Best use of Virgin Flying Club Miles?

[domster]

I would hope so at that price!

[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.

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">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.
[/quote]

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.

[wrpac00]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">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.
[/quote]

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[msnscared]

[Lynne S]

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.

[Tonish]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">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[/quote]

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!

[jillizzy]

Lynne is correct and there are no miles given for M+M 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

[sammibabe]

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.

[jillizzy]

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.

Jill

[TrishT]

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.