Originally Posted by DominicB

I've just had the most odd experience with a friend. She has a stash of Avios with Avios, i.e. not with BAEC. She wanted to book two flights one-way on a given route and date. I looked on KVS. 7 seats open for redemption. I look in my Exec Account (I've belonged for years and am gold) - easily there to book.

But at Avios, no availability. So she joins BAEC and then does a combine Avios thing to put the right number of points into her new BAEC account. Goes to book.... no availability that day. And I still find 7 vacant seats for redemption.

Eventually I make her and her husband official friends of mine and book the seats... and she ends up spending £175 more to transfer me the Avios.

Can anyone explain to me what on earth was going on that she couldn't book the flights herself?