VA - can you upgrade a miles seat with cash?

[Mickeysgal]

Hi Everyone, i would really appreciate your valuable input please. We have flown numerous times off-season VA on miles flights (we like upper class if we can get it). This year we are restricted to Scottish school holidays and therefore award availability is a bit more limited. I know that it never used to be possible but I was wondering if it is now possible to upgrade a miles seat with cash e.g. a miles premium seat to upper using cash?

Many thanks in advance!

[Frankie & gang]

Yes you can! I’ve got miles EC seats booked for next May to Antigua & waiting to see if miles PE seats become available.
I phoned Flying club this week to ask about upgrading. It’s £30 admin fee each & if have paid for seats (I have) you loose that.
The other option is you can upgrade to a miles & money - again fees as above.
I’m gonna try to wait for a miles seat, but have above options if none are released.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Mickeysgal

Hi Everyone, i would really appreciate your valuable input please. We have flown numerous times off-season VA on miles flights (we like upper class if we can get it). This year we are restricted to Scottish school holidays and therefore award availability is a bit more limited. I know that it never used to be possible but I was wondering if it is now possible to upgrade a miles seat with cash e.g. a miles premium seat to upper using cash?

Many thanks in advance!

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I had a miles seat booked last year, was not able to upgrade with cash until check in.

[Kraken]

I am fairly certain miles [Reward] seats can only be upgraded further with more miles. As with any upgrade, there is the cash element for additional taxes/charges.

You may be able to upgrade by "cash" if you buy the miles you need for the upgrade from Flying Club, then pay thr additional taxes/charges. It will appear to you as a totally cash transaction, but in the background it's still a miles+taxes/charges upgrade.

As has been alluded to above - the rules can go right out of the window at the airport on the day, when cash upgrades may be on offer at check-in. On the day it often does not matter what type of ticket you have - cash talks.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

To be honest it all depends who you speak to.

I have upgraded a Credit Card Voucher Miles flight (Miles for Econ but get PE) and have then paid cash to UC and also used Miles to UC.

Neither are allowed but it has worked!

[Kraken]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

To be honest it all depends who you speak to.

I have upgraded a Credit Card Voucher Miles flight (Miles for Econ but get PE) and have then paid cash to UC and also used Miles to UC.

Neither are allowed but it has worked!

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I would also concur with Mr Tom Morrow! Let's just say the knowledge level of the rules amongst the agents in Virgin's call centre in Swansea is "variable". If you don't like what the first agent on the phone says, call back 10mins later and you may get a completely different answer.

But as previously stated, the one place where the rules can be ignored 99% of the time is at the airport on the day.

[Rebelrebel]

If you upgrade at the airport what is the average cost in miles or cash?

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Rebelrebel

If you upgrade at the airport what is the average cost in miles or cash?

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It depends on the day we’ve been told anything from £200 to £350 per person outbound only

[Kraken]

Originally Posted by dotb

It depends on the day we’ve been told anything from £200 to £350 per person outbound only

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A friend was quoted £800 one way for PE-Upper Class upgrade at Disney Springs check-in. He queried the £Sterling bit as he was obviously in the USA. The agent wasn't wrong - it was £800. He declined the kind offer.

[Ritz]

We have miles PE tickets and have the option to bid for upgrades.