US Airways Dividend Miles - OT: J to London over Thanksgiving

Technically OT because US doesn't seem to be matching but found a good J deal worth taking a look at:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/ideas-lowestfares/lowest-fares/upper-class.html

The sale technically ended yesterday, so I'm not sure how much longer these will be around but I'm seeing Upper Class from JFK/EWR - LHR for 1600 RT a/i over the week of Thanksgiving on virginatlantic.com. Flights from IAD and BOS are also available for slightly more.

On another note, UA is matching these fares at least from Newark (didn't check IAD). I don't get paid until the end of next week, so I did a fare lock to put some flights out of EWR on hold for a week. We'll see what happens when I get paid, if VS is still selling seats at these prices I'm heading out in Upper Class, if not the ex-CO BusinessFirst suites are not a bad consolation prize. ^

These fares are gone.

UA still has November BF fares from EWR for $800 ow

These fares are gone.

UA still has November BF fares from EWR for $800 ow

I just looked again this morning and they're still all there... Did you try to book and receive some type of error message?

I just looked again this morning and they're still all there... Did you try to book and receive some type of error message?

One thing to watch - business class fares from the UK are much higher than you think owing to the excise tax the UK government imposes on these types of tickets.

One thing to watch - business class fares from the UK are much higher than you think owing to the excise tax the UK government imposes on these types of tickets.

The $1547 price included all taxes, VS's hefty fuel surcharge and UK APD... the fare itself is only $400 something. I also just noticed that the T&C's don't mention anything about the fares expiring on 8/31, just that a 60 day advance purchase is required for some fares.

http://s15.postimage.org/ukwhqzwa3/vs_nobrainer.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/vd0jc44xt/vs_nobrainer2.jpg

Lol, weird. Now I see them. When I checked a few hours ago, only $5262.70 fares were coming up. I guess they were updating their system. I get a similar weird thing with aa.com - around 2:00am the fares are messed up, and I sometimes see fares like $200 ow in J to the Caribbean, but I can't book them - I get an error message.

That's a very good deal, indeed! It's also worth mentioning that one would get door-to-door service at both ends with being in the Upper Class. I love the service: being picked up from home and dropped off at a special entrance leading directly to the Clubhouse (lounge). The ticketing process is being handled for and all one needs to do is to enjoy the amenities while waiting to be escorted to the gate/seat at boarding time...

That's a very good deal, indeed! It's also worth mentioning that one would get door-to-door service at both ends with being in the Upper Class. I love the service: being picked up from home and dropped off at a special entrance leading directly to the Clubhouse (lounge). The ticketing process is being handled for and all one needs to do is to enjoy the amenities while waiting to be escorted to the gate/seat at boarding time...

No limo on Z fares.

No limo on Z fares.

:td: you need to be on full or near full fare Upper Class to get the limo (J or D I believe). You do get the Clubhouse and the Revivals lounge at LHR.

Well it's Friday.... I've got the United fare on hold, Virgin still has their fares and it turns out Swiss is almost matching them as well ($1600 a/i inc. UK APD) - books into P (which unlike LH is a 150% mileage earning bucket on LX) with the connection in GVA on the outbound and ZRH on the inbound nets over 13K PQM's.

Turns out I can also go US from Binghamton for $1800 a/i, but it's CLT-LGW and involves probably the most roundabout route I've ever seen (BGM-PHL-EWR-CLT-LGW). Some of the connections are less than an hour so that's just an accident waiting to happen, especially since I do need to check bags for this trip.

I'm torn between VS Upper Class and LX J. Swiss looks fantastic from the few TR's I've seen, but is there anyone on the forum with firsthand experience?

Also AA from Syracuse... Could do a PLT challenge. Hmm....

Well it's Friday.... I've got the United fare on hold, Virgin still has their fares and it turns out Swiss is almost matching them as well ($1600 a/i inc. UK APD) - books into P (which unlike LH is a 150% mileage earning bucket on LX) with the connection in GVA on the outbound and ZRH on the inbound nets over 13K PQM's.

Turns out I can also go US from Binghamton for $1800 a/i, but it's CLT-LGW and involves probably the most roundabout route I've ever seen (BGM-PHL-EWR-CLT-LGW). Some of the connections are less than an hour so that's just an accident waiting to happen, especially since I do need to check bags for this trip.

I'm torn between VS Upper Class and LX J. Swiss looks fantastic from the few TR's I've seen, but is there anyone on the forum with firsthand experience?

From previous experiences, I did go out of my way to be able to get VS Upper Class for my last trip and I was not disappointed. Given choices between flying with others as to be able to get 150% miles versus VS, I would still take the latter purely for the superior services (fine Champaign, good food selections, a bit of on-board massage session! etc.) , but that's just me. :D

No Preferred bonus on LX or VS, right?

No Preferred bonus on LX or VS, right?


I believe you would get miles based upon http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/earnmiles/staralliance_virgin.html.
If you mean whether you would get US Airways DM PREFERRED miles for flying VS then I don't think so. I did not get Preferred miles for the last VS trip but I did get 200% miles for using my DM account for the trip, if that's what you're asking. As far as I am aware, the only way to get Preferred miles with DM is to fly US metals.

Go on, treat/pamper yourself while travelling, after all that is the intention of attaining airlines' status, right? ;).

I believe you would get miles based upon http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/earnmiles/staralliance_virgin.html.
If you mean whether you would get US Airways DM PREFERRED miles for flying VS then I don't think so. I did not get Preferred miles for the last VS trip but I did get 200% miles for using my DM account for the trip, if that's what you're asking. As far as I am aware, the only way to get Preferred miles with DM is to fly US metals.

Go on, treat/pamper yourself while travelling, after all that is the intention of attaining airlines' status, right? ;).

You earn preferred miles flying any star alliance carrier (provided you are on a miles earning eligible fare). The link posted above also states for VS:

Miles earned count toward Preferred status.



I believe there are a couple of threads on here which specifically discuss earning preferred miles on Virgin. Don't remember what the final outcome was though.

As far as the preferred bonus miles, you only get those when flying US, UA or LH.

Pulled the trigger: LX J it is!

And I was referring to the 25% bonus on base miles for being SP. I know I get a COS bonus...