Miles plus Money- August 2008

[mrsminniemouse]

I really hope to get Virgin Miles plus Money flights from Gatwick to Orlando for 13-29 August next year.

Am I right in thinking they should be released 11 months prior to return date? So Sept 29th? Do I need to call at 7am on the dot on 29 Sept?

I keep checking for other school summer hol dates for comparison (late July/early Aug) and very little seems available. They must get snapped up pretty quickly. It is odd how random dates have several flights available and other dates nothing at all, even early on the morning they should be released.

I think that as our trip is 16 nights we have little chance of getting anything. I imagine that many people will want a 14 night trip so we will lose the outbound flight by the time we get to 11 months prior to our return flight.

Do they get released in stages? or if I miss them in the next few weeks I have lost my chance?

I am sure i saw M+M flights for this August in January of this year.....maybe I dreamed it.

Any more tips on getting Miles Plus money?
Thanks for any help.

Mandy

 

[wayneg]

I checked every day from 11 months out for this August. We wanted Aug 2nd-27th. The 1st day they became available was Xmas morning 25th Dec. So yes you probably did see them in January. We paid £533+2,000miles this year but prices I have seen so far for next year (early August) were around £630ish although can't see any showing at all now. If they are £630 I might be looking for an indirect option next August. All you can do is look from day they release and every day until they become available. Good luck

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I checked every day from 11 months out for this August. We wanted Aug 2nd-27th. The 1st day they became available was Xmas morning 25th Dec. So yes you probably did see them in January. We paid £533+2,000miles this year but prices I have seen so far for next year (early August) were around £630ish although can't see any showing at all now. If they are £630 I might be looking for an indirect option next August. All you can do is look from day they release and every day until they become available. Good luck

Thanks Wayne. Based on earlier school holiday dates, I reckoned on the price being £630 as you said. In fact, I think I would only save £500 overall for all 4 of us compared to booking a flydrive with VH. The saving is much greater at other times of year. I know £500 is a lot but that is less than I thought the M+M saving would be.

I will try at 11 months for Miles Plus Money, then start looking at Expedia, Ebookers etc as they will then be showing flights. I will probably end up booking with VH anyway.

Cannot be doing with waiting months. Just want to get booked at a not too exorbitant price. Cannot expect a bargain for August! Thank goodness we have DVC and don't have to find good accommodation prices too.

Must admit I pleased to have got a good price for our trip in March (Spring break instead of traditional Easter break) Dont think the travel companies realised the school hols had altered so the prices weren't inflated as they usually are. Ha ha! Won't happen again next year I bet!

By the way did you call Virgin or just check online for Miles Plus Money?

Thanks again
Mandy

 

[wayneg]

This Aug, like I said we paid £533, full price was over £800 so we saved around £900 for 3 of us. I have looked at VH Flydrive for next Aug £762.05 each + car so too much.
I have booked Easter with M&M at £410 each so quite happy at that as we fly Easter Saturday for 2 weeks which is school hols.
We have done well for past 2 Augusts for hotel stayed at Courtyard by Marriott LBV which we love, great location and free wireless access for £25/night. Hoping for same price next year.
I always check prices online, only ever rung them once to ask price of an upgrade whch was a waste of time, they wanted £275 each just to upgrade return flight to PE.

 

[crabbie1]

I know its not august but we booked M+M in march for end july first week in august for 3 of us was £1459 flying one way PE.I think they must have sales on periodically and we were lucky and got a good deal.Good luck with your search.I have tried looking on VH site for a flydrive around the 18th and there is nothing coming up.Va keep so many seats back for there own sales so keep trying.Through expedia flights with one stop going out but flying back with virgin were coming out at £630 each for august.Still a bit early at th moment I think.Good luck

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I know its not august but we booked M+M in march for end July first week in august for 3 of us was £1459 flying one way PE.I think they must have sales on periodically and we were lucky and got a good deal.Good luck with your search.I have tried looking on VH site for a flydrive around the 18th and there is nothing coming up.Va keep so many seats back for there own sales so keep trying.Through expedia flights with one stop going out but flying back with virgin were coming out at £630 each for august.Still a bit early at th moment I think.Good luck

This week I wanted to book my flights for August 2008, Virgin was my preference and I have a large amount of miles, I wasn't able to book when I called VA, as my return flight was in September and I was told to book in October.

So thats 10 months out, I am going for three weeks so anyone on a two week holiday would be able to book before me and get any miles plus money offers.

I checked with Virgin they just send a 'standard' pre typed response, so called BA and they booked there and then in 10 mins, Never done Club world before, I do not like BA's seating policy, you cannot select to 3 - 1 days before the flight, but the price is the same as Virgin UC, and my flight leaves one and a half hours before Virgin.

Its a pity, I like Virgin's in flight service, but BA is far easier to book than Virgin.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

This week I wanted to book my flights for August 2008, Virgin was my preference and I have a large amount of miles, I wasn't able to book when I called VA, as my return flight was in September and I was told to book in October.

So thats 10 months out, I am going for three weeks so anyone on a two week holiday would be able to book before me and get any miles plus money offers.

I checked with Virgin they just send a 'standard' pre typed response, so called BA and they booked there and then in 10 mins, Never done Club world before, I do not like BA's seating policy, you cannot select to 3 - 1 days before the flight, but the price is the same as Virgin UC, and my flight leaves one and a half hours before Virgin.

Its a pity, I like Virgin's in flight service, but BA is far easier to book than Virgin.

So glad you got booked. Did you have general Airmiles? (Obviosly not Virgin Miles)

I am surprised you we able to book now as I though all airlines release seats 11 months in advance, so as it is Sept I though only up until 16 Aug 08 were released.

Mandy

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

This week I wanted to book my flights for August 2008, Virgin was my preference and I have a large amount of miles, I wasn't able to book when I called VA, as my return flight was in September and I was told to book in October.

So thats 10 months out, I am going for three weeks so anyone on a two week holiday would be able to book before me and get any miles plus money offers.

I checked with Virgin they just send a 'standard' pre typed response, so called BA and they booked there and then in 10 mins, Never done Club world before, I do not like BA's seating policy, you cannot select to 3 - 1 days before the flight, but the price is the same as Virgin UC, and my flight leaves one and a half hours before Virgin.

Its a pity, I like Virgin's in flight service, but BA is far easier to book than Virgin.

Virgin have a 336 days from date of your return policy, same as the others. Why BA allowed you to is strange. (it's still 11 months from your return date) Just had a look. You can book up to a return date of 4th September 2008 today, so they have a slightly better length of time (353 days?)

Miles plus money do not rush to fill, you can only assume that the people on two weeks would have taken all of them? In upper class that does not happen that often.

I take it you were comparing BA's 2037 against Virgins VS15 regarding earlier leaving, as the VS27 leaves 20 mins earlier than BA's flight.

BA's CW is great. Better food than Virgins, the cabin is larger and the seats are next to each other (back to front) than in a herringbone layout.
Lounge is not as good as Virgins but adequate. Take some PJ's for the return if you like to change, as CW pax do not get PJ's only First pax (no first on this route)
No bar onboard, but a "raid the larder" instead.
Aircraft a Boeing 777
The seating policy does suck. Certain seats are held for premium passengers and you don't get those anyway.
But overall a good service and efficient crew.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So glad you got booked. Did you have general Airmiles? (Obviously not Virgin Miles)

I am surprised you we able to book now as I though all airlines release seats 11 months in advance, so as it is Sept I though only up until 16 Aug 08 were released.

Mandy

I did also have BA miles as well but saving them up now, BA opens up far earlier than Virgin it seems, I had noticed on the on-line booking the dates were better, but I firstly e.mailed the Flying club and they said OK to do it on the phone.

Then when I did book by phone they said 1st October.

Why I am Kean is the cruise ends 1st September in Florida kids back to school on the 3rd, so there wasn't any leeway had to fly that day, VA does sell tickets through VH as well and whilst an allocation is left, VH have been selling since February the Orlando 2008 flights, and this is the end of the peak school holidays.

Virgin have a 336 days from date of your return policy, same as the others. Why BA allowed you to is strange. (it's still 11 months from your return date) Just had a look. You can book up to a return date of 4th September 2008 today, so they have a slightly better length of time (353 days?)

Miles plus money do not rush to fill, you can only assume that the people on two weeks would have taken all of them? In upper class that does not happen that often.

I take it you were comparing BA's 2037 against Virgins VS15 regarding earlier leaving, as the VS27 leaves 20 mins earlier than BA's flight.

BA's CW is great. Better food than Virgins, the cabin is larger and the seats are next to each other (back to front) than in a herringbone layout.
Lounge is not as good as Virgins but adequate. Take some PJ's for the return if you like to change, as CW pax do not get PJ's only First pax (no first on this route)
No bar on-board, but a "raid the larder" instead.
Aircraft a Boeing 777
The seating policy does suck. Certain seats are held for premium passengers and you don't get those anyway.
But overall a good service and efficient crew.

Thank you for the info the time I quoted was the outbound, thats to LAX, not Orlando, as I have a cruise from LA to Florida, as the cruise has set days and school starts so close after then end of my cruise I couldn't wait to see if Virgin was OK in October, the feeling of knowing I am booked now is such a 'comfort' you would have thought they would have the same policy.

The seating policy as you say on BA is stupid but with a max of 48 CW seats we wouldn't be far apart if it fell through, but raid the larder sounds good and my flight leaves 10.10am Virgin leaves 11.30am, plus I get to travel from the new terminal 5!!!

 

[waltfan1957]

So thats 10 months out, I am going for three weeks so anyone on a two week holiday would be able to book before me and get any miles plus money offers.

I checked with Virgin they just send a 'standard' pre typed response, so called BA and they booked there and then in 10 mins, Never done Club world before, I do not like BA's seating policy, you cannot select to 3 - 1 days before the flight, but the price is the same as Virgin UC, and my flight leaves one and a half hours before Virgin.

Its a pity, I like Virgin's in flight service, but BA is far easier to book than Virgin.

this is the problem we have as we go for 3 weeks miles + money is not working for us will be cancelling Virgin credit card interesting what you say about BA will look into that , thanks for the info

 

[wayneg]

this is the problem we have as we go for 3 weeks miles + money is not working for us will be cancelling Virgin credit card interesting what you say about BA will look into that , thanks for the info

We go for 25 nights every August, no problem using miles, they were not released until Xmas morning for this August so it does not matter how many days you go for. I have found any that are released 11 month out are overpriced and come down. In past 12 months we have saved around £3,000 using M&M. 3 trips All in school holidays average saving £300/seat.
When I booked next Easter BA was £630, Virgin M&M was £410.
Don't give up on M&M its a great system.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

this is the problem we have as we go for 3 weeks miles + money is not working for us will be cancelling Virgin credit card interesting what you say about BA will look into that , thanks for the info

Must say swapped to BA

We go for 25 nights every August, no problem using miles, they were not released until Xmas morning for this August so it does not matter how many days you go for. I have found any that are released 11 month out are overpriced and come down. In past 12 months we have saved around £3,000 using M&M. 3 trips All in school holidays average saving £300/seat.
When I booked next Easter BA was £630, Virgin M&M was £410.
Don't give up on M&M its a great system.

I noticed their fares are 'high' on release and then usually come down, today Virgin UC is £4k higher than BA CW for my familiy, but if you go 'back' to already released dateds the difference is little.

Virgin with this confusing policy lost me!

 

[mrsminniemouse]

We go for 25 nights every August, no problem using miles, they were not released until Xmas morning for this August so it does not matter how many days you go for. I have found any that are released 11 month out are overpriced and come down. In past 12 months we have saved around £3,000 using M&M. 3 trips All in school holidays average saving £300/seat.
When I booked next Easter BA was £630, Virgin M&M was £410.
Don't give up on M&M its a great system.

Thanks for this info. I would have jumped on the first Miles Plus Money flight I saw thinking they would disappear quickly. In your experience, do they sell out then more get released? Or does the price drop as time goes on?

Not sure how long I can wait! I will be a nervous wreck worrying I miss a good deal.

For 2 adults, 2 kids, LGW to MCO, I have a qoute from VH £2800, BA £2545, I reckon M + M will be about £2300 based on holiday dates available now. Not sure whether to book that if I see it...or wait and hunt about on Expedia etc once the 11 month window opens.

Never had this trouble when we used to go in May and Sept!!!

When you say you booked for Easter, do you mean actual Easter time? Or the 'new' school holiday which people call Easter but is actually after Easter...LOL!!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Mandy

 

[wayneg]

Must say swapped to BA


I noticed their fares are 'high' on release and then usually come down, today Virgin UC is £4k higher than BA CW for my familiy, but if you go 'back' to already released dateds the difference is little.

Virgin with this confusing policy lost me!

I think all the airlines are more confusing now than ever before, they just dont want anyone to beat the system so they get get as much out of people as poss.
My brother has just got back using BA and written a letter of complaint to them, usually flies Virgin but tried BA for a change, cant remember what class it was but not economy, coming back the seat arrangement was 8 across he said was awfull, going out was their best class(first?) but seat was not comfortable. He is sticking with Virgin in future. Others prefer BA

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for this info. I would have jumped on the first Miles Plus Money flight I saw thinking they would disappear quickly. In your experience, do they sell out then more get released? Or does the price drop as time goes on?

Not sure how long I can wait! I will be a nervous wreck worrying I miss a good deal.

For 2 adults, 2 kids, LGW to MCO, I have a qoute from VH £2800, BA £2545, I reckon M + M will be about £2300 based on holiday dates available now. Not sure whether to book that if I see it...or wait and hunt about on Expedia etc once the 11 month window opens.

Never had this trouble when we used to go in May and Sept!!!

When you say you booked for Easter, do you mean actual Easter time? Or the 'new' school holiday which people call Easter but is actually after Easter...LOL!!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Mandy

I dont think you can predict what Virgin will do, all I would say is if you see aprice you are happy with then get them booked. I am looking for under £600 direct of £500 with a change. When/If I see at these prices I will book. Most I have ever paid is this August at £533 +2000 miles.
Both this Easter(£291) and next Easter(£410) are for Easter Saturday for 2 weeks. This is the school dates for Kirklees. I know other areas are different next year.
We never had problems in October, great prices, weather, cheap Disney cruising, low crowds. Perfect.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Don't forget Mrsminniemouse, that there are other options than Virgin and BA out there, both direct and indirect. try other airlines such as First choice, monbarch, TCD, Globespan or indirects such as American, BMI, Delta, Northwest, US air etc..

Next year is going to be a strange one anyway as a couple of major things are going on.

1) Open skies agreement over the pond. No-one knows yet what effect this will have on prices or availability of routes

2) the merger of airlines and the subsequent merger of routes may mean less seats available therefore higher prices

3) TCD getting rid of their 747's and replacing them with smaller aircraft will mean again, less seats available.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I dont think you can predict what Virgin will do, all I would say is if you see aprice you are happy with then get them booked. I am looking for under £600 direct of £500 with a change. When/If I see at these prices I will book. Most I have ever paid is this August at £533 +2000 miles.
Both this Easter(£291) and next Easter(£410) are for Easter Saturday for 2 weeks. This is the school dates for Kirklees. I know other areas are different next year.
We never had problems in October, great prices, weather, cheap Disney cruising, low crowds. Perfect.

I think you are right- I will choose a price i am happy to pay, book it if I see it- then stop looking!!!!! LOL

Thanks again for all your replies

Mandy

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Don't forget Mrsminniemouse, that there are other options than Virgin and BA out there, both direct and indirect. try other airlines such as First choice, monbarch, TCD, Globespan or indirects such as American, BMI, Delta, Northwest, US air etc..

Next year is going to be a strange one anyway as a couple of major things are going on.

1) Open skies agreement over the pond. No-one knows yet what effect this will have on prices or availability of routes

2) the merger of airlines and the subsequent merger of routes may mean less seats available therefore higher prices

3) TCD getting rid of their 747's and replacing them with smaller aircraft will mean again, less seats available.

Hi Obi,
Once the 11 month window opens I will start hunting online for different airlines. While only packages have only been available I haven't found much, only VH. Some of the others are either booked or dont do 16 nights duration.

So I can check all the different airlines soon. Prefer VA though because I like DTD check in. We like to go to MGM on our last day!

Hopefully will have it all sorted before Christmas. Won't have to worry about the effects of the changes you mention then.

Thanks again
Mandy

 

[wayneg]

Hi Obi,
Once the 11 month window opens I will start hunting online for different airlines. While only packages have only been available I haven't found much, only VH. Some of the others are either booked or dont do 16 nights duration.

So I can check all the different airlines soon. Prefer VA though because I like DTD check in. We like to go to MGM on our last day!

Hopefully will have it all sorted before Christmas. Won't have to worry about the effects of the changes you mention then.

Thanks again
Mandy

This is the problem we have, you are ok for a 14 night holiday then plenty of choice but it becomes more difficult booking odd numbers, we like to return August Bank holiday Monday then we can fit in 25 nights so our options are Virgin or indirect.
Last few times we have tried DTD the checkin line has been crazy so done online checkin and bag drop at airport 2 hours before flight, never had a line at bag drop, great service. Leave cases in boot and do a park.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I think all the airlines are more confusing now than ever before, they just dont want anyone to beat the system so they get get as much out of people as poss.
My brother has just got back using BA and written a letter of complaint to them, usually flies Virgin but tried BA for a change, cant remember what class it was but not economy, coming back the seat arrangement was 8 across he said was awfull, going out was their best class(first?) but seat was not comfortable. He is sticking with Virgin in future. Others prefer BA

I must say the one thing about BA is their stupid seating policy, its done to push/force online check in.