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I just logged on to Virgin Atlantic. As well as the customer relations bonus of 5K for the non-working IFE, I've now got 5,187 miles for the last flight flown, plus 882 bonus miles for being Silver Tier, plus 3 tier points. This is strange because that was a reward flight and I shouldn't have earned miles.
I wonder if it's related to my complaint letter about not being able to use my tray table?! (It's the only thing I can think of.)
Now, to make sure that if I DO go in May, it's not class N, which only gives half as many miles and tier points--I want to maintain my Silver status :-) I'd like to rack up enough miles to go to SA for free... which I should do! Only 50K for economy. 100K for Upper Class, sadly...
(I do wish there was a way to be more precise than "Economy (Lowest)" and "Economy (Flexible)". BA's fare selector is the best--it shows the lowest fare for each day in a range, then the fares for all the flights that day. It makes it so easy to pick the best fare without fiddling with all the dates.)
(Yes, it's miles tartage, and yes, we should switch from NatWest to Virgin Money...mega miles tartage!)
I wonder if it's related to my complaint letter about not being able to use my tray table?! (It's the only thing I can think of.)
Now, to make sure that if I DO go in May, it's not class N, which only gives half as many miles and tier points--I want to maintain my Silver status :-) I'd like to rack up enough miles to go to SA for free... which I should do! Only 50K for economy. 100K for Upper Class, sadly...
(I do wish there was a way to be more precise than "Economy (Lowest)" and "Economy (Flexible)". BA's fare selector is the best--it shows the lowest fare for each day in a range, then the fares for all the flights that day. It makes it so easy to pick the best fare without fiddling with all the dates.)
(Yes, it's miles tartage, and yes, we should switch from NatWest to Virgin Money...mega miles tartage!)
(no subject)
Ah, good old Virgin! I'm currently 1 point off Gold, but I've got until October to get it - maybe a quick hop to the East Coast!
Check out www.v-flyer.com, the best resource for flying VA. They have a fare class guide, which is ideal for working out which is best for miles/TP earnings. Then call VA to book asking for the bucket you'd ideally like to be in.
My current project is working out the best way to make my airmiles with them stretch as far as possible for me n' S. Bets way is Econ/PE --> Upper (60/40k per ticket) but it does mean having to buy a ticket in a less-discounted bucket...
Lounge Access
If you fancy a treat, do you know you can buy Virgin Clubhouse Lounge access as long as you're flying with VA that day? You simply buy it via the Virgin Holidays website - no need to buy a full holiday!
I think the price has gone up a lot recently (used to be 30quid per person) but it's something else in terms of lounges. They've also just opened the Phase 2 section, which I'm looking forward to seeing at some point, esp. if there's a pool table!
Might be worth considering if you like this sort of thing :)
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Will SO book it at JFK...
Re: Lounge Access
(30 quid would be well worth it to avoid concrete benches at kennedy)
Re: Lounge Access
Alas, you can't book for the JFK one - would have loved to getting into that one with the family when at that airport last November!
However, the time we spent in the LHR Clubhouse was nice enough, lounging in the comfy chairs with a nice meal and a champagne cocktail!
As for a link. One mo, let me check the threads at V-Flyer since I know it's there somewhere... Ah yes, it *has* gone up a lot since November - looks like they're trying to control the numbers of non-elite flyers. It's now 60 quid per person. A lot steeper than it used to be but if the flight's are a treat from the family... :)
http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/extras/airport_lounges/info/lounges_clubhouse/heathrow.aspx
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Ooh, I've just checked their updated TnC's - they've really tightened access. Looks like you need to buy your travel with them as well, which is a new clause. If you can book flights only via them, it might still be possible for you to get in though.
Re: Lounge Access
Re: Lounge Access
Okay, let's move onto "Advanced Miles Tartage" :) (Welcome to v-flyer btw!)
What you *could* do, is the following but it depends on how many airmiles you have.
1. Parents purchase tickets in a discounted economy bucket, unless they're lovely and generous and get your a full-econ bucket fare :)
2. At LHR, you go to ticketing to ask how much to pay to upgrade your ticket from discounted economy to a full economy ticket, for the return leg only if possible.
3. If the price is okay, next ask about *then* using 60k miles to upgrade your return leg for you and Neil for Econ --> Upper Class.
4. If they have availability, you're then looking at 100 quid each, say, for the bucket upgrade and 60k for the UC on the return leg. Which of course gives you that lovely, lovely JFK lounge access!
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Ring Virgin, ask for cheapest upgradeable ticket LHR-JNB.
Use miles (including miles earned on Virgin Visa ;) ) to upgrade to UC.
Fly 12h each way to South Africa in UCS ;) I'll take the concrete benches for that!
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Ah, you have learnt much, young Padawan!
I reckon I'll go to Tokyo with S, with some of my "stash" ;)