Adding a data point: I just booked 4 upper class tix to LHR for next summer on VS, using Elevate points.
I had searched the VS site to find where there was availability for 4 UC tickets (none from SFO or LAX; lots from ORD, turns out), so I knew the exact flight I was asking about -- making this significantly easier.
But the agent was very competent and got it booked in maybe 15 minutes, including taking down some passport info for all four members of my family.
Nice Gold perk: if I need to change plans (e.g., if availability from SFO comes up), no change fee as long as it's 2 hours before takeoff; and if I need to outright cancel, I get all of my Elevate points back and they credit all of the fuel surcharges back to my card. So although it's "nonrefundable," it's actually 100% refundable.
Last edited by shza; Oct 16, 2015 at 2:47 pm