I need help with the fuzzy maths that is points and upgrades

[strtrek]

hi there

We have decided to do SYD-LAX-MCO next august
I just turned Platinum (((((((yeah))))))
I have 90,000 points atm.
I am earning aprox 6000 va points a month atm.
Hubby has no status.

so my question for those who enjoy doing the fuzzy maths that is awards and burns .....

Option 1
Buy PE syd-lax rtn (upbid for business syd-lax leg)
use 90,000 points upgrade to business lax-syd leg (how hard is it to apply points upgrade to airfare, and can I do it now with purchase of PE tickets and it be confirmed, or do I have to wait til 7 days out etc)
buy first VX lax-mco rtn


Option 2
Buy business rtn
Use 101,400 points for lax-mco VX first
Buy mco-lax VX first

Option 3
Buy PE syd-lax (upbid)
Buy Business lax-syd
Use 101,400 points for lax-mco VX first
Buy mco-lax VX first


Any other suggestions???

How can I make the platinum status work for me in this situation??

Any help would be great, as my head now hurts and I cant see the woods for the trees.

 

[serfty]

It's 45000 per PAX each way to upgrade from Discount PE to Business - so 180k for both of you both ways.

Maybe check to see cost of PE one way and Business the other. (Note that if award business is available on a flight, you can typically upgrade.)

You can likely purchase DL LAX-MCO return for less then VX - you also get DL Skyclub access at MCO.

 

[strtrek]

It's 45000 per PAX each way to upgrade from Discount PE to Business - so 180k for both of you both ways.

Maybe check to see cost of PE one way and Business the other. (Note that if award business is available on a flight, you can typically upgrade.)

You can likely purchase DL LAX-MCO return for less then VX - you also get DL Skyclub access at MCO.

thanks mate
hubby loves the VX product, but its at least $200+ more pp per flight than delta, and no lounge access at mco....but he likes the funky lights and comfy seats (cause THATS so worth an extra $800+)...and VX now only allow 2 bags per person in first compared to 3 each with Delta...but I'm getting off topic....

yep was thinking PE there (using upgrade) and paid business back
just was wondering how hard is it to get the points upgrade..i have tried using award calender to see avail inventory but not too successful.

I guess i may just have to call the help line and see what they think.....maybe

 

[Johnno101]

We have planned a similar trip next May but to New York. We booked Premium Economy saver after checking with the Platinum help desk that upgrades were available (there were 6). Cost us ~$3200 each and then 90,000 points return so J to LAX and back. The LAX to JFK was Delta but get your Delta PCN from Virgin at time of upgrading then go to Delta upgrade seats to Economy Plus (half price for Platinum) and book the seat.

You can get upgrade for same points from Economy Flexi but 2 things PE saver was cheaper and also gets you more SC,s and points.

 

[strtrek]

We have planned a similar trip next May but to New York. We booked Premium Economy saver after checking with the Platinum help desk that upgrades were available (there were 6). Cost us ~$3200 each and then 90,000 points return so J to LAX and back. The LAX to JFK was Delta but get your Delta PCN from Virgin at time of upgrading then go to Delta upgrade seats to Economy Plus (half price for Platinum) and book the seat.

You can get upgrade for same points from Economy Flexi but 2 things PE saver was cheaper and also gets you more SC,s and points.

thanks

so when you booked the PE seats and applied for the upgrade , do you get the upgrade as soon as you applied...ie seat allocation, confirmation etc???

that's the one thing I'm fearing is that i buy the PE and then try to upgrade but dont get it.

all this plotting and scheming is giving me a headache

also, is there a plat direct number to ring, i cant find it on the web site.

 

[robd]

thanks

so when you booked the PE seats and applied for the upgrade , do you get the upgrade as soon as you applied...ie seat allocation, confirmation etc???

that's the one thing I'm fearing is that i buy the PE and then try to upgrade but dont get it.

all this plotting and scheming is giving me a headache

also, is there a plat direct number to ring, i cant find it on the web site.

Start your booking and then phone the GCC. Get them to confirm that the upgrades are available and then complete your booking. The GCC will then apply the upgrades for you.

 

[strtrek]

Start your booking and then phone the GCC. Get them to confirm that the upgrades are available and then complete your booking. The GCC will then apply the upgrades for you.

sorry...GCC???

but this sounds just too easy...it cant be this easy.....

ok, just googled...Guest Contact Centre....got it

 

[Johnno101]

First yes once you ring and find out upgrade availability then you book the PE online ring back immediately and upgrade. You are then confirmed.

When you ring you are asked for your Velocity number, it then recognises you are platinum and puts you through to the platinum line.
It is easy and dont stress.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

You can even do a quick check online first. If an award seat is available then you can upgrade.

 

[straitman]

First yes once you ring and find out upgrade availability then you book the PE online ring back immediately and upgrade. You are then confirmed.

When you ring you are asked for your Velocity number, it then recognises you are platinum and puts you through to the platinum line.
It is easy and dont stress.

Even better do it whilst still on the phone. (They are used to it happening that way)

 

[Denali]

I phone customer service and confirm availability and then I do my booking over the phone. Ask them to waive the phone booking fee (cant remember what it is) as their website is poop to do these bookings.

 

[strtrek]

thanks guys...just sounds too easy
now all to do is try to wait for PE fares to be released for the late sept dates....at a decent price....

 

[stux]

thanks guys...just sounds too easy
now all to do is try to wait for PE fares to be released for the late sept dates....at a decent price....

Or or if there are award seats in PE or Business, you could just get a flexi and immediately call up for a confirmed upgrade

there is often good availability on the PE upgrades, and you can then upgrade again to Business if possible later. Va will refund the Flexi->PE upgrade then process the Flexi->business upgrade.

Of course, you then miss out on the PE points/SC lift

 

[Johnno101]

Or or if there are award seats in PE or Business, you could just get a flexi and immediately call up for a confirmed upgrade/QUOTE]

The cost of flexi can be far higher than the same PE saver with the same points upgrade to Business so it is worth looking at that first. The other benefit is that SC's and points are based on the higher PE.

 

[strtrek]

Or or if there are award seats in PE or Business, you could just get a flexi and immediately call up for a confirmed upgrade/QUOTE]

The cost of flexi can be far higher than the same PE saver with the same points upgrade to Business so it is worth looking at that first. The other benefit is that SC's and points are based on the higher PE.

I really need the SC's to maintain Plat.....but i do love a cunning plan

 

[stux]

Or or if there are award seats in PE or Business, you could just get a flexi and immediately call up for a confirmed upgrade/QUOTE]

The cost of flexi can be far higher than the same PE saver with the same points upgrade to Business so it is worth looking at that first. The other benefit is that SC's and points are based on the higher PE.

Yep, if the PE is cheaper than the flexi then definately, but that is not always the case

 

[lissthree]

I phone customer service and confirm availability and then I do my booking over the phone. Ask them to waive the phone booking fee (cant remember what it is) as their website is poop to do these bookings.

Following this thread and yours in particular struck home: if you are trying to book it online and can't progress due to a webpage problem, is that a good enough reason for them to waive the phone booking fee?

 

[Jurahn]

thanks guys...just sounds too easy
now all to do is try to wait for PE fares to be released for the late sept dates....at a decent price....

It certainly was an easier process than I thought it would be, thanks to the invaluable advice received in several threads on this forum. As a first (and probably last LOL) time Plat, I'd never upgraded a long haul flight with points before so was a bit anxious as to how it all worked. i booked PE Saver for PER-LAX return (via Sydney) for next Feb/March and was able to upgrade 3 of the 4 sectors at the time of booking, including using my remaining 2 complimentary upgrades for one of the domestic sectors which was a bonus as they probably would have gone to waste otherwise! There was no upgrade availability at that time for the SYD-LAX sector, so as advised on this forum, I checked for reward seat availability on that flight EVERY day - for several months there was nothing, nothing, nothing ... then logged on one morning and two J reward seats popped up so I was on the phone and snaffled those seats before you could say "upgrade" .