Originally Posted by
UKdiver
Apologies for posting a similar thread to which there were no replies. I cannot find any answers to this elsewhere.
Can you re-route the return segment of a BA Avios redemption ticket? My parents have flown the outbound of a LHR-MIA-LHR ticket and wish to change the return. There is no availability for MIA-LHR but there is for TPA-LHR, MCO-LGW or ATL-LHR. Could they switch their return to one of these gateways?
As noted, you can change the inbound portion of a return avios ticket but only to a departure point that is within the same redemption band or zone. If you wanted to change the inbound (where you had not flown the outbound yet) to a departure point in a different redemption zone then you have to cancel and rebook. If you want to change the inbound (having flown the outbound) then your new inbound must be in the same zones as originally booked. Your suggested cities would be fine.
While the terms and conditions used to specify that a avios return booking cannot be changed after the outbound is flown, BAEC changed this restriction years ago. Flights can be changed provided you are at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure; so having flown the outbound you can change the date of the inbound and can even change the departure point, as long as you stay within the same zones. You cannot cancel and obtain a refund of an avios booking once the outbound is flown (or within 24 hours of the departure of the outbound flight).
From the terms and conditions:
16.1. Changes to bookings for Reward travel on flights operated by British Airways or Airline Partners are permitted only in respect of date, time, class of service and route and is subject to this Clause 16. Such changes may only be made by the Member or an individual nominated in accordance with Clause 3.13.
16.2. The route or date applicable to a Reward booking may be changed provided that the new route or date selected would, as at the date the change is requested, require the redemption of the same amount of Avios points as was redeemed in making the original booking. Route changes are only permitted for Reward bookings which are purchased using Avios points only (other than for the payment of taxes, fees and charges).
16.3. If more than one Avios and Money price option is available for a British Airways flight, it is not possible to change the price option or class of service chosen by a Member after a booking has been made.
16.4. All permitted changes are subject to capacity limitations and must be made a minimum of 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the flight being changed.
16.5. A fee as specified on Ba.com may be payable for each permitted change. Name changes are not permitted.