How do i claim airmiles if i book with virgin

[stephensmum]

Have been waiting for some decent flight prices for August and now DH wants to just book with Virgin at £703 each, must say i'm reluctant as we were also wanting to go for longer this year. But anyway, it's occurred to me that I don't know anything about how you get airmiles. Can anyone guide me through this? Also, any info on going with Virgin would help.

 

[wayneg]

To claim Virgin airmiles you register on their site then add your member # to your booking, or tell them at checkin, they will then add your miles to your account. Best registering 1 person first then anyone else join thru their Miles more friends scheme, you both get a bonus then.

Have a read here and then ask if you don't undertand anything.
https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/index.jsp

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Wayne, I was hoping you'd be on. Can't believe I'm considering paying over £700, infact I really thought i'd get the airmile bit sorted in the hope of been ready to go if flights were reduced. Anyhow, I have registered. Checked our flights & it was 150,000
miles needed. It mentioned over ways of getting airmiles, 1 was a credit card, which I don't really want but could get then not use what do you think? Are the airmiles worth the bother? Also, do you only get them if you book with virgin or continental? I have found it slightly cheaper through Travel Pack on Travel supermarket.

 

[wayneg]

I couldn't pay £700 for an economy flight, crazy isn't it. Ours went up to over £900 yesterday, not checked today yet, Will almost certainly be indirect now for us.

Credit card can be a good way to earn miles but they are not for eveyone, I have gained about 25,000 miles using ours, pay it off every month, never pay interest.

Airmiles can be worth the bother but not as easy to spend as tehy were, especially in school hols. We saved about £5,000 over a 3 year period using miles, recently not saved anything, just keep mounting them up. I can use them in August free flights to New York but not for Orlando.

I have never managed to use Travelpack, I have tried twice but everytime I get to payment page it says your fare is now not available. Trouble is you have to go all the way thru the booking to find out, its very frustrating.

 

[stephensmum]

Can't believe it flights gone up to £745. I just can't bring myself to pay that sort of money. We can stay a day longer for £718 but It's still over the top. Norman's arguement is that in direct is £660 & if we wait any longer we may end up paying that for in direct. I think it was March last year when you pointed us in the direction of the £300 Delta flights & although I don't expect to get those again, I think it would be worth the wait. Thanks for your help.

 

[stephensmum]

Oh forgot to ask, It says the flights we wanted are worth 4,224, is that for all of us? + 4 tier points. what are tier points?

 

[wayneg]

Oh forgot to ask, It says the flights we wanted are worth 4,224, is that for all of us? + 4 tier points. what are tier points?

You would get 4,224 each traveller aged 12 or over.
They add tier points along side your miles, if you get more than so many(think its 15) in a year you goto the next level, we have never managed next level, always been Red members. I think you have to take 4 economy flights a year to go up, don't really bother with them as we won't get there.

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Wayne. Put the dates in on Opodo & it shows only 6 left would that be just for Opodo or for Virgin as well? Obviously, people must be paying these prices! I presume there will just keep going up. How much would you pay for in direct 15/8?

 

[wayneg]

Is it from Manchester on the 15th August?
Just checked on Virgins website there are at least 8 seats available in economy to fly out that day, thats most you can check online, 9 or more you have to ring them so Opodo saying 6 left is not correct(if I have the right airport and date)

I have always had a £500 limit for diriect August flights, this year I have increased it to £600, as my dates are now at over £900 it looks like we are going indirect.

 

[stephensmum]

Yes, Manchester on 15 Aug, would have preferred the 14th but that's the afternoon flight & £45 each extra to change to morning. Yours is quite a bit more as is our friends who have booked OKW for the 16 Aug. We've not booked SSR yet, which is another concern but going to have to decide before there go up again. Norman still wants to book & as he points out we are both celebrating our 50th's & Stephen his 13th, so perharps we should. I'm from Leeds & he say's it's the yorkshire in me. But he was well pleased last year.

 

[WiganTony]

Just to throw in a "curveball", if you join the bmi Diamond Club, you can earn the same miles flying with Virgin Atlantic and any other Star Alliance carrier (e.g. Continental, US Airways, Air Canada to name a few). This would give much greater flexibility for future flights booked using miles. From Manchester, you now have the choice of indirect flights on US Airways (via Philadelphia) or Continental (via New York) as well as VA direct.

As an example, I have been fortunate enough to fly quite a lot with work over the last few years on Lufthansa, Swiss and bmi, as well as two package holidays using VA, all miles being credited to my bmi account. The only downside is that you may not get the "tier" miles.

As a result, in 2007 we used bmi Miles to book MAN-MCO direct on Virgin. We were hoping to use bmi miles again this year to book with US Airways, but unfortunately no availability (but we did get LHR-MIA flights in the AA Sale!!)

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Tony. Do I join on the BMI website in the same way as i have on Virgins, then give the ref no. to Virgin when booking a flight?

 

[WiganTony]

If you go to www.flybmi.com, then to the Diamond Club link it should allow you to set up an account.

When you access your Virgin Atlantic "Manage My Flights" page, it gives you the option to add in any frequent flyer cards.

One other thing I forgot to mention - bmi now have in place an option to link family member's accounts together, so if all the adults apply for a card, they can then be treated as one "pool" of miles for future redemptions.

They also have an offer on bmi credit cards where after spending £250 within 90 days, you get 20,000 miles credited to your account. Both myself and DW got a card, resulting in almost enough miles for one person to fly to the USA (45000 miles needed on Star Alliance, 50000 on Virgin). Even better now with the linked accounts.

Add a couple of Virgin return flights in at 8000+ miles each, and it soon boosts your total up.

 

[stephensmum]

Thank you.