✈️ How It Works

👋 Welcome

The app compares what you can book now, and what's just out of reach, using a transparent scoring system you can help us fine-tune. We'll ask for your feedback on how the logic feels — because this tool should think the way you do about value.

💼 Your Wallet

Your wallet is where the logic starts. Add your Avios, Virgin points, and any vouchers you hold, and the app will:

• Apply each airline's rules automatically (2-for-1s, upgrades, expiry dates)
• Filter out routes that don't apply to your account
• Use balances and expiry timelines to prioritise smarter redemptions
• Track voucher expiry dates and alert you when vouchers are expiring within 30 days

🤖 PointsBot AI Assistant

PointsBot is your AI-powered travel assistant that replaces manual navigation through Suggestions and Planner pages. Instead of clicking through menus, just ask PointsBot in plain English and get instant, personalized results based on your actual wallet data.

Two Modes of Operation:

What Makes PointsBot Unique:

• Smart Date Handling: No specific dates? PointsBot defaults to safe off-peak pricing (March 15 next year) to give you realistic estimates without penalties
• Wallet-Aware Results: All personalized searches use your actual Avios, Virgin Points, vouchers, and status—no generic answers
• Voucher Cap Usage % (The USP): Shows exactly how much of your Virgin companion voucher cap you're using (e.g., "33% of Red cap - 50k saved out of 75k max")
• Complete Planner Output: Get full itinerary breakdowns with:
  • Baseline cost (without vouchers)
  • With-voucher cost (your actual price)
  • Total savings breakdown
  • Deep links to check availability on BA/VS websites
• Educational FAQ Prompts: Sample questions built into the interface help you learn voucher rules and features

Example Questions:

✈️ Virgin Instant Check

Virgin Instant Check is a standalone calculator for users who have actual Virgin Atlantic pricing from VSeat.com or virginatlantic.com. If you've already found your dream flight and have the exact points cost, this tool shows you instantly how much you'll save with companion vouchers.

Two Access Points:

• /virgin-actual (Login Required): Uses your wallet data (companion vouchers, status caps) to calculate savings based on your actual holdings
• /virgin-instant-check (Public): Public calculator where anyone can input their status and see companion voucher savings without creating an account

How It Works:

1. Copy Pricing from VSeat.com: Find your desired flight on Virgin Atlantic's booking site and note the exact points cost per passenger
2. Enter Trip Details: Input cabin class (Economy/Premium/Upper), passengers (1 or 2), and trip type (one-way/return)
3. Enter Virgin Points Cost: Paste the per-passenger points cost you found
4. Select Your Status: Choose Red, Silver, or Gold (affects voucher caps)
5. Get Instant Results: See exactly how companion vouchers reduce your cost, including:
   • Baseline cost (no voucher)
   • Companion voucher cost (50% off 2nd passenger)
   • Total savings in points
   • Cap usage percentage and whether cap was hit

Cap Rules Explained:

🧠 Suggestions Tool

Suggestions is your smart search engine for award flights. When you hit "Search," the app instantly scans all available routes based on your origin/destination and filters them through your wallet to show you the best redemption opportunities.

What Suggestions Does:

• Scans Available Routes: Searches all British Airways and Virgin Atlantic routes matching your search criteria
• Applies Your Wallet: Automatically filters results based on your points balance, vouchers, and status
• Calculates Voucher Savings: Shows you exactly how much you save with each available voucher type
• Sorts & Ranks: Lets you sort routes by your priorities (Distance, Lowest Points, Miles per Point, Points per Pound, or Highest Points)
• Splits Results: Organizes flights into "Top 10 Now" (what you can book today) and "Top 3 Next" (what's just out of reach) — see the Top 10 / Top 3 section below for details
• Shows Deep Links: Provides direct links to check availability on BA or Virgin Atlantic websites

🔍 The Four Core Factors

Each route is analyzed across four metrics to help you compare value, efficiency, and cost:

🧩 Your 5 Simple Sorting Options

No complex formulas — just straightforward sorting based on what matters most to you:

🔍 Top 10 Now / Top 3 Next

Your search results are split into two clear sections:

🌍 Route Data & Coverage

Understanding where our data comes from helps you know what's possible:

British Airways

• Data Source: Distance-based award chart using official BA pricing tables
• Available Routes: 17 popular routes from London (LHR) covering major US, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Oceania destinations
• Pricing: Peak/off-peak pricing based on official BA award chart with seasonal variations (Summer, Christmas, Easter = peak)
• Future Enhancement: Live pricing from BA APIs will be integrated for real-time award availability and expanded route coverage
• ✈️ View Complete BA Routes & Pricing Table: See all 17 LHR routes with peak/off-peak pricing for Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class
• 📅 BA Peak/Off-Peak Calendar: Check whether your travel dates qualify for lower off-peak pricing (peak periods: Summer, Christmas, Easter)

Virgin Atlantic

• Primary Source: Curated fixture data for comprehensive route coverage
• Future Source: Live flight data provider (Seats.aero Pro API - planned integration)
• Available Routes: 50 unique routes (100 directional segments) covering:
  • From London (LHR) - 22 destinations:
    • 🇺🇸 US East: JFK, EWR (Newark), BOS, IAD (Washington), MIA, ATL, DTW (Detroit), TPA (Tampa)
    • 🇺🇸 US West: LAX, SFO, LAS, SEA, AUS (Austin)
    • 🇺🇸 US Central: ORD (Chicago)
    • 🏝️ Caribbean: BGI (Barbados), ANU (Antigua), SLU (St Lucia), GND (Grenada), MBJ (Jamaica)
    • 🌍 Middle East/Asia: DXB (Dubai), DEL (Delhi)
    • 🌍 Africa: JNB (Johannesburg), LOS (Lagos)
  • From Manchester (MAN) - 7 destinations: MCO (Orlando), JFK, LAX, SFO, ATL, BOS, BGI (Barbados)
• Coverage Note: VA searches limited to these fixture routes until Seats.aero API access is restored
• Pricing Methodology: All Virgin Atlantic reward prices are based on live data sampled from multiple travel dates across the year. By default, we show the median Virgin points price for each route and cabin — this reflects the typical redemption cost rather than rare sale or peak values. You can switch to "Best Price Seen" mode to view the lowest verified fare from recent data
• Data Freshness: Values are reviewed and refreshed quarterly to keep results aligned with current Virgin Atlantic reward trends until live flight data is embedded
• Future Enhancement: Live pricing from Seats.aero and VA APIs will replace fixture data for real-time award availability
• 📊 View Complete VA Routes & Pricing Table: See all 50 routes with exact points and taxes for Economy, Premium, and Upper Class
• 💰 VA Pricing Modes Explained: Learn about Median Cost vs Best Seen strategies and when to use each

📅 Planner View

The Planner helps you build multi-leg itineraries with your wallet:

• Create complex journey plans (e.g., LHR → JFK → LAX → LHR)
• Automatic voucher application across multiple legs
• Calculates total points and cash costs
• Shows shortfall alerts when you're close to affording a trip (within 125% of your balance)

🌟 Dream Trip Planner (Premium Only)

Dream Trip is your goal-planning tool for aspirational travel. Instead of searching for what's available now, you plan for what you want to book in the future:

• Set Your Goal: Pick your dream route (e.g., LHR → SYD Upper Class), cabin, passengers, and carriers
• Two Pricing Options:
  • Best Price (with voucher): Shows lowest cost using your best available companion/upgrade voucher
  • Points Only (baseline): Shows cost without any vouchers - your fallback option
• Progress Tracking: Visual progress bar shows how far you are toward your goal (e.g., "68% complete - need 50,000 more Virgin Points")
• Shortfall Calculator: Tells you exactly how many more points you need to earn
• Earn Rate ETA: Estimates time to goal based on your monthly earn rate
• Save Goals: Save your dream trips to track progress over time
• Partner Links: Quick access to earning guides (Head for Points, Roame, InsideFlyer)

🎟️ Voucher Logic

Our voucher system automatically applies British Airways and Virgin Atlantic voucher rules based on your wallet. When you search for flights, the app shows you exactly how much you save with each voucher:

British Airways Vouchers

• BA Amex Companion Voucher: Two modes automatically selected by passenger count
  • Companion Mode (2 passengers): Classic 2-for-1 Avios pricing - pay for 1, fees for both. Shows "Saves 100,000 pts (50%)" in results.
  • Solo 50% Mode (1 passenger): Pay 50% of Avios, normal fees - perfect for solo travelers. Shows "Saves 50,000 pts (50%)" in results.
  • Valid on: British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus reward flights
  • Card restrictions: Premium Plus (any cabin, 24mo validity), Classic (Economy only, 12mo validity)
  • Can use up to 2 vouchers of the same type in one booking
  • No cap limits: BA Companion vouchers have unlimited value - save 50% on any eligible route, regardless of cost
• Barclaycard/Barclays Upgrade Vouchers: Three types - Free card (£20k spend), Plus card (£10k spend), or Premier account
  • 1 passenger on return: All legs upgraded for that passenger
  • 2 passengers on one-way: Both upgraded (requires exactly 1 leg)
  • Pay lower cabin Avios + higher cabin fees
  • Valid upgrades: Y→W, W→J (cannot upgrade TO First class)
  • BA-operated flights departing the UK only
  • Shows the points saved and percentage discount in search results

Virgin Atlantic Vouchers

• Companion Voucher (requires 2 passengers): 2-for-1 with status-based caps (Red=75k, Silver/Gold=150k points max value)
  • Shows "Saves 40,000 pts (50%)" in results
  • Also shows "Used 26% of cap (40,000 of 150,000)" to track your voucher's value usage
  • Cap is based on your Flying Club status tier
  • Note: Virgin companion vouchers strictly require 2 passengers (no solo mode available)
• Upgrade Voucher: Cabin upgrades (Y→W, W→J, Y→J) with cap-based discounts
  • Shows points saved and cap usage percentage
  • Pay lower cabin points + higher cabin fees

💳 Points Only Mode

Want to see pricing without any voucher discounts? Use the Points Only Mode toggle at the top of the Suggestions and Planner pages:

• Vouchers (Default): Shows pricing with all applicable voucher discounts automatically applied
• Points Only: Shows pricing using points only, with no voucher discounts applied
• Perfect for comparing redemption values or planning bookings without using your vouchers
• Toggle is prominently displayed at the top of both Suggestions and Planner pages
• Switch instantly between modes to compare pricing with and without vouchers

🤝 Help Us Tune the Logic

We're in live beta, and your insight makes a real difference. Please check the app logic and let us know:

• Is the voucher logic correct?
• Do the sorting options work well for your travel style?
• Do the Top 10 and Top 3 results reflect your sense of value?
• Are there any features or sorting options you'd like to see added?
• Are the VA route limitations acceptable, or do you need other destinations?

Use the in-app feedback button or email Giovanni directly at info@pointsandvouchers.com with your thoughts and suggestions.

🎁 Earn Rewards Through Referrals

Invite friends and earn rewards based on your plan and who you refer:

💎 Premium Users: App Credits (Based on Invitee)

• Earn £1 app credit when you refer a Basic user (qualifies on first search or wallet save)
• Earn £2 app credit when you refer a Premium user (qualifies immediately on signup)
• 4 Basic referrals OR 2 Premium referrals = 1 month free (£4 covers £3.99/month)
• Credits accumulate and automatically apply at renewal time
• No expiry — credits stay in your account until used
• Track your credit balance on your Account page

🔍 Basic Users: Bonus Search Credits

• Earn 5 bonus suggestion credits per referral (any plan)
• Credits qualify when invitee completes first search or wallet save
• Bonus credits let you search beyond your 1 suggestion per month limit
• Bonus credits expire after 60 days, so use them wisely!
• Max 25 outstanding bonus credits at any time
• Consumed before your monthly quota

🏆 Weekly Challenge (Basic Users)

• Earn +1 bonus credit every week just for staying active
• Log in at least once a month to qualify
• Weekly challenge credits expire in 7 days, so use them quickly!

💎 Basic vs Premium Plans

Choose the plan that fits your travel planning needs:

Upgrade to Premium