Upgrade BA ticket with IB Avios
Nov 15, 2016, 12:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: AA GOLD
Posts: 86
Upgrade BA ticket with IB Avios
I am flying on a paid ticket in Premium Economy, LHR-SFO on BA287 (distance: ~5300 miles) on 12/14. I'd like to take advantage of the new Amex transfer bonus to Iberia Avios and upgrade this leg to business. I have a BA executive club membership that has been opened for 3 months, but my Iberia account is brand new, so I don't think a mileage transfer will be possible.
Is there any way to use Iberia Avios to get the upgrade? Once I upgrade, will BA still credit AA for miles in my original booked fare class?
Thanks for your help.
Is there any way to use Iberia Avios to get the upgrade? Once I upgrade, will BA still credit AA for miles in my original booked fare class?
Thanks for your help.
Nov 16, 2016, 4:01 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 63
Nov 16, 2016, 4:15 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
I am flying on a paid ticket in Premium Economy, LHR-SFO on BA287 (distance: ~5300 miles) on 12/14. I'd like to take advantage of the new Amex transfer bonus to Iberia Avios and upgrade this leg to business. I have a BA executive club membership that has been opened for 3 months, but my Iberia account is brand new, so I don't think a mileage transfer will be possible.
Is there any way to use Iberia Avios to get the upgrade? Once I upgrade, will BA still credit AA for miles in my original booked fare class?
Thanks for your help.
Is there any way to use Iberia Avios to get the upgrade? Once I upgrade, will BA still credit AA for miles in my original booked fare class?
Thanks for your help.
It will also take a miracle for any Business Class award space to still be available by the time your Amex points post to Iberia and then transfer over to BA. So I would only make the Amex conversion if you know that you can still use Avios at some point in the future.
In theory you should earn miles for the underlying ticket in whatever FF program you choose. In practice, once upgraded the ticket will look like an award ticket, so you have to retro-claim the original miles - this will be harder with a non-BA program.
U.S. Amex only...
Nov 24, 2016, 3:43 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: VLC, from heaven to hell
Programs: LH (Silver), IB Plus (Gold)
Posts: 31
You have now a promotion in IB+. If you buy avios you get an additional 50%. That is the quickest way to get avios in your IB+ account and inmediately transfer them to BAEC account to get the upgrade.
If the transfer ("combine my avios") fails, get in touch through telephone to an IB+ agent in order to help ou out quickly. Some times there is a mismatch between the names or addressed of both accounts and the system cannot fix it by itself.
There are few Upgrades in LHR-SFO route to find, so do not waste your time and go for it right now.
If the transfer ("combine my avios") fails, get in touch through telephone to an IB+ agent in order to help ou out quickly. Some times there is a mismatch between the names or addressed of both accounts and the system cannot fix it by itself.
There are few Upgrades in LHR-SFO route to find, so do not waste your time and go for it right now.
Nov 24, 2016, 10:30 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
Those of us who can't play the credit card churning game are those that try to justify to ourselves why it makes sense to buy miles.
Besides, the OP has no problem getting Avios in IB+, it's BAEC where they are required.