Newbie question about using Virgin Atlantic credit card vouchers

[masplin]

Hi. Hoping someone can clarify the best way to use these vouchers to fly upper class LHR-Johburg for my wife and I at some point. I find the whole thing very confusing as each of us is capped at 75,000 points for the voucher. Seems each leg will likely be over 125,000 points. Used to BA companion voucher which is extremely straight forward!

Is this the usual way to do it?

Buy a premium seat for each us with cash and each use our own voucher to upgrade. Hard to work out cost of this as seems the points to do this is whatever the current upper class points is minus 57,500 (something called maximum points value). I have no idea if this is cost effective or a rip off as you get so few points credit for buying the premium seat (lot less than buying it) . Current premium return is £1450. Same date point for upper are 115,000 out, 200,00 back. So do I pay 315,000 – 57,500 x 2 for premium – 75,000 voucher = 125,000 = @£1,250 so total £2,700 which is a lot less than £4,200 cash Upper class. is my calculation correct or only get 1×57,500?

Any other way a couple can use 2 vouchers efficiently if both flying?

Unlike BA it seems the standard point price is actually more expensive than paying cash if you buy points at regular price. the current 60% bonus seems to make them about the same.

Really wondering if this was a complete waste of time. Appreciate any advice

[NorthernLass]

You should probably have a good read of the articles and threads relating to the new VS dynamic pricing system – upgrading cash tickets seems to be rather hit and miss in terms of value as points prices are constantly changing.

You don’t say if upgrading a points booking is an option but you may well get better value doing it that way.

[ChasP]

If you both have a voucher then you are effectively 2 solo travellers and buying some points (esp when an offer is on) could be the answer
As a solo traveller you can use the 75k to upgrade from economy to upper. You dont actually buy a prem seat just call them up (which you have to do anyway with a voucher)

but before then look at the points required for the trip on the Virgin website
the most common case example prem is 50k and upper is 130k then you pay 55k + voucher worth 75k-

but if Prem is 80k and upper is 120 then it looks like you can only get 40k of value from your voucher but look at the EC price if its 15k then you can pay 45k + your voucher (75k) There is no rule that you can only upgrade one class

Of course you will pay the UC £££s fees in any case
.

[NorthernLass]

I think the only way to get a correct price is to call and ask, I know it’s not straightforward any more when upgrading a cash ticket. How much flexibility do you have on dates?

Looking at Jan-June, outbound, there are no UC saver seats currently showing and points prices are well into 6 figures.