The extract below is taken from the VA website Flying Club Ts&Cs. I have bolded the bits which I think give you your answer (but mainly
4.4.8)
4.4 Upgrades and Companion Rewards
4.4.1 For bookings made directly with
Virgin Atlantic: Your ticket will be issued in the upgrade class that you request, if available.
4.4.1.1 Qualifying fare levels for upgrades and companion tickets are correct at time of going to print.
As qualifying fare levels may vary from time to time, please check at time of booking.
4.4.1.2 Companion tickets and free complimentary companion tickets must be for the same date and flight as that of the paying passenger. The paying passenger is entitled to travel in the same or higher cabin than that of the companion if required, however companion tickets may never be booked into a higher cabin than the revenue ticket holder.
4.4.1.3 Each complimentary companion ticket is valid for 12 months from the Gold renewal date. The Flying Club Gold member must travel and is required to book the companion reward within this period. However the travel dates do not need to fall within this 12-month period.
4.4.2 For bookings made via a
travel agent please contact your local flying Club helpline.
If we are unable to confirm your upgrade, you may call Flying Club no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure to check availability try to confirm the upgrade, or stand by at the airport on the departure date. If seats become available, you may be upgraded.
Alternatively, you may exchange your miles for an upgrade (subject to availability) on the day of departure by approaching the Virgin Atlantic ticket desk at the airport prior to checking in and at least two hours prior to departure (upgrades will not be permitted at the boarding gate).
4.4.3 If you cancel a confirmed upgrade at least seven days before departure, we will recredit 75% of your miles to your Flying Club account. A handling fee of £25 for changes in the UK, US$50 for changes in the US or local currency equivalent of US$50 for changes in any other region will apply. The recredited miles will be available for their original validity period. If for any reason a flight reward is not taken up inside 7 days of departure, no miles will be refunded and no fee will be charged. Once travel has commenced miles cannot be refunded. Miles are not refundable and changes or revalidation are not permitted in case of no-show.
4.4.4 Upgrades are not valid on flights booked through Virgin Holidays.
4.4.5 Flying Club upgrades, companion rewards and free complimentary companion tickets are not valid on codeshare flights.
4.4.6 Flying Club upgrades cannot be used in conjunction with any promotional fare or discount. Round trip upgrades relate to two flown sectors only. Please note double the miles are needed for round trip upgrades to and from Sydney.
4.4.7 The member or authorised account user can request one companion return flight reward with Virgin Atlantic, provided that the Flying Club member and the companion both travel on the same flight and date, and the Flying Club member's ticket has been purchased at a qualifying adult fare. Companion rewards are not valid for flights purchased through Virgin Holidays, Virgin Atlantic Vacations or any other tour operator. Other exemptions include flights purchased at group fares, promotional rates or other selected discount levels.
Qualifying fare class for Upgrades or Companions
Country of Fare Origin Economy Premium Economy Upper Class (Companion only)
UK Y, B, L W, S J
Japan Y, B, L, M W, S J
Caribbean Y, B, L W, S J
USA Y, B W, S J
Hong Kong Y, B, L W, S J
China Y, B, L W, S J
South Africa Y, B, L, M W, S J
Nigeria Y, B, L, M** W, S J, D*
Nairobi Y, B, L W, S J
Mauritius Y, B, L W, S J
India Y, B, L, M W, S J, D*
United Arab Emirates Y, B, L W, S J
Australia Y, B, L W, S J
4.4.8 Qualifying fare levels for Economy to Premium Economy upgrades and Economy Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):
Only full adult fares apply
- Any Economy fares booked in Y class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.
- Only Virgin Atlantic published Economy fares booked in B, L, or M class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.
4.4.9 Qualifying fare levels for Premium Economy to Upper Class upgrades and Premium Economy Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):
Only full adult fares apply
- Any Premium Economy fares booked in W class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.
- Only Virgin Atlantic published Premium Economy fares booked in S class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.
4.4.10 Qualifying fare levels for Upper Class Companion tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights (see table above for country of fare origin restrictions):
Only full adult fares apply
- Any Upper Class fares booked in J class apply including Virgin Atlantic published, discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator type fares.
* For journeys Lagos to the USA and Delhi or Mumbai to USA, Virgin Atlantic published Upper Class fares booked in D class apply. All other ticket types such as but not limited to discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fare types are NOT applicable.
**M class is only available for flights booked outbound from Lagos.
