| Author |  Topic  |
Tonish
 United Kingdom
328 Posts
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Status: offline | |
Katys Grandad
![]() United Kingdom
1210 Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2004
Status: offline |  Posted - 27 May 2008 : 14:06:39  
| quote:
Originally posted by Tonish
Yes, it is Upper Class, but that shouldn't make any difference to the principle, which just doesn't make any sense at all.
Could it be that the miles/money fare books into a higher fare code and has additional benefits such as being fully changeable and refundable?
If the fare class and benefits are the same, as you rightly say, it makes no sense whatsoever. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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wrpac00
 United Kingdom
3386 Posts
Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 27 May 2008 : 19:39:39
| quote:
Originally posted by Tonish
Yes, it is Upper Class, but that shouldn't make any difference to the principle, which just doesn't make any sense at all.
Actually it does. Only certain classes of seats can be used for reward flights whether it be M+M or a Companion fare. Most times I have been lucky and paid the price shown i.e £2300 in your case. Once I had to pay a higher fare i.e. £2500 to be able to use my companion fare.
Also using M+M (or any reward) does not qualify you to gain airmiles on that trip but if you don't use M+M (or any reward) it does qualify you for airmiles.
Hope that makes sense cos I am lost now |
Paul
http://www.villasflorida.com/florida-vacation-rental-873.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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blott
 United Kingdom
22013 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 27 May 2008 : 22:35:23
| quote:
Originally posted by wrpac00
Also using M+M (or any reward) does not qualify you to gain airmiles on that trip but if you don't use M+M (or any reward) it does qualify you for airmiles.
Hope that makes sense cos I am lost now
Paul, you do get Virgin airmiles even if you have used them to book with M+M. At least, you do in economy because we've just had ours added from our recent flights which were booked using M+M.
From my account
18 Apr 2008 Reward:Miles Plus Money, MAN-MCO Economy Class rtn -4000
18 Apr 2008 Virgin Atlantic, MAN-MCO Economy 4224
20 May 2008 Virgin Atlantic, MCO-MAN Economy 4224
Tonish are you absolutely certain that this doesn't apply also to Upper Class? |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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Lynne S
 United Kingdom
2025 Posts
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 May 2008 : 22:50:04
| Blott, you lucky thing. I'd keep that under your hat as I have never been given points when I have used Miles plus Money for a flight.
I have just done a quick quote on the Virgin website and it states at the bottom that you don't earn miles for this.
TOTAL FARE (in GBP) 943.40, including taxes, fees & surcharges + Total Miles 4,000
Passengers Fare Taxes, fees, & Surcharges Fare Including Taxes, Fees & surcharges Sub-total
2 Adults GBP 260.00
+
2,000 miles each GBP 211.70 each GBP 471.70
+
2,000 miles each GBP 943.40
+
4,000 miles
Includes the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per segment, and carrier imposed fuel and insurance surcharges
Total For All Passengers GBP 943.40 + 4,000 miles
Currently we are unable to accept Solo or Electron cards online. A credit card fee may apply depending upon your chosen method of payment.
Please note this fare does not qualify to earn flying club miles.
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Lynne
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1507.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Tonish
United Kingdom
328 Posts
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 May 2008 : 23:00:57
| quote:
blott Posted - 27 May 2008 : 22:35:23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by wrpac00
Also using M+M (or any reward) does not qualify you to gain airmiles on that trip but if you don't use M+M (or any reward) it does qualify you for airmiles.
Hope that makes sense cos I am lost now
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonish are you absolutely certain that this doesn't apply also to Upper Class?
Actually, Blott, I'm not certain at all. I spent 15 mins trying various different combinations on the website and that was the best I came up with, so gave up in disgust at that point and didn't read any of the small print. Katy's Grandad may have a valid point as well. I was in a hurry and rattled off my response to the posts without having completely checked it out.
I'll have another go when I've got some more time to look at it properly - but I get the impression that they don't make it easy for you. I have a load of miles to spend and not enough time to use them. Would be a great help come our Christmas trip this year but I'm not sure my patience is up to it! |
Tonish | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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blott
United Kingdom
22013 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 28 May 2008 : 00:09:49
| quote:
Originally posted by Lynne S
Blott, you lucky thing. I'd keep that under your hat as I have never been given points when I have used Miles plus Money for a flight.
I have just done a quick quote on the Virgin website and it states at the bottom that you don't earn miles for this.
TOTAL FARE (in GBP) 943.40, including taxes, fees & surcharges + Total Miles 4,000
Passengers Fare Taxes, fees, & Surcharges Fare Including Taxes, Fees & surcharges Sub-total
2 Adults GBP 260.00
+
2,000 miles each GBP 211.70 each GBP 471.70
+
2,000 miles each GBP 943.40
+
4,000 miles
Includes the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per segment, and carrier imposed fuel and insurance surcharges
Total For All Passengers GBP 943.40 + 4,000 miles
Currently we are unable to accept Solo or Electron cards online. A credit card fee may apply depending upon your chosen method of payment.
Please note this fare does not qualify to earn flying club miles.
I've had them for every one of our flights so it's not just a one off. Otherwise, what's the point as it doesn't build in any loyalty?
Consider...
1 You make your first Virgin flight and earn 4224 miles for your return journey.
2 You book again using Miles + Money and spend 4000 miles for two people.
3 If you haven't earned any miles on your previous flight when you used them for M+M, you're left with 224 spare miles that you can't do anything with.
4 You decide it's not worthwhile collecting them and being loyal to Virgin and go elsewhere.
5 End of Flying Club membership and no more Virgin flights.
It doesn't make any sound business sense to send your loyal customers off to another airline... |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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jillizzy
United Kingdom
302 Posts
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 28 May 2008 : 01:03:17
| Lynne is correct and there are no miles given for M+M fares, any miles awarded have been given in error and this problem has now been rectified and is known to Virgin Atlantic now. Bear in mind that staff do read forums and miles can easily be taken away, it has happened on other sites.
Blott - you need to look at the argument from their POV too. If everyone was able to earn miles from a M+M fare, they would all book at the lower advertised price as 2K miles is pretty easy to get hold of. That way they would never sell any higher priced fares.
M+M are sometimes better value, sometimes not, especially when there is a sale fare. This argument stands pretty firm in EC and PE. However, when looking at UC this almost always isn't good value unless you have to book inside 21 days of travel. As long as you're outside 21 days of departure and a 'Z' fare is available, that will always be cheaper than a M+M fare in UC. Inside 21 days and you are comparing a M+M fare of around 2K to a flexible fare of around 4K.
M+M fares come into their own when (A) you want to book well in advance and are a big party, (B) when it's school holidays and (C) when there is no sale fares available. Their other advantage is that the dates can be changed for a £50 fee whereas the lowest priced flights cannot.
Airlines price strategies are complicated but once you know the rules they do make sense.
Jill | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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blott
United Kingdom
22013 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 28 May 2008 : 01:39:30
| If that's so, then Virgin can be very certain that we'll be voting with our feet (or should that be wings?) and not using them again in the future. There are plenty of other airlines out there with cheaper prices and less swingeing restrictions and that's a fact.
And I do hope someone from Virgin reads that and remembers that there are a lot more long haul passengers that read forums than there could ever be staff. |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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sammibabe
United Kingdom
368 Posts
Joined: 19 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 28 May 2008 : 11:09:25
| | Worth going somewhere else as they have dcefinately gone down hill over the last few years. We have miles to use up but once they're used we will try another airline. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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jillizzy
United Kingdom
302 Posts
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 28 May 2008 : 20:36:29
| quote:
Originally posted by blott
If that's so, then Virgin can be very certain that we'll be voting with our feet (or should that be wings?) and not using them again in the future. There are plenty of other airlines out there with cheaper prices and less swingeing restrictions and that's a fact.
And I do hope someone from Virgin reads that and remembers that there are a lot more long haul passengers that read forums than there could ever be staff.
It is definitely the correct information, I would never knowlingly post something that wasn't, it is also supported by VA's T&Cs on their website.
The T&Cs haven't changed for many years and you have been lucky to receive miles for your flights and for the reasons I gave I can't see the rules changing whether they read these postings or not.
I mentioned staff members reading forums purely for you to try and protect the miles you have and was trying to be helpful.
Jill | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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TrishT
 United Kingdom
287 Posts
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 01 Jun 2008 : 12:38:49
| we have the VA Amex card & this suits us down to the ground, the air miles just keep on coming.
we have used them for a few years now , and this is the first time we have used the points.
we just got one free flight in feb next year & 4 discounted flights using miles + money.
all in for £1500 for 5 of us. a saving of about £1000 possible more now the tax has just increased.
but why should Virgin give you miles on a flight thay you are getting for free , or much cheaper?
to me the system works. And we will continue to use it.
by the way have you noiticed that it takes a lot less airmiles to travel to New York for free than Orlando.
might pay you to do this then get a cheap internal flight to MCO.
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Edited by - TrishT on 01 Jun 2008 12:39:15 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Best use of Virgin Flying Club Miles?
