Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Anyone booked a Combifare?

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has booked the "combifare" which I've just found hidden on VS's website. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/hk/frequentflyer/spendmiles/rewardflights/combifares.jsp

Unfortunately I think VAFC is not the best programme for my dad, he joined it a while ago before I caught the FT bug and started thinking about these things. Anyway he currently has 23500 miles which we want to put to some use before they expire. He needs to fly HKG-SYD in May and is looking for the cheapest way to do so.

The webpage above says valid economy classes are:Y,B,R,L,U,M,E,Q,X,N,O

Doing a search now there are reward seats available for 40,000 miles, while the equivalent N class ticket is HK$3,920. Taxes are HK$3,020. Does this mean that the combifare is half of each, so 20K miles + HK$4980? It says it is "less than a usual one way flight" - the one way excluding taxes is HK$3640 (or >AU$1000, which is more than the paid return!)

I know it says to call, but he needs to be very clear on what to ask if he calls the HK hotline. I would do it for him but I'm in the UK, so just checking if anyone on here knows about this.

Thanks!

PS: my mum has ~8000 VS miles, is it worth it to transfer 2000 miles that would be left in my dad's account and get 10K HHonors points?

If your dad gives you access to his VSFC account (he will need phone them todothis) then you can phone and make the booking for him then you will know he has got the right ticket.

It would cost £30 to transfer 2k miles so that might not make it worthwhile but thats only a decision you can make and if it is worth it in the whole scheme of things and having 10k HH points.

OK, since this post is the only search result on FT and 3rd on google for "combifare", and VS's webpage is rather unclear (and difficult to navigate to), I'll just post an update in case it helps anyone.

The HKG call centre are apparently very familiar with the combifare and had no problems issuing the ticket. The outbound was issued in class T and costs 20000 miles, half of the normal 40000 required (though this has not been debited from the account yet). Interestingly the return segment, in class N, costs HK$1980 rather than the expected $1960 (seeing as the normal fare is $3920). However the return segment will also earn 2298 miles and 2 tier points. Taxes are as given. I'd assume that booking in PE would result in a similar situation.

Not sure if this is standard procedure, but they wanted my dad to pay in person at the office. If not he would have had to fax a copy of his credit card plus some signed authorisation.