Virgin Miles plus Money questions

[Hilary]

We're looking at Virgin Miles Plus Money offers for November but, not having done it before, wonder if the Virgin pros among you can help with a few questions

1. I know the MPM fare can vary from time to time, but does this coincide with changes in the normal fare? i.e. if Virgin bring out a promotion on fares, does the MPM fare also change?

2. Does the MPM fare ever change very much, or is there always a 'normal' range? What's the lowest MPM you've seen for Orlando / Miami?

3. Do you earn miles on MPM flights?

Thanks!

 

[wilma-bride]

Hilary, not sure if I can be much help here. As far as changes to the M+M fares, I think they probably start at a percentage reduction from the standard fare - from what I've heard there are very limited numbers of seats sold at the M+M rate so I doubt whether they really change much from when they're first available, if at all.

I booked M+M fares for February 2007 in March 2006 (so when they were first released) and got the last 4 seats available on the outbound flight at M+M rates (so very limited availability) - we paid 2000 miles plus just over £290 from Gatwick to MCO.

And, no, you don't earn miles on M+M flights at all.

 

[wayneg]

Its not worked on a percentage reduction, I found that out today while looking. Dates I looked at varied from about £500-£700 ish but with M&M every date in the graph was £309.
We paid £291 + 2,000 for Easter this year great price.
I have never seen M&M prices vary they seem to fix a price for them then stay at that until sold. Maybe I am wrong?

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Often wondered about this too. We have been collecting points/miles for a while now. Last time we thought about getting seats we could upgrade with points but it had to be a fully flexible fare which was just a silly price

Does the M+M usually work out a good deal?

 

[wayneg]

Easter it brought our seats down from £550ish to £291. August it is bringing them down for £833 to £533. So yes great savings.
Downside was I booked for Los Angeles last Oct at £375+2000miles. instead of £500 they then had a sale and brought them down to £351 so it cost us more, lost 2,000miles and could not claim the 11,000 or so miles if we had bought in the sale. If we had waited we would have saved £72 and had about 40,000 miles in our accounts between the 3 of us.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Downside was I booked for Los Angeles last Oct at £375+2000miles. instead of £500 they then had a sale and brought them down to £351 so it cost us more, lost 2,000miles and could not claim the 11,000 or so miles if we had bought in the sale. If we had waited we would have saved £72 and had about 40,000 miles in our accounts between the 3 of us.

Sods law isn't it! That is just the sort of thing that normally happens to me.

Thanks for the info - must check M+M for our next trip - if we ever get a time that suits us all to get away!

 

[UKDEB]

Hil, in our experience the M+M rate isn't necessarily linked to either the regular fare or any discounted one. Sometimes we find that the savings to be made are so small it's a waste of miles. At other times we've made huge savings. We always have to go throught the rigmarole of phoning FC to compare all the options - Reward (if we have sufficient miles), Companion, Upgrade and M+M.

At the busier times we've found it's important to book early. We weren't in a position to book our August flights as early as we normally would and, by the time we could, there was nothing at all other than full fare available in any class for our dates. We've ended up booking M+M and having to fly into and out of Miami. There have been several promotions this year on various reward category fares, but they always seem to be for flights within a maximum of 3 months and I can't hold my nerve that long! The same seems to apply to their sales and if you can wait, you could find that any discounted fares are as cheap or cheaper than M+M. I have a policy of not looking once I've booked!

Officially, you don't earn miles for M+M fares, but in fact you do (including any bonus miles offers that might be in force). Miles aren't earned on Reward fares or the companion element of a Companion fare.

 

[wilma-bride]

Officially, you don't earn miles for M+M fares, but in fact you do (including any bonus miles offers that might be in force). Miles aren't earned on Reward fares or the companion element of a Companion fare.

I'm interested in this last statement Deb - any chance you could expand for me on exactly what you mean by this

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Like everything eles M + M is good at certain times of the year, other times, the difference is not worth it.
I don't know how many miles you currently have, but at the moment VS are doing a special ofd only 25,000 miles for Orlando:

Limited Offer: 50% Off Reward Seat Sale!

Miles Further is a great way to get more out of your Flying Club miles. Our reward flights require up to 50% less miles than normal and are available on some of our most popular routes from now until 30 June 2007*.

As always the best way to book reward flights with us is online. You can check availability 24 hours a day and book right up to the day of departure.

To/From UK Normal
Economy Fare Sale Fare
20% Off Sale Fare
50% Off*
US
NEW YORK (JFK and NEWARK) 45,000 36,000 22,500
WASHINGTON DC 45,000 36,000 -
CHICAGO 50,000 40,000 -
ORLANDO 50,000 40,000 25,000
ORLANDO to/from MANCHESTER 50,000 40,000 25,000
CARIBBEAN
BARBADOS 50,000 40,000 25,000
BARBADOS to/from MANCHESTER 50,000 40,000 25,000
INDIA
DELHI 50,000 40,000 -
MUMBAI 50,000 40,000 25,000
FAR EAST
SHANGHAI 60,000 48,000 30,000

* Now extended! 50% offer applies only where outbound flight is taken by 31st July 2007, for bookings made from now until 30th June 2007.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for all your great help - just the info I was looking for!

Downside was I booked for Los Angeles last Oct at £375+2000miles. instead of £500 they then had a sale and brought them down to £351 so it cost us more, lost 2,000miles and could not claim the 11,000 or so miles if we had bought in the sale. If we had waited we would have saved £72 and had about 40,000 miles in our accounts between the 3 of us.

That's exactly what I'm wondering about, so I think I'd have to employ Deb's tactic if I booked M+M!:

I have a policy of not looking once I've booked!

The M+M fares being quoted now for the dates we want are £316, so I suppose we may be able to get them slightly cheaper if we just wait for a fare reduction, but I don't know if I can wait!

I'd seen the half price redemption offers and, yes we do have enough miles, but want to travel outside of the dates on offer, and are specifically looking at Miami next trip (not included in the offer destinations).
Thanks again for all your insight

 

[wayneg]

At £316 I would be very tempted but November is one of the quietest if not The quietest month, Never flown in Nov to know sale prices but doubt you will get much lower than £316 in sale.
Good luck

 

[Hilary]

At £316 I would be very tempted but November is one of the quietest if not The quietest month, Never flown in Nov to know sale prices but doubt you will get much lower than £316 in sale.

Our last few trips have been mostly November or March (both quiet months) - and we haven't paid more than £280pp (a variety of carriers - Virgin / BA / First Choice). Some of those were booked at fairly short notice, so that's why I wondered if the M+M varied very much, or in line with the normal prices being offered, and whether to bite now or hang on and hope!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Our last few trips have been mostly November or March (both quiet months) - and we haven't paid more than £280pp (a variety of carriers - Virgin / BA / First Choice). Some of those were booked at fairly short notice, so that's why I wondered if the M+M varied very much, or in line with the normal prices being offered, and whether to bite now or hang on and hope!

Extra, higher Government taxes this year.

 

[UKDEB]

Yes, I was going to mention the taxes. I'm wondering if there's much chance of them getting much lower than that.

 

[UKDEB]

I'm interested in this last statement Deb - any chance you could expand for me on exactly what you mean by this

Well, if you look at the terms and conditions, miles can't be earned on M+M fares, but we have always received them.

 

[wilma-bride]

Well, if you look at the terms and conditions, miles can't be earned on M+M fares, but we have always received them.

Lucky you - we didn't get them on our flights in February

 

[UKDEB]

Lucky you - we didn't get them on our flights in February

Have you tried the "claim missing miles" link?

 

[wilma-bride]

Have you tried the "claim missing miles" link?

Result!

 

[Boss Hogg]

Result!

Sounds like a drink coming our way!

 

[wayneg]

Sounds like a drink coming our way!

From me too. I don't think they should add them but they have. If only I had known after out flights to LAX last Oct. No worries about that I just added 25,344 miles to our accounts from Easter.
We have over 100,000 miles now for the first time will be claiming more after August trip, if they dont close the loophole.
In Florida 2nd-27th Aug If I see you its a free drink.