simply be multiplied by 25, as will the threshold for retaining Au.

So if you've got 30 TPs now and need 10 more to achieve Au, you'll have 750 and need 250.

As long as you BOOK before the 13th you can fly whenever you want and still earn TPs at the existing rate (multiplied by 25). So an UC return will earn the required 250 TPs as long as you book in the next 10 days.

Don't panic!

Ah thanks so much Gumshoe, this is great news and that takes the pressure off. Phewwwwy. Thank you for that.

I've still got 10 days to the find the right deal though, prices in my opinion seem relatively high to go anywhere. If you were me Gumshoe, what would you book (c'mon throw trunkie another bun )

prices will be high because you are wanting to travel within the next few days and all the cheaper fare buckets (with advance date provisions) will have either have already been bought or removed from sale

A winter break in MIA sounds good to me! I'm seeing £1270 leaving on Jan 3, coming back a week later. Other dates no doubt available over Xmas & New Year when business class travel tends to be cheaper due to lower demand.

If you want cheaper, consider something like LGW-MCO in economy (100 TPs return under the new system) then do a TP run on Delta domestic in First, eg ATL-MCO (150 TPs return). That's easily doable for under £750.

Thank you Tontybear, that's helpful and along with what Gumshoe says, it seems I don't have to travel so immediately now, hopefully, giving me access to those cheaper fares.

Gumshoe that really is great advice, and great price for Miami too. Thank you for looking. Also interesting idea of a cheap way of making up the TPs but you are right MIA sounds way more appealing...thanks again, really appreciate it.