Amex free flight upgrade?

[k3nnis]

Has anyone tried to upgrade using points at the checkin counter for the amex free flights?

 

[serfty]

Has anyone tried to upgrade using points at the checkin counter for the amex free flights?

They need to be 'flexi' to use points/upgrade credits and the 'free' flights are "blue Saver".

 

[k3nnis]

Ah ok thanks.

 

[Jama]

THe worst thing is no SC's. Cancelling and booking from credit meant you got them. I would be really upset to miss VA status level by that one free Amex flight.

 

[Moopere]

I don't know about that. My first impression is that probably nothing has changed except that Amex retains the credit on my behalf ... if I use the credit to buy a flexi I assume I'd get SC's and FF's so long as I ensure Amex puts my VFF number into the booking.

 

[Jama]

Ok that stands to reason. I was thinking in terms of not being able to cancel for credit forgetting you can still get a credit with Amex. What's the prices like from Amex ? Are they the same as VA or inflated ? I have never done a normal booking with them. What I won't be able to do is use the credit with your virgin cc for 2 for one as this does need to be done direct.

 

[Moopere]

I've only got one experience to go by, and its the one described in this thread. Amex charged me the virgin pricing of the day for my flexi + $27 booking fee.

A points upgrade from Flex to Business will still have to be done with Velocity, so goodness knows if this is still possible as Amex is the booking agent and Velocity may not allow me to change the ticket ... perhaps Amex staff can do this for us when we're still on the phone? Some sort of 3 way phone conference???

I'll find out soon enough - one more Amex free ticket left to use this year which I'll try this method on in the next 4-6 weeks.

 

[shane2603]

Hi Moopere,
I will look forward to your response from Amex.
.

 

[hummel]

Guys,

I'm looking at sending the lady on MEL-BNE-MEL using my free flight on the plat edge, however I've just had a thought. If I cancel, is the credit going with Virgin or Amex? Thinking if I book, cancel then rebook using the available credit I will get points/SCs (using pooling of course) It's a bit of stuffing around but would tip me over gold!

 

[Moopere]

I'm looking at sending the lady on MEL-BNE-MEL using my free flight on the plat edge, however I've just had a thought. If I cancel, is the credit going with Virgin or Amex?

No reports I'm afraid. We need someone who has tried it to report back to here. When I did it earlier in the year it appears that DJ held the credit shell. As you can see from posts above there is some concern that Amex now holds the credit - we've not had confirmation of that.

Thinking if I book, cancel then rebook using the available credit I will get points/SCs (using pooling of course) It's a bit of stuffing around but would tip me over gold!

Yes, its a good idea eh? Will cost you some cash of course but may be worthwhile. Why not make use of the current half price points deal and up to J?

 

[hummel]

FWIW,

I've just booked a been on the phone to Amex and book a trip for next week. Got the flights I wanted all up totalling $448 so more than paid for the card.

When going through the T & C's they talked about the $87 change fee and also the credit shell valid for 12 months. I asked who it is held by and the operator said Virgin. ​

 

[shane2603]

I have done this process twice now. credit shell held with Virgin. Particularly advantageous on trans continental booking.

 

[k3nnis]

So how does this credit shell work?

How do I work out how much credit they will give me??? if I cancelled a flight? e.e. SYD-CBR return.

 

[Moopere]

So how does this credit shell work?

How do I work out how much credit they will give me??? if I cancelled a flight? e.e. SYD-CBR return.

The probable answer to your query is early in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....x-free-flight-upgrade-34297-3.html#post612538

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks moopere

 

[thehound]

So does anyone have any suggestions on what the most VALUABLE free flight booking is? The ideal situation would be to book the return fare with the highest value, even if it has nothing to do with where you want to go or where you come from. Then you get the maximum credit shell to play around with, and you might even get more than two flights out of it if you want shorter hauls.

Presumably the PER-SYD or PER-BNE fares are going to give a reasonable credit, but what about something like SYD to ZQN (Queenstown)? I just found two saver fares which add up to $1100 online. Any other ideas?

With the Plat points changes I'll be cancelling very soon, so want to book in the free flight and maximise my value

My other thought (not sure if it's discussed elsewhere) is can you use your credit shell with Virgin to then get another free flight with the Virgin credit card buy 1 get 1 free offer? Ie if you had to pay a small gap in the fares and you used the Virgin CC for that?

 

[Chicken]

So does anyone have any suggestions on what the most VALUABLE free flight booking is? The ideal situation would be to book the return fare with the highest value, even if it has nothing to do with where you want to go or where you come from. Then you get the maximum credit shell to play around with, and you might even get more than two flights out of it if you want shorter hauls.

Read the above posts. You loose a booking fee, and you pay another booking fee. It's not worth it.

Just book where you want to go.

 

[thehound]

If the credit shell is held with Virgin, can't you just forget about Amex after you cancel and book directly through Virgin?

I also don't see how it's not worth it if you manage to get a credit shell of $1100, which goes down to $990 after the $110 in cancellation/booking fees, and then book return flights costing about $500. You'd then be able to book 2 return flights rather than just one.

 

[Chicken]

I also don't see how it's not worth it if you manage to get a credit shell of $1100

The ticket is not worth this much.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....x-free-flight-upgrade-34297-2.html#post628667

 

[thehound]

That's fair enough, but not all flights are worth the same. Ie if you book a SYD-CBR, you will clearly receive a smaller credit shell that PER-SYD. So my question is still relevant regarding what might be the ultimate route to enable the highest credit shell.