Expert help required for Virgin Reward Seats

[ChoppyGirl]

Hello,

We are planning our next WDW trip for April/May 2023 (non peak season). After an awful flight home last time I vowed that our next trip would be flying Upper.

We are a bit late to the party when it comes to Virgin Flying Club points and have now got the plus card.

I have calculated that we will have about 75,000 points by the time we can book our flights next June/July but for it to be an easy transaction we need 95,000 plus. We will easily qualify for a companion seat before we need to book. We are only Red members at the moment.

My options are:

Pay cash for one Upper Class seat, get a companion seat and use 47,500 to upgrade the companion seat to Upper

Buy 2 premium seats, use the companion seat for an upgrade to Upper for one and use 47,500 points to upgrade the other

or just try really really hard to try and get the extra points to get to 95,000 which would mean we could buy one premium seat, use 47,500 to upgrade to Upper and 47,500 to upgrade the companion seat to Upper.

We don't mind carrying forward any points as have Vegas planned for 2025!

Have I worked that out correctly and could anyone advise which is the best option.

Thanks

[skstorm]

not sure which cards you've had but American Express currently have offers on their cards. For example the gold card has a bonus of 32,000 points if you spend £3000 in 3 months, it can be easy to do depending on what you have on and get family to assist. There are some rules though that you can't of had another amex card in the last 2 years (I think thats what it is). That would almost get you what you wanted in one go?

[ChoppyGirl]

Originally Posted by skstorm

not sure which cards you've had but American Express currently have offers on their cards. For example the gold card has a bonus of 32,000 points if you spend £3000 in 3 months, it can be easy to do depending on what you have on and get family to assist. There are some rules though that you can't of had another amex card in the last 2 years (I think thats what it is). That would almost get you what you wanted in one go?

See more...

We’ve already committed to Virgin and their card as I already have 32,000 points but thank you for your tip x

[spoonarama]

Really I think you won't be able to work out the best option till you've got the pricing. It will all come down to the price difference between premium and UC on your chosen flights, as that difference can vary wildly. If the premium seats are at a decent price, booking them and using points to upgrade will be best. But if the premium price is high, then booking UC and getting the companion isn't a bad shout. You may find 2 cash bookings in Prem is more than the 1 cash booking in UC.

Also, don't forget you don't need reward availability for cash bookings, but do for upgrades. So if there is only 1 reward seat available in UC, your only option will be to pay cash for one, and use points for the other.

I have the same conundrum about premium flights for 3 of us next year. I'm hoping to just call up on the day they are released and hopefully someone at flying club can work out the best use of cash vs points for me!

[pdcdad]

Virgin flying club have an offer on buying miles of “up to” 50% bonus miles but it is dependent on how many you buy as to what percentage you get.

[munmun]

Originally Posted by ChoppyGirl

We’ve already committed to Virgin and their card as I already have 32,000 points but thank you for your tip x

See more...

I don't get this you can run two cards and get 32000 points, not sure why you wouldn't use the offer.

I have several cards, pay then off each month but use whatever gives me a bonus or the most points at the time.

[ChoppyGirl]

Originally Posted by munmun

I don't get this you can run two cards and get 32000 points, not sure why you wouldn't use the offer.

I have several cards, pay then off each month but use whatever gives me a bonus or the most points at the time.

See more...

Is American Express not for BA points?

[tinkerella123]

Originally Posted by ChoppyGirl

Is American Express not for BA points?

See more...

Both, you just transfer the points you earn with Amex over to virgin flying club, first time you transfer you need to ring Amex and give them your flying number then after that you can do it online.

[ChoppyGirl]

Originally Posted by tinkerella123

Both, you just transfer the points you earn with Amex over to virgin flying club, first time you transfer you need to ring Amex and give them your flying number then after that you can do it online.

See more...

Oooo interesting thank you

[PoohBears#1fan]

Amex is the best way to earn Virgin points, I put everything through it then pay it straight back through the app. Dead simple & 1 point for every £1, 2 for every $1 USD.