Nov 17, 2012, 4:33 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
i Preface
If you are new to the British Airways Executive Club (BAEC) or a long term member but have not booked a redemption flight since the programme's relaunch in 2011, you may have realised by now that planning an Avios redemption calls for a shift in mindset, especially to those more used to redeeming miles for flights with North American frequent flyer programmes.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
ii Contents
Introduction
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
iii Acknowledgments
This guide is a collaborative effort, and could not have been produced without the kind contributions from corporate-wage-slave, DWFI, LTN Phobia, Petrus, Prospero, and Stez.
Your guide to spending Avios [Beta]
Sep 2, 2013, 2:52 am
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Hi guys, I need some more info about my case as I searched and didn't find too much info.
I've booked tickets for my friend and I MEX-MIA o/w on AA metal with Avios. Now she has changed her plan so I need to cancel her ticket. I've tried cancelling online for her ticket only but the website said Cancellations will apply to all passengers in the booking. If you do not want to make the cancellation for all passengers please contact your local British Airways office.You may be charged for offline service fees.
So if I call 800 452 1201, can I assume that agents know how to cancel one ticket while keep the other under a two-ticket reservation? Are BA agents clueless as DL's? I'm a little bit concerned that they might be ruined my reservation as too much pain gained from dealing with DL..
Also I know that I need to pay $40 for online cancellation (or will be refunded fuel surcharge minus $40) and get the 10,000 Avios redeposit, In addition to that, will I be charged for $20 phone agent fee?
TIA!
I've booked tickets for my friend and I MEX-MIA o/w on AA metal with Avios. Now she has changed her plan so I need to cancel her ticket. I've tried cancelling online for her ticket only but the website said Cancellations will apply to all passengers in the booking. If you do not want to make the cancellation for all passengers please contact your local British Airways office.You may be charged for offline service fees.
So if I call 800 452 1201, can I assume that agents know how to cancel one ticket while keep the other under a two-ticket reservation? Are BA agents clueless as DL's? I'm a little bit concerned that they might be ruined my reservation as too much pain gained from dealing with DL..
Also I know that I need to pay $40 for online cancellation (or will be refunded fuel surcharge minus $40) and get the 10,000 Avios redeposit, In addition to that, will I be charged for $20 phone agent fee?
TIA!
You cannot do this online, so you should expect to pay the phone service fee in addition to the cancellation fee.
Sep 2, 2013, 11:17 am
#707
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 12
Thanks moondog
They now offer a 7 day view of flights, showing all classes of service.
But, using Avios is much more of an art than a science: e.g. you need to think about fuel surcharges, minimizing connections, and distance thresholds.
In any event, gold is really nice to have.
...... With regard to viewing 7 days out....where is this tool or is it something that Gold level has once you reach the level?
Can you expand a little bit re fuel surcharges, connections and distance thresholds? Would be appreciated.
But, using Avios is much more of an art than a science: e.g. you need to think about fuel surcharges, minimizing connections, and distance thresholds.
In any event, gold is really nice to have.
...... With regard to viewing 7 days out....where is this tool or is it something that Gold level has once you reach the level?
Can you expand a little bit re fuel surcharges, connections and distance thresholds? Would be appreciated.
Sep 2, 2013, 11:19 am
#708
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 12
Thanks Globaliser....
While this is true for normal upgrading, Golds (particularly high Golds) do have some priority over other members for awards. All Golds can get some extra award space in economy that isn't available to other members. Golds also have the option of spending double miles for awards (pure redemptions, though, not upgrades). If you earn enough Tier Points to reach the trigger levels for them, you can get Gold Upgrade for Two vouchers (commonly abbreviated here as GUF2). Also, Gold Gust List members have a "joker" benefit that allows them to book awards into certain types of normal revenue space. So there are some award benefits from being Gold, even if they don't include anything for normal mileage upgrades.The way that BA currently operates in practice, the difference here may be more theoretical than real. After any award space that's been made available a long time away from the flight has been taken, many flights stay at zero award space until close to the time of the flight (in the last week or so). Consequently, booking three months out and booking three weeks out may in practice give you about the same chance of a mileage upgrade.
Sep 2, 2013, 12:21 pm
#709
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,984
-I think the thresholds are published now (they were not when Avios first came into being), but here too I use trial and error. For example, I know that PEK-HEL is cheaper than PEK-<anywhere else in Western Europe> and PEK-HKG costs more than SHA-HKG
-Connections usually throw off the entire calculus, though there are exceptions, especially when your connecting point happens to be on a straight line between your origin and destination and both flights are just under applicable distance thresholds
-I don't think you have to be Gold to see the 7 day calendar because I usually log in using my mom's (no status) account because she is head of household
Sep 2, 2013, 2:58 pm
#710
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: Lufthansa Senator Gold, Flying Blue Gold , Hilton HHonours Gold, BA Club Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 27
How Best to Book this trip ...
I have managed to find business class availability for 3 of us from Glasgow to Orlando, but there is a chance that I may have to stay on in the states for business. I will know for sure way before we leave the UK.
What is the best way to book this? If I book online using Avios only, would I be able to change it and cancel my (ie only me) homebound segment? I would pay a change fee if that was required, but I am keen to get the flights reserved.
I would appreciate guidance from people more experienced than I.
Thanks
What is the best way to book this? If I book online using Avios only, would I be able to change it and cancel my (ie only me) homebound segment? I would pay a change fee if that was required, but I am keen to get the flights reserved.
I would appreciate guidance from people more experienced than I.
Thanks
Sep 2, 2013, 4:04 pm
#711
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,325
I have managed to find business class availability for 3 of us from Glasgow to Orlando, but there is a chance that I may have to stay on in the states for business. I will know for sure way before we leave the UK.
What is the best way to book this? If I book online using Avios only, would I be able to change it and cancel my (ie only me) homebound segment? I would pay a change fee if that was required, but I am keen to get the flights reserved.
I would appreciate guidance from people more experienced than I.
Thanks
What is the best way to book this? If I book online using Avios only, would I be able to change it and cancel my (ie only me) homebound segment? I would pay a change fee if that was required, but I am keen to get the flights reserved.
I would appreciate guidance from people more experienced than I.
Thanks
How soon are you looking to travel and when will you know if you'll need to change the return date?
Sep 2, 2013, 4:19 pm
#712
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 12
BA 101.... Im sure Ill be back...
-I recall seeing a thread about YQ about a year ago, but for me it's a matter of trial and error, depending on where I want to go. But, based on my experiences, JL and BA are horrendously expensive, CX is reasonable, AA is usually good but YQ has been creeping in on certain routes, and LAN is wonderful
Sep 3, 2013, 1:32 am
#713
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: Lufthansa Senator Gold, Flying Blue Gold , Hilton HHonours Gold, BA Club Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 27
re:Best to Book this trip ...
Avios tickets are flexible but the problem you'll have here is that there needs to be award availability on the flight you want to change to. For MCO, this is a serious issue.
How soon are you looking to travel and when will you know if you'll need to change the return date?
How soon are you looking to travel and when will you know if you'll need to change the return date?
Would that be a problem?
Sep 3, 2013, 2:14 am
#714
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
I will know by the end of the year, but the most likely scenario is that I fly out with my family, but they come home without me (or at least we separate in London and I do transatlantic again!) so we are talking about cancelling all or part of my return journey only, so not changing to another award flight.
Would that be a problem?
Would that be a problem?
BA charges per segment based on distance (eg JFK-LHR-AMS would be the same as JFK-LHR, LHR-AMS), compared to AA for example which is zone based (eg Europe to N.America).
Sep 3, 2013, 3:23 am
#715
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TNR
Programs: BAEC Silver, *A Gold
Posts: 237
I really don't get this at times.
A miles + money flight from LHR to GVA in CE works out at 9000 avios and £581
A normal booking for the same flights comes in at £308 in CE.
Am I missing something?
A miles + money flight from LHR to GVA in CE works out at 9000 avios and £581
A normal booking for the same flights comes in at £308 in CE.
Am I missing something?
Sep 3, 2013, 3:33 am
#716
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
A Y, B or H fare as you've found is often more expensive than a discounted (I fare or other) straight CE fare.
If you book it as a normal award in CE, you can select from spending 9,000 avios + RFS fee, down to 5,000 avios + £45 + RFS fee.
Sep 3, 2013, 3:52 am
#717
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,325
I will know by the end of the year, but the most likely scenario is that I fly out with my family, but they come home without me (or at least we separate in London and I do transatlantic again!) so we are talking about cancelling all or part of my return journey only, so not changing to another award flight.
Would that be a problem?
Would that be a problem?
Sep 3, 2013, 5:42 am
#718
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: SkyTeam Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,421
Great post
Thank you for this great post; very helpful!
Sep 3, 2013, 6:25 am
#719
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TNR
Programs: BAEC Silver, *A Gold
Posts: 237
How are you booking this? Using the 'book with cash upgrade with avios' option? This will first book you in the cheapest economy flexible fare (Y, B or H) and then upgrade you to CE (for 9,000 avios return).
A Y, B or H fare as you've found is often more expensive than a discounted (I fare or other) straight CE fare.
If you book it as a normal award in CE, you can select from spending 9,000 avios + RFS fee, down to 5,000 avios + £45 + RFS fee.
A Y, B or H fare as you've found is often more expensive than a discounted (I fare or other) straight CE fare.
If you book it as a normal award in CE, you can select from spending 9,000 avios + RFS fee, down to 5,000 avios + £45 + RFS fee.
Is that about rights do you think?
Thanks.
Sep 3, 2013, 8:05 am
#720
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: STR
Programs: LH HON->SEN, BA GGL+CCR->Gold, HH D, Hertz PC
Posts: 603
Or you could use 10000 Avios and (whatever equals 170EUR in GBP).
18000 Avios + € 60.00
16200 Avios + € 90.00
14400 Avios + € 110.00
13000 Avios + € 120.00
11200 Avios + € 140.00
10000 Avios + € 170.00
Sorry, I do have an EURO-Account but you can do the math.
