Nov 17, 2012, 4:33 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
i Preface
If you are new to the British Airways Executive Club (BAEC) or a long term member but have not booked a redemption flight since the programme's relaunch in 2011, you may have realised by now that planning an Avios redemption calls for a shift in mindset, especially to those more used to redeeming miles for flights with North American frequent flyer programmes.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
ii Contents
Introduction
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
iii Acknowledgments
This guide is a collaborative effort, and could not have been produced without the kind contributions from corporate-wage-slave, DWFI, LTN Phobia, Petrus, Prospero, and Stez.
Your guide to spending Avios [Beta]
Aug 26, 2012, 7:05 pm
#46
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
An excellent compilation!
A couple of minor suggestions:
1) The discussion of "infant" fares needs to be qualified by noting that on certain routes, lap infants are carried free of charge. (I'm thinking domestic U.S. flights on AA and AS; not sure if there are other exceptions.)
2) I believe that Reward Flight Savers are also offered on BA's intra-Caribbean flights.
An excellent compilation!
A couple of minor suggestions:
1) The discussion of "infant" fares needs to be qualified by noting that on certain routes, lap infants are carried free of charge. (I'm thinking domestic U.S. flights on AA and AS; not sure if there are other exceptions.)
2) I believe that Reward Flight Savers are also offered on BA's intra-Caribbean flights.
Aug 27, 2012, 6:45 am
#47
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
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Excellent reference.
Reading the section on UuA, I am not sure all eligible booking classes have been listed. I certainly upgraded a CW itinerary in R to F when Z is available. I bookings are not upgradeable using Avios on AA, but I think they may still be on BA (I have in the past, but not recently).
Reading the section on UuA, I am not sure all eligible booking classes have been listed. I certainly upgraded a CW itinerary in R to F when Z is available. I bookings are not upgradeable using Avios on AA, but I think they may still be on BA (I have in the past, but not recently).
Aug 27, 2012, 8:01 am
#48
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
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Location: London, UK
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Thank you for your feedback, comments, and suggestions.
I've made a few amendments:
Please do continue to feedback your comments and any suggestions you have on how we can improve the guide.
I've made a few amendments:
- Added a reward booking code matrix
- Added a note about JL domestic bookings only being available from 2 months before the date of travel
- Added a note about LAN infant fares. guv1976, I'll looking into your comment about infant fares on AA. Thanks for that
- Added a paragraph on Reward Flight Saver and Fifth Freedom flights. Thanks again, guv1976
- Added greater clarity to the section on A&M
- Expanded on using GUF2s. Thanks r22r44bell47 and corporate-wage-slave
Please do continue to feedback your comments and any suggestions you have on how we can improve the guide.
Aug 27, 2012, 3:48 pm
#49
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I'm just re-reading the BA site and that sentence, "the amount of Avios needed to upgrade is based on the Avios price for a flight in the cabin you wish to upgrade from" is awfully confusing.
It sounds like that should really be "the amount of Avios needed to upgrade is based on the Avios price for a flight in the Economy/WT cabin" or at least something like that?
It sounds like that should really be "the amount of Avios needed to upgrade is based on the Avios price for a flight in the Economy/WT cabin" or at least something like that?
Aug 28, 2012, 9:54 am
#50
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I'm confused on the ability to use BA Avios points to book for other people.
I know that I can book for anyone on my household account. But my friend has a lot of BA points and wants to book tickets for me. We can't figure out any way to do that. As best we can tell, he'd need to NOT have a Household account, and then he might be able to book in other names.
Does that sound correct?
I know that I can book for anyone on my household account. But my friend has a lot of BA points and wants to book tickets for me. We can't figure out any way to do that. As best we can tell, he'd need to NOT have a Household account, and then he might be able to book in other names.
Does that sound correct?
Aug 28, 2012, 9:59 am
#51
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If your friend is not in a HHA, then he should have no problem booking tickets in other names (although always subject to the general restrictions about booking tickets for others - eg not selling, bartering etc).
Aug 28, 2012, 10:50 am
#52
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I guess that's the tradeoff with HHAs. You pool points, but you can only book for those within the HHA.
If he goes off HHA, can he book in any name online, or would he have to call?
Aug 28, 2012, 10:58 am
#53
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I know the feeling well.Once he's out of his HHA, anything that he can book online for himself he will be able to book in someone else's name. It's the same booking process, just as for cash tickets.
Aug 28, 2012, 4:30 pm
#54
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I think this is a very good thread covering short haul Euro tickets. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ost-saver.html
Aug 28, 2012, 5:07 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 9
companion award
Did I understand that right that if I have 2 companion passes I can use them both with only 1 paid ticket? also if I booked a short haul flight and a better award becomes available will BA change for me? thanks.
Aug 28, 2012, 5:45 pm
#56
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BHD
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Great thread, answered a good few questions.
Aug 29, 2012, 4:01 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Germany
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Using your companion vouchers (Germany)
Great Job ^
Concerning the 241 BA Barclay Credit Card Voucher in Germany :
It can also be used one way starting from Germany.
Concerning the 241 BA Barclay Credit Card Voucher in Germany :
It can also be used one way starting from Germany.
Aug 29, 2012, 1:29 pm
#58
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Aug 29, 2012, 1:34 pm
#59
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Correction to post 6: it says all CE tickets can be Upgradiosed, which they can't.
Aug 30, 2012, 8:58 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC - Silver
Posts: 271
Can't upgrade a booking with Avios - any suggestions?
Hello all, great thread.
I've encountered a problem trying to upgrading with Avios online (or even see if there is availability).
Our company travel is booked out of the US head office (direct to BA website, not through a TA I believe) using the company credit card (in the name of our CFO, US registered address) and I am UK based.
However the error message I get is odd -
Sorry, you can't upgrade this booking with Avios because at least one passenger is not part of your Household Account.
I am the only passenger on the booking
Anyone come across this before? I have spoken to BA and they couldn't help & have passed it to their web team.
Could the US registered CC in another name used for the booking be the issue?
Thanks for any help!
I've encountered a problem trying to upgrading with Avios online (or even see if there is availability).
Our company travel is booked out of the US head office (direct to BA website, not through a TA I believe) using the company credit card (in the name of our CFO, US registered address) and I am UK based.
However the error message I get is odd -
Sorry, you can't upgrade this booking with Avios because at least one passenger is not part of your Household Account.
I am the only passenger on the booking
Anyone come across this before? I have spoken to BA and they couldn't help & have passed it to their web team.
Could the US registered CC in another name used for the booking be the issue?
Thanks for any help!