Virgin points and business class booking
Discussion
Apols, I’m sure this has been covered many times before.
I’m currently looking to book a flight for next March to Vegas, treating myself business class. I looked last week and flight prices were low historically and I should've just booked it but needed some ducks in a row first. I’m aware that every time you look the algorithm sneaks prices ever higher so bit annoying to say the least.
When I looked at price through Virgin Atlantic it was £500 dearer than through Booking.com and a few others. More dithering.
Thing is, I’ve got a shedload of Virgin Atlantic points built up over 5 years and wondering how best to use them? I can get £800 off the flight using them but that seems not great value for the points given up in so doing. The whole points system looked confused as fekk the last time I tried to investigate.
Any advice welcome, I’m dithering badly right now.
I’m currently looking to book a flight for next March to Vegas, treating myself business class. I looked last week and flight prices were low historically and I should've just booked it but needed some ducks in a row first. I’m aware that every time you look the algorithm sneaks prices ever higher so bit annoying to say the least.
When I looked at price through Virgin Atlantic it was £500 dearer than through Booking.com and a few others. More dithering.
Thing is, I’ve got a shedload of Virgin Atlantic points built up over 5 years and wondering how best to use them? I can get £800 off the flight using them but that seems not great value for the points given up in so doing. The whole points system looked confused as fekk the last time I tried to investigate.
Any advice welcome, I’m dithering badly right now.
If it doesn’t work out, their premium economy is decent too, & I’ve often managed to upgrade to “upper class” with points at the checkin desk at the airport - either at LHR or overseas
Funnily enough I was looking at points fares last night & there’s a huge variation depending on days of the week etc, worth having a look at their reward fare finder & getting an idea of things before calling
Funnily enough I was looking at points fares last night & there’s a huge variation depending on days of the week etc, worth having a look at their reward fare finder & getting an idea of things before calling
Virgin changed the system a year or so ago. You could get an upper class flight for <50k points (and maybe less) and now its usually 3x that or even 5/6x.
Joy.
However there are some days when its cheaper. A lot cheaper. To LAS you might find them as cheap as 50k points which is similar to the old price but you will have to be very specific on dates.
Use the reward seat checker to look for the cheap days.
https://www.virginatlantic.com/reward-flight-finde...
As others have said I would strongly advise you call the Flying Club directly to book. They will make sure you are getting the best use out of your points - but do use the above link first to get an idea of dates and then log into your flying club account and do a mock booking to check its correct before you ring up.
If you are going through LHR dont forget to use the private drive up check in. (if MAN then you are out of luck)
Also if not already a member have a look on VFlyer.
Joy.
However there are some days when its cheaper. A lot cheaper. To LAS you might find them as cheap as 50k points which is similar to the old price but you will have to be very specific on dates.
Use the reward seat checker to look for the cheap days.
https://www.virginatlantic.com/reward-flight-finde...
As others have said I would strongly advise you call the Flying Club directly to book. They will make sure you are getting the best use out of your points - but do use the above link first to get an idea of dates and then log into your flying club account and do a mock booking to check its correct before you ring up.
If you are going through LHR dont forget to use the private drive up check in. (if MAN then you are out of luck)
Also if not already a member have a look on VFlyer.
gotoPzero said:
If you are going through LHR dont forget to use the private drive up check in.
And don't forget you need to pay for this "private" check in ! Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Edited by Bushi on Tuesday 11th November 16:47
Bushi said:
gotoPzero said:
If you are going through LHR dont forget to use the private drive up check in.
And don't forget you need to pay for this "private" check in ! Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Edited by Bushi on Tuesday 11th November 16:47
Bushi said:
And don't forget you need to pay for this "private" check in !
Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Not sure how long ago this was, but all was perfectly clear earlier this year when we used it.Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Edited by Bushi on Tuesday 11th November 16:47
You need to pay the standard heathrow drop-off charge, which is a charge levied by the airport. There is no separate charge by Virgin for using the Upper Class drop-off.
To get to the drop off, you drive past very clear signage that the drop off fee is payable. It's Heathrow signage as it's a Heathrow charge.
Virgin LAS routes are busy, expensive with money or points, especially manchester. LAX on the other hand is cheap and they have 3 flights a day from heathrow. An internal LAX to LAS is cheap as is hiring a car and driving. $80 for one way hire car for a decent car. I find it a nice drive too.
You can get LHR-LAX from 9k points. Also worth considering booking economy or premium with points then put in a minimum bid for an upgrade to upper, if they aren't full you stand a good chance of getting it.
You can now check online points cost and do a flexible search, points cost has gone up a lot but they are transparent with the search functionality. Call centre as has been said are very good.
I've given up on their manchester route to LAS unless booking a package as they are so expensive points or cash.
Flew upper a few times and unless it is very cheap I just put up with premium or economy, its 9/10 hours in a metal tube at the end of the day.
You can get LHR-LAX from 9k points. Also worth considering booking economy or premium with points then put in a minimum bid for an upgrade to upper, if they aren't full you stand a good chance of getting it.
You can now check online points cost and do a flexible search, points cost has gone up a lot but they are transparent with the search functionality. Call centre as has been said are very good.
I've given up on their manchester route to LAS unless booking a package as they are so expensive points or cash.
Flew upper a few times and unless it is very cheap I just put up with premium or economy, its 9/10 hours in a metal tube at the end of the day.
omniflow said:
Bushi said:
And don't forget you need to pay for this "private" check in !
Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Not sure how long ago this was, but all was perfectly clear earlier this year when we used it.Wife got hit with a fine for dropping me off there.
I'm pretty good with these things and I saw no signage, certainly nothing on the website or instructions...Virgin were zero help.
Never paid it and left them to chase, but still..
The rest of service and lounge were great.
Edit: Just checked and its now on the website, maybe due to the amount of noise I made....
Edited by Bushi on Tuesday 11th November 16:47
You need to pay the standard heathrow drop-off charge, which is a charge levied by the airport. There is no separate charge by Virgin for using the Upper Class drop-off.
To get to the drop off, you drive past very clear signage that the drop off fee is payable. It's Heathrow signage as it's a Heathrow charge.
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