Virgin air miles question...

[MorningGlory]

Hey all, long time no see! Hope you are all well

I was planning on booking a companion flight for my kid using my airmiles, hoping for around the end of July. I had a look on the Virgin site, but it said the dates weren't available.

Does anyone know if it's perhaps because Virgin haven't released seats for use with airmiles around that date? Or maybe there are simply no companion seats available if you are booking a flight during peak months? Anyone have any experience of using their airmiles to book flights before?

Was just wondering if someone could give me a heads-up before I phone the Flying Club.

Cheers

 

[wayneg]

Hi Paul
I believe Companion seats are only available by phone. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/spendmiles/upgradeandcompanionflights/index.jsp

You can book miles only(pay tax) flights online but they are not easy to get, I keep seeing some in P/E for August but I am not using so many miles to get P/E when I sleep well enough in economy. When they do appear they only stay a few hours a go again, you have constantly search.

Other option is miles and Money, almost impossible to get July and Agust and when available savings are poor.

 

[dooledoo]

I am shortly going to have a similar dilemia! I have been busily saving flying miles hoping to buy seats or have a free companion seat or get upgrades using points to upper class. BUT - I reckon I am going to end up with nothing. Everyting I have seen and read suggests that at peak times and on popular routes none of the above will be available.

I really, really hope I am wrong and until 16 October (when my return date is available) I will not know for sure.

If anyone has experience of how to get the best deal I would love to know!

 

[MorningGlory]

Hi Paul
I believe Companion seats are only available by phone. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/spendmiles/upgradeandcompanionflights/index.jsp

You can book miles only(pay tax) flights online but they are not easy to get, I keep seeing some in P/E for August but I am not using so many miles to get P/E when I sleep well enough in economy. When they do appear they only stay a few hours a go again, you have constantly search.

Other option is miles and Money, almost impossible to get July and Agust and when available savings are poor.

Cool, thanks for that Wayne. I'll give them a call to see if they can tell us what dates are available. Whenever it is, it must be during the baseball season tho, and when the Rays play at home lol! After our visit there last year, junior has become hooked on baseball and we've been following the team online, watching the games on our mlb subscription.

I can't wait to get the flights booked, then we can start planning!!

 

[wayneg]

Let us know how you get on, My dates are not available yet, want to go 6th-31st August.
I have not got a clue about American sports, don't understand any of them. I love live Rugby League and thats it, even that bores me on TV.

 

[Netty]

just wanted to say hi!!

 

[Birtie]

Other option is miles and Money, almost impossible to get July and Agust and when available savings are poor.

Wayne, I see that M&M fares are available up to 31st July 2009 at the moment for economy and for some return dates into August for PE.

When in your experience would you expect economy M&M fares to be online for August? Judging by the prices showing for July, I know the savings aren't massive but every little helps.

 

[wayneg]

Wayne, I see that M&M fares are available up to 31st July 2009 at the moment for economy and for some return dates into August for PE.

When in your experience would you expect economy M&M fares to be online for August? Judging by the prices showing for July, I know the savings aren't massive but every little helps.

For August 07 I checked every day from 11 months out (approx end Sept 06) the 1st day they were available was 25th Dec, I remember that date as I said what a Xmas pressie, cost £533 each +2,000 miles.
For our dates in August this year they never released any, I ended up booking a miles only (20,000 + £101 tax each) out and BMI home (£235 with Orbitz.com)
For August 09 I had chance of P/E miles only at £191+37,500 miles but didn't see point when we sleep all they way in economy, would be wasted miles for us, also too early to be sure I can get another return flight as cheap as this year.
I just check 10-15 times a day until I see something. Very time consuming but always found something.

 

[Birtie]

Thanks Wayne, I'll have to be patient and keep checking as you suggest

 

[Lavendergirl]

Hi Paul.......... haven't seen you around for ages ! How's things?

PM or email me..... I've lost your email.

 

[MorningGlory]

Thanks again Wayne, i'll definitely keep you updated. I'm gonna go up to my dad's at the weekend and use his phone (costs a fortune to phone 0844 numbers from mobiles lol!) plus I need to use his card for payment, they don't accept my electron card! I'm hoping for some good news from them, I want to get these flights booked asap so we can start some serious planning!!

@ Netty & Lavendergirl: Hey hey, been a while! Great to see all the familiar faces are still around. Looks like you guys will be seeing me around alot more frequently in the months to come!

 

[gismo1554]

I tried to get a companion flight for October and it actually worked out cheaper to buy a miles plus flight for each of us as the full price ticket was £900 and the miles plus was £430 each so its not always economical to do a companion flight. The flight you buy for the other passenger has to be full fare which is why it can work out cheaper this way. Luckily the nice man at Virgin actual told me that!

 

[dooledoo]

I sympathise Gizmo1554.

I want to use my flying miles (which I have gained through the credit card) thinking I will have enough for 2 free tickets. I was looking into it this morning and like you say to get a companion flight closts more than buying 2 tickets in the first place.

Then when you search for tickets for miles they are very,very hard to find (especially when you are working to a timetable). Sometimes the miles + money seats are dearer than normal tickets. And you can't use miles for upgrades unless you have bought the dearer, flexible ticket.

I think I will end up converting my miles to vouchers to use with Dollar for the car hire and a hotel night at the Hilton at Gatwick. (I hope that will be allowable )

Such a shame, I thought it was such a good idea until I tried to use it

 

[gismo1554]

I know! Don't know what I'm going to do!

 

[MorningGlory]

I sympathise Gizmo1554.

I want to use my flying miles (which I have gained through the credit card) thinking I will have enough for 2 free tickets. I was looking into it this morning and like you say to get a companion flight closts more than buying 2 tickets in the first place.

Then when you search for tickets for miles they are very,very hard to find (especially when you are working to a timetable). Sometimes the miles + money seats are dearer than normal tickets. And you can't use miles for upgrades unless you have bought the dearer, flexible ticket.

I think I will end up converting my miles to vouchers to use with Dollar for the car hire and a hotel night at the Hilton at Gatwick. (I hope that will be allowable )

Such a shame, I thought it was such a good idea until I tried to use it

Thanks for the info I just checked the website and we can get miles + money flights for the dates we want for £630 total for me and my son. I doubt I will get a full price flight as cheap as that, plus i'd have to buy 1000 miles for the companion flight, which is another £30.

So, 2 m+m flights leaves me 15000 miles, and thanks to your advice about converting, i've joined the Hilton honours scheme. I'm gonna give them a phone to see if 15k airmiles transferred over will be enough for a 1 night stay in Manchester

 

[wayneg]

What dates you looking at Paul? Just looked at a few random dates in July from manchester, 1 adult & 1 child they are all coming up at around £1,100 +4,000miles. If you have found some at £630 for both of you I would get them booked quick.

 

[MorningGlory]

Changed the dates Wayne, looking at 29/4 - 16/5 (17 days! ).

I'm gonna have a good think about it this weekend to decide if I can save enough to do it. By the way, do you still get the discount codes for hotels? I'm gonna be looking for some good deals once I sort the flights!

 

[wayneg]

Changed the dates Wayne, looking at 29/4 - 16/5 (17 days! ).

I'm gonna have a good think about it this weekend to decide if I can save enough to do it. By the way, do you still get the discount codes for hotels? I'm gonna be looking for some good deals once I sort the flights!

Thats a lot cheaper time to go. July/August is crazy now.

Are you looking to stay at Comfort Inn Again? I just posted an offer for it last night £18/night but only until 20th Dec.
For your dates next year its available on Hotelopia at £30.60, I have 10% code + you can get another 10% thru Quidco, total cost £24.79 incl tax/night.
Personally for £25.68(after discounts) I would prefer where we just stayed last month http://www.countryinns.com/orlandofl_wdwresort great breakfast and wireless internet.
Best Western Lakeside at £21.86
Courtyard or Fairfield both around £30/night.
Let me know if you want any help when you are ready to book something.

 

[MorningGlory]

Some great ideas and prices there Wayne

I like the look of the Country Inn. I want to stay in LBV again, it's a great location for getting around the parks as you know. Plus, we'll only have 7-10 days there this time, the rest of the time spent down in St Petes so we'll be wanting to make the most of it

I'll definitely give you a shout once I get the dates and flights sorted i.e once I speak to the Bank of Dad about a short-term loan lol! It's just as well we get tons of overtime in the winter, i'm gonna have to do every bit going if we are to manage this

 

[dooledoo]

Glad the mention helped!! Can you let me know about the HHonors scheme for the Hilton and then I will do it as well

I'm glad you could get miles + money flights as well. I can't check my flight availability until mid October so I am hoping, if all else fails, I can get these flights for us. It seems for 3 people it can save about £400-600. The problem is they are not always cheaper - and I don't understand that at all!!