Wozza2404

Weekends + Summer Holidays + Booking less than 11 months out = Incredibly limited availability (unless you're Gold).

You can use the availability map on BA.com to narrow it down a bit, but it is by no means a perfect tool.

In fact, it's barely a tool at all, but it's better than nothing. Probably.

EWRTravelers

I will have an extra weekend during an upcoming business trip to London and I was thinking of using some Avios to visit AMS or somewhere close for a short city break. When I look at the BA website it shows AMS as short-hop flight for 9,000 Roundtrip + $55 but when I search the flights are closer to 9,000 + $148 in taxes and fees. Is this normal? When I click through to the next page it does provide a further breakdown. Appreciate any tips.

Globaliser

The first thing that comes to mind is to ask whether you have earned or redeemed at least one Avios from your account during the last year. A possible reason for the difference is that $55 looks like it might be the cash element for a Reward Flight Saver, but that's only available to those with recently active accounts. $148 might be the full amount of taxes, fees and charges for those who don't qualify for Reward Flight Saver (and the figure looks about right for a LGW-AMS-LGW itinerary).

jerry a. laska

Have you earned at least one avios in the last year?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22138042-post5.html

EWRTravelers

I have actually never earned an avios ever - I was hoping to transfer them from Amex.

Guess that might be part of the problem

Wozza2404

A transfer from Amex should count as an Avios "earned" and qualify you for RFS flights.

EWRTravelers

Thanks for all of the information - it is really helpful!

Champagne please

Thanks, I have previously bagged some nice flights by searching 355 days ahead. But summer is more difficult for me to be organised so far as it coincides with some variable deadlines at work. Also, I'm open to going on holiday simply where we can use the Avios, we have had some fun -albeit random - trips.

The issue then thank you for confirming - the map tool is pretty useless. The first filter of August in fact shows 150 destinations with availability in economy for one traveller. So in fact you can go somewhere at some point in August on your own. Hurrah! But its only by clicking through on each destination in turn can you choose dates, class of travel and bring the family. So thank you for confirming its the map tool and not my competence that is the rate limiting step.

yokozuma

There's no way I can use my One World Sapphire to bring up any more availability on ba.com is there?

The seat I'm after at the moment is £400 cheaper on avios.com than ba.com, with the same points outlay.

stifle

BA Gold (and higher) status gets additional availability for Avios. Other status does not.

quintic

Hi, I am looking to book a 4M flight using BA, AEP-IGR, I can not find it on BA.com. I found availability on LAN website, for 2k-2.2k lanpass kms. Can I call BA to book it? If so, should I try the 2k kms fare or I could also get 2.2k km fares?

Called BA, after 30 mins waiting, I was told that no availability on all the days. Is that because the flight is operated by 4M?

Globaliser

And not forgetting this: only in economy.

stifle

I thought you could get it in any class if you pay double?

Globaliser

Sorry, you're right. That needs to be booked 30 days in advance.

stifle

Hasn't made any difference to me yet of course (never been Gold) and anyway I'd forget which one is a wildcard and which one is a joker.