Just booked first award trip... now some questions!
Feb 9, 2012, 11:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CGN
Programs: DL PM, HH Gold
Posts: 108
Just booked first award trip... now some questions!
Hi all,
Well after ~ 1.5 hours on the phone with British Airways, I finally got the flights I was aiming to take since I saw availability on EF:
PIT-ORD (on AA)
ORD-DUB (on EI)
DUB-ORD (on EI)
ORD-PIT (on AA)
2 seats, 98000 Avios points, and $299.90 out of pocket. Whatdya think FT?
Now that it's booked, I'm starting to worry. The agents at BA said I couldn't do the AA and EI on one itinerary because the mileage requirements on the award chart for multiple OW partners would make this unbookable for 98k points. So-- I have a RT to Chicago and a RT to Dublin.
I'm not going to be checking any bags (that'd just be asking for trouble), but on my outbound leg, when I land in ORD, do I have to exit security, check in at the EI desk, then go to the gate? Or can I walk to the gate of the EI flight and check in right there?
If I do have to exit and check in pre-security, I'll be fine on my outgoing leg as I have about 2.5 hours; coming home from DUB will be tricky though as I only have about 1 hour 15 minutes to make my AA flight back to PIT. Is that enough time considering we'll do customs in DUB before leaving Ireland?
Also-- I can't seem to select seats for the EI flight. Would I have to wait until check-in to select them? That might suck if my girlfriend and I have to sit on opposite sides of the plane.
Any help anyone can provide would be most appreciated. Thank you all in advance!
Edit: I suppose maybe my bolded question was dumber than I thought. As long as I online check-in for my EI flight, I should be good to go directly to the gate right?
Well after ~ 1.5 hours on the phone with British Airways, I finally got the flights I was aiming to take since I saw availability on EF:
PIT-ORD (on AA)
ORD-DUB (on EI)
DUB-ORD (on EI)
ORD-PIT (on AA)
2 seats, 98000 Avios points, and $299.90 out of pocket. Whatdya think FT?
Now that it's booked, I'm starting to worry. The agents at BA said I couldn't do the AA and EI on one itinerary because the mileage requirements on the award chart for multiple OW partners would make this unbookable for 98k points. So-- I have a RT to Chicago and a RT to Dublin.
I'm not going to be checking any bags (that'd just be asking for trouble), but on my outbound leg, when I land in ORD, do I have to exit security, check in at the EI desk, then go to the gate? Or can I walk to the gate of the EI flight and check in right there?
If I do have to exit and check in pre-security, I'll be fine on my outgoing leg as I have about 2.5 hours; coming home from DUB will be tricky though as I only have about 1 hour 15 minutes to make my AA flight back to PIT. Is that enough time considering we'll do customs in DUB before leaving Ireland?
Also-- I can't seem to select seats for the EI flight. Would I have to wait until check-in to select them? That might suck if my girlfriend and I have to sit on opposite sides of the plane.
Any help anyone can provide would be most appreciated. Thank you all in advance!
Edit: I suppose maybe my bolded question was dumber than I thought. As long as I online check-in for my EI flight, I should be good to go directly to the gate right?
Last edited by Ben21; Feb 9, 2012 at 11:39 am
Feb 9, 2012, 3:58 pm
#2
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Um, EI is no longer a oneworld airline.
If only oneworld airlines can be included on BA's multi-partner award, then it seems that you were given wrong information by the BAEC agent. I would call back an ask if everything can be put on a single, multi-segment redemption, so that you might have some protection in the event of irregular operations.
And I would be surprised if EI were to let you check in online for the ORD-DUB flight, as EI has to check passports to make sure that it does not transport passengers who are not eligible to be admitted to Ireland.
Um, EI is no longer a oneworld airline.
If only oneworld airlines can be included on BA's multi-partner award, then it seems that you were given wrong information by the BAEC agent. I would call back an ask if everything can be put on a single, multi-segment redemption, so that you might have some protection in the event of irregular operations.
And I would be surprised if EI were to let you check in online for the ORD-DUB flight, as EI has to check passports to make sure that it does not transport passengers who are not eligible to be admitted to Ireland.
Feb 10, 2012, 5:47 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CGN
Programs: DL PM, HH Gold
Posts: 108
If the agent priced it as PIT-ORD-DUB-ORD-PIT on one itinerary, he (and his supervisor) told me it was considered a multi-partner award redemption and was significantly higher (don't remember the exact number). I had to split it up in order to pay only 98k for two one-partner award redemptions.
I am worried about the protection issue-- if I call up BA, will they be able to combine the itineraries without charging me any more points or cash?
I am worried about the protection issue-- if I call up BA, will they be able to combine the itineraries without charging me any more points or cash?
Feb 10, 2012, 9:55 am
#4
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If only oneworld carriers can be used for BA's multi-partner awards, then what the agents told you is incorrect. If non-oneworld carriers like EI and AS can be included on multi-partner awards, then what the agents told you is correct. I suggest that you call back and find out which it is.
If EI can be included on a multi-partner award, then PIT-ORD-DUB-ORD-PIT should cost 60,000 Avios per person in Coach as a multi-partner award.
If you are thinking of sticking with what you already have, you should ask the BAEC agent what would happen if your PIT-ORD flight were canceled or delayed, causing you to miss the ORD-DUB flight. Would BA "protect" you, or would you lose the ORD-DUB and DUB-ORD flights because you were a no-show for the ORD-DUB flight?
Good luck, and please let us know what you learn.
If only oneworld carriers can be used for BA's multi-partner awards, then what the agents told you is incorrect. If non-oneworld carriers like EI and AS can be included on multi-partner awards, then what the agents told you is correct. I suggest that you call back and find out which it is.
If EI can be included on a multi-partner award, then PIT-ORD-DUB-ORD-PIT should cost 60,000 Avios per person in Coach as a multi-partner award.
If you are thinking of sticking with what you already have, you should ask the BAEC agent what would happen if your PIT-ORD flight were canceled or delayed, causing you to miss the ORD-DUB flight. Would BA "protect" you, or would you lose the ORD-DUB and DUB-ORD flights because you were a no-show for the ORD-DUB flight?
Good luck, and please let us know what you learn.