VS Award Availability Using CO Miles
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,887
US to africa, VS is more
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...18C8F80F188E95
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...18C8F80F188E95
Compared to VS at 180K miles, which is basically 2x 90K (and more in line with what you're actually getting -- 2 long-hauls in each direction).
#17


Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,762
Hey studiospotter, actually, VS UC awards are available on CO.com, you jsut have to find flights that have availability. They don't show up on flights that either don't have any seats available to CO pax and/or are completely sold out...or are expected to sell out, IMHO. For example, LAX-LHR is a hot ticket, and I imagine that they don't release empty seats until almost the end. As you might be able to see, UC is almost always available from JFK, MCO, and MIA...sometimes!
Very well worth the 100k miles IMHO, but I view VS UC as an excellent business class product, not to be confused with a first class product.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 3,169
business class is 80K. that Biz on NWA, KL, AF and other EU carriers.
BF or F (which is what VS UC is also considered on this route) is 100K. this in theory is VS UC, CO BF and AF FC (but ive heard you can no longer get AF FC, but am not sure).
as stated before, but not linked (there's a seperate link for CO reward on DL US to EU), DL's CO reward for DL BE is 90K.
out of all the options i would choose in this order. VS, CO (100K), NWA, AF (80K), DL (90k) and then KL (80k).
I would take the 80K level
#20
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 3,169
Interesting. That's a pretty good deal for BF/Business class US-Africa at only 120K miles (I'm specifically thinking about South Africa). Presumably you'd do KL or AF from Europe to S. Africa (though AF doesn't seem to fly to CPT...)
Compared to VS at 180K miles, which is basically 2x 90K (and more in line with what you're actually getting -- 2 long-hauls in each direction).
Compared to VS at 180K miles, which is basically 2x 90K (and more in line with what you're actually getting -- 2 long-hauls in each direction).
i think i may look into that as opposed to my southamerican trip planned this december.
#21


Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,762
You cannot get AF first as an award - I tried last fall. Asked here and told that was correct - Business only, at 100k miles. Still, they had availability at a week's notice so I wasn't too unhappy.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 3,169
i wasnt to sure on the AF rewards. i was pretty sure FC was no longer available, but i DID think you could book an all J AF fare as the 80K level as long as it did not involve a CO BF segment or FC on another carrier. again, though, i have no personal experience on that.
anyway, back to topic. VS is great and id book it if i could. and you have to call CO to use CO miles to book VS flights.
anyway, back to topic. VS is great and id book it if i could. and you have to call CO to use CO miles to book VS flights.
#23




Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY Metro
Programs: SPG Titanium, United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,615
So for people living on the East Coast - can you book a flight from the West Coast to LHR to maximize your UC experience? i.e go from EWR-SFO-LHR (with CO to SFO and Virgin to LHR) or will they laugh even if you suggest that?
#24
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
Posts: 4,389
I think that a CO BF/ AF J combo will be 100k. AF J is 50k/per on a standard reward.
As for "backtracking on a reward ticket," it is totally permissible. The OP agents totally understand maximizing the FC/BF experience! ^ I flew CO/AF from IAH-LAX-CDG on a reward once (in Y, I don't know why....I was much younger and "hey man, I'm on a plane!! YEE-HA!)
I did IAH-PHX-EWR-SXM last year with the IAH-PHX-EWR as a redeye to save $ on a hotel in EWR (due to the early departure of the EWR-SXM segment). No problemo!
As for "backtracking on a reward ticket," it is totally permissible. The OP agents totally understand maximizing the FC/BF experience! ^ I flew CO/AF from IAH-LAX-CDG on a reward once (in Y, I don't know why....I was much younger and "hey man, I'm on a plane!! YEE-HA!)
I did IAH-PHX-EWR-SXM last year with the IAH-PHX-EWR as a redeye to save $ on a hotel in EWR (due to the early departure of the EWR-SXM segment). No problemo!
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
The problem is actually finding standard F reward space on the domestic transcon segments - it can be more difficult than finding VS UC reward space at times.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
Question: I just went online to determine mileage BOSLHR and it's over $300 in taxes and fees? Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733


