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Air miles are weird
Jan. 19th, 2004 08:47 pmI've been arranging my next trip to California (mid February). This time I thought I'd take advantage of all the Virgin air miles I'd collected (96,528!) and upgrade to first class and see how the other half live (it always looked very swanky when I've walked past "upper class" into the cattle section, though I'm mainly interested in the large seats - I'm always extremely uncomfortable sitting for 10 hours in the cramped economy seats).
I found I could upgrade one-way for 60,000 air miles. That seemed quite expensive. Then I found that I could book a complete return flight in first class for 80,000 air miles. So for an extra 33%, I can go first class both ways and save ~£200 (the cost of the ticket, minus taxes which I still have to pay). OK, I save my employer (the taxpayer) £200, but that's only fair since I collected the air miles on work travel.
I spent ages dithering because I couldn't believe that there wasn't some catch given this strange disparity in "prices". OK, there was a catch in that I could only fly on certain days (so I'm going out and returned a bit earlier than I'd otherwise have chosen to do). I've booked now, but am half expecting to be turned away at the airport.
I found I could upgrade one-way for 60,000 air miles. That seemed quite expensive. Then I found that I could book a complete return flight in first class for 80,000 air miles. So for an extra 33%, I can go first class both ways and save ~£200 (the cost of the ticket, minus taxes which I still have to pay). OK, I save my employer (the taxpayer) £200, but that's only fair since I collected the air miles on work travel.
I spent ages dithering because I couldn't believe that there wasn't some catch given this strange disparity in "prices". OK, there was a catch in that I could only fly on certain days (so I'm going out and returned a bit earlier than I'd otherwise have chosen to do). I've booked now, but am half expecting to be turned away at the airport.
