Using a 2-4-1 but booking legs separately
Feb 23, 2015, 7:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
Using a 2-4-1 but booking legs separately
Hello,
Can anyone please talk me through how to use my AMEX 2-4-1 voucher and purchasing the outbound leg when/if it becomes available then adding the inbound at a much later date?
I'm looking at going to LAX next Spring but won't need the return until over a month later. Rather than wait and hope the LAX seats are still there I think there is a way I can book the outbound and add the inbound when/if they become available over a month later?
Thanks.
Can anyone please talk me through how to use my AMEX 2-4-1 voucher and purchasing the outbound leg when/if it becomes available then adding the inbound at a much later date?
I'm looking at going to LAX next Spring but won't need the return until over a month later. Rather than wait and hope the LAX seats are still there I think there is a way I can book the outbound and add the inbound when/if they become available over a month later?
Thanks.
Feb 23, 2015, 7:59 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
I wasn't sure if the online system allowed one ways and I do not have the voucher yet to try a dummy booking.
Feb 23, 2015, 8:13 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
So you can use it to fly out to New York and take the Queen Mary 2 back to the UK. However, you cannot use it fly from New York to London after taking the the Queen Mary 2 to New York first; you would have to use two lots of Avios for that.
Feb 23, 2015, 8:14 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
Feb 23, 2015, 8:21 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
Forgot to mention, if you are struggling to get a return flight from LAX, try Las Vegas and San Diego as alternatives airports to return from. Las Vegas is about a 4 hour drive from LAX and San Diego about about a 2 hour drive. PHX is about a 6 hour drive so is pushing it a bit.
Feb 23, 2015, 8:27 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
Forgot to mention, if you are struggling to get a return flight from LAX, try Las Vegas and San Diego as alternatives airports to return from. Las Vegas is about a 4 hour drive from LAX and San Diego about about a 2 hour drive. PHX is about a 6 hour drive so is pushing it a bit.
Mar 2, 2015, 1:11 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
Another question in relation to this and also the executive club changes coming on the 28th of April.
If I book the outbound before the changes then add the return after the changes I am presuming the outbound will be at current redemption prices (50K zone 6) and the inbound at the new redemption prices (62500 if off peak zone 6)
In this instance would it be better for me to book a dummy return flights before the changes come in and then change the dummy flight to the actual date once released which will definitely be after 28th April. I know this will incur a change fee but I think £70 is better than an extra 12500.
I hope that makes sense and someone can help with the answer.
If I book the outbound before the changes then add the return after the changes I am presuming the outbound will be at current redemption prices (50K zone 6) and the inbound at the new redemption prices (62500 if off peak zone 6)
In this instance would it be better for me to book a dummy return flights before the changes come in and then change the dummy flight to the actual date once released which will definitely be after 28th April. I know this will incur a change fee but I think £70 is better than an extra 12500.
I hope that makes sense and someone can help with the answer.
Mar 2, 2015, 1:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BA Silver, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 28
Apologies for hijacking the thread slightly but I am in a similar situation. When adding the return leg of a 2-4-1 by phone, booking for a family of 4, I want to phone as soon as possible after the seats are available. The website states the call centre hours as 07:30-20:00, but I am sure I have phoned earlier than 7:30am before?
Mar 2, 2015, 2:24 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,815
Apologies for hijacking the thread slightly but I am in a similar situation. When adding the return leg of a 2-4-1 by phone, booking for a family of 4, I want to phone as soon as possible after the seats are available. The website states the call centre hours as 07:30-20:00, but I am sure I have phoned earlier than 7:30am before?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ntly-open.html
Mar 2, 2015, 2:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308
Are you sure? The T&Cs say:-
21.All Companion Voucher bookings must originate and return to the UK.
When I wanted a booking on a popular route (BGI) I made the return for the same day as the outbound. I then waited until the return I wanted opened up and made the change. It cost the change fee but it was worth it to get the flights I wanted.
Mar 2, 2015, 2:40 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,815
Are you sure? The T&Cs say:-
If you can't book the return then you can't meet this condition.
When I wanted a booking on a popular route (BGI) I made the return for the same day as the outbound. I then waited until the return I wanted opened up and made the change. It cost the change fee but it was worth it to get the flights I wanted.
If you can't book the return then you can't meet this condition.
When I wanted a booking on a popular route (BGI) I made the return for the same day as the outbound. I then waited until the return I wanted opened up and made the change. It cost the change fee but it was worth it to get the flights I wanted.
BAEC also allows a return to be added later when it opens up. If someone doesn't want to be charged when adding the return booking later then the agent can make a note to allow the addition without charge.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...urn-later.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23539316-post20.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...r-booking.html
Mar 3, 2015, 3:18 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 431
So I spoke with BAEC and the very helpful lady said that even if I just book the one way before the changes, when I come to add the return it will be at the old redemption prices. She didn't however sound very sure. I went through the whole scenario again and she asked me why I would be booking a 2-4-1 as seperate legs. After I had explained my reasonings she again assured me that when I want to add the return leg it would be at the redemption rates before the changes. I hope this is correct but guess I have to trust the info given.
Mar 3, 2015, 4:01 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cardiff
Programs: BA Hilton Marriott Hyatt
Posts: 42
Forgot to mention, if you are struggling to get a return flight from LAX, try Las Vegas and San Diego as alternatives airports to return from. Las Vegas is about a 4 hour drive from LAX and San Diego about about a 2 hour drive. PHX is about a 6 hour drive so is pushing it a bit.
Mar 3, 2015, 8:22 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West Central Illinois
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Dicoverist
Posts: 122
Forgot to mention, if you are struggling to get a return flight from LAX, try Las Vegas and San Diego as alternatives airports to return from. Las Vegas is about a 4 hour drive from LAX and San Diego about about a 2 hour drive. PHX is about a 6 hour drive so is pushing it a bit.