mwalsh

Huh? Stopovers have always been bookable online in the past. It would not be good if that was no longer something you could do without agent intervention.

specs

Check the website for your insurer. I pay both auto and homeowners w/ credit card.

halfcape

The fee for booking via a real person was waived because I couldn't do it online.

I would have rather booked it myself than to have called.

blase

I am trying to make a relatively simple return trip in F using my companion voucher. My husband and I are listed together in our household account, so when I click on "redeem" for my voucher, it automatically selects both of our names. However, I am taking my mom on this trip instead of my husband, and I'm not sure how to change this. If I try to just make a booking for myself, it won't let me use the companion voucher.

I don't think I should have to call in for this one since it's a simple itinerary! (ORD to CDG w/stopover in London)

Steve in Olympia

I had the same issue last month. If you have a household account and want to use your companion voucher with someone who is not in your household account, you have to do it by phone. I confirmed this with BA.

blase

I actually thought to add her to my household account and see if that would work (you can add up to 6 people), and it does. It was fine because she didn't have an Exec Club # yet, nor any miles obviously, so I "nominated" her and it sent her an email for her to confirm.

The only thing is I sort of want this trip to be a surprise for her; I still don't think she has any idea what is up, but she was sure asking me a lot of questions today!!

nmenaker

I had to do an open jaw routing, going from SFO to BOM and back from DEL to SFO.

Of course, an LHR stopover was both visible and bookable online, but the open jaw didn't work, so had to call.

but, on the phone, managed to get 2 (actually 4) F seats ex SFO/ORD with stopover in LHR to BOM, and back from DEL. !!! :-)

While I didn't have to pay the booking fee for calling, I of course HAD to pay about 800$ a ticket in taxes, fuel surcharges, etc. Ouch, but heck, didn't pay for the miles and use the companion vouchers for each ticket pair.

Cost for EACH of the F tickets from SFO to BOM/DEL, 15,500$. :-)

Nice use of the companion cert, IMHO

nmenaker

I just used my companion ticket for a 16K$ F ticket ex usa to India, round trip with LHR stopover. Seemed like a pretty good deal all things considered.

cybaslacka

My sincerest apologies if this has been answered definitely in previous posts but I cannot see it. Being that I live in NYC, and the JFK, LGA, and EWR are the only airports I fly out of, I am hoping someone can offer advise if spending 30k on the BA Chase card is really worth it for the companion ticket.

As far as I know, every single flight that I take going anywhere in the world on BA metal requires me to stop off in London, generating super high taxes and fees for me, I think somewhere in the tune of $360 for rd trip.

I understand that there is high value in the companion ticket, esp if I do a business class ticket or first class ticket, but my alternative is to use BA miles (or even miles from another airline) on partner airlines, that may land me a direct flight to my final destination. Just as a simple example, JFK to HKG, I can use cathay for direct, which comes to about $360 for 2 tickets in taxes n fees on award flight.

So I guess my question is... are there any flights that depart NYC that do not require me to stop off in London on BA metal? If yes, then what are the routes, as this would answer my initial question of is it worth it (yes).

SFO777

Not sure what living in NYC has to do with anything?
But, as to your question, it all depends on where you plan to fly and in what class. First of all, you can't use the companion cert on any other airline.
If you want to fly BA First, you are getting two $15K-$18K tickets for 150K in miles and $1,000 in taxes/fees when you fly BA. Still a pretty good deal to me. It's not like the companion ticket is costing you $30K. If you spend that kind of volume in a short period of time, presumably you're charging it on a CC anyway... may as well be on the card where you get the best bang for your miles.

nmenaker

I don't think one is getting an F (ball park 15K) ticket for 150K, are they?

update: I'm wrong, yes 150K gets you to london from nyc.

SFO777

And from SFO or any other NA gateway. Taxes/fees are ridiculous but $1,400 and 150K for two RT First is still pretty good.

Steve in Olympia

Yes, 150,000 miles and a companion voucher will get two people from SFO to LHR. And beyond, to Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, and even Luxemburg.

Yes, miles and vouchers are worth more to folks on the US west coast than their east coast counterparts.

nmenaker

indeed folks, as I noted.

I hadn't reviewed the entire global awards page, just having had the experience getting two F tickets to BOM/DEL from SFO for either 180K business, or 270K F (which is what I chose) I didn't think 150 was still around for 2010 for just the LHR leg.

As I noted I think in this thread, yep taxes (fuel surcharges more than anything) cost me about 800$ a ticket from SFO (don't know why it was 1000$ a ticket from ORD though) but yes, for 800$ a ticket getting what is essentially a 15K ticket is fine.

And, I saved 30% of the miles too (and heck, MIGHT even get 20% back if that puppy works out)

coolc7116

I have a BA/Chase card and I earned the companion certificate. My annual renewal is approaching. I dont want to pay the annual fee, so I'm thinking about closing the account. When you redeem the Chase companion certificate, does anyone know if you have to charge the taxes/fees on the Chase/BA card?