Originally Posted by
littlevoices
So, I've browsed thru the thread, though not every post and wanted to see the rules for the GGL joker. It talks about a return flight, does that mean it is valid for a maximum of two legs?
For context, I will make GGL for the first and last time in about a month (I won't survive the subsequent cull as my earning is 90% on partners). I live in Asia (HKG), and family group of 3 will also end up with about 6xGUF2 and 4xGUF1 by 1 April, to which I'd add 3 jokers (plus another 2 after April). You can tell I've not been doing a great job of spending avios, I've been using cash as I've got about 1.5m Avios to burn.
I seem to recall the GUFs are valid for up to 4 legs. From reading the thread I'm starting to feel the jokers aren't as valuable to me really as all those GUFs could do the same to get me space in A class.
My ambition is probably to book something like KUL/SIN-LHR, then on to the USA in First during the early summer. If it gets us more I could probably throw a few days in the middle east there too (e.g. Nested returns of SIN-LHR-BAH // BAH-LHR-ORD)
Any thoughts, it seems I may as well book now, as I don't need the jokers? Or do they give me something else extra? Maybe I throw in my parents too so we use 5 rather than 3 seats (if I can find that many A seats), making the jokers useful again?
Appreciate your thoughts.
What you need to be aware of is the new membership year. If you earned GGL for the first time on the 20th February, for example, you'd get two Jokers. However, these will expire at the end of your membership year (March 31st) and you'll get two new ones on April 1st. Use them or lose them.
As for legs, it's a return booking. So HKG-LHR-LAX-LHR-HKG would be fine, for example. If you want to stop in LHR in either direction, then stopovers are limited to 14 days, or it's classed as a new trip and you'd need to use another Joker.
If you're looking to fly in First then yes the GUF vouchers would open A class so you wouldn't need the Jokers. However, if you want to fly CW then the GUF only opens I class, whereas the Joker will open all classes up to and including D class - giving you much more flexibility when flying Club.
For me, Jokers are valuable for European trips. Trying to get to Geneva during February half term? Can be north of £1k return in Economy for a 1hr flight, or a joker and a hand full of Avios.
But yes, for you being Asia based you won't benefit from that one.