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 9, 2012, 5:23 pm
#76
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: VS, BA, AA, IHG, HH, SPG
Posts: 186
Thanks all, a very useful thread!
Sep 11, 2012, 2:31 pm
#77
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 623
This is a great sticky - well done all! 
I've spotted a minor typo: JHB rather than JNB in the Reward Flight Saver post (#4).
I've spotted a minor typo: JHB rather than JNB in the Reward Flight Saver post (#4).
Sep 13, 2012, 12:39 am
#78
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
I'm a bit confused about combining companion vouchers (see related sticky info in bold below) -- apologies if my Qs have been addressed elsewhere.
[*]Combining two vouchers with a single booking is permitted. This allows the travelling card holder to take three travel companions. A maximum of two vouchers can be used towards any single booking.
We are a family of four and my wife will soon get a BA companion voucher based on 2012 spending (i.e., $30K on Chase BA Visa CC). If she spends another $30K in the first quarter of 2013 and gets another companion voucher, can she use both of these vouchers for our kids and travel together in late 2013? Also, when she uses the voucher, can she travel on an award ticket or does she need to purchase a ticket?
Lastly, what is the max number of companion vouchers that a person can use for same travel, i.e., how many companions can a single person sponsor on the same ticket.
[*]Combining two vouchers with a single booking is permitted. This allows the travelling card holder to take three travel companions. A maximum of two vouchers can be used towards any single booking.
We are a family of four and my wife will soon get a BA companion voucher based on 2012 spending (i.e., $30K on Chase BA Visa CC). If she spends another $30K in the first quarter of 2013 and gets another companion voucher, can she use both of these vouchers for our kids and travel together in late 2013? Also, when she uses the voucher, can she travel on an award ticket or does she need to purchase a ticket?
Lastly, what is the max number of companion vouchers that a person can use for same travel, i.e., how many companions can a single person sponsor on the same ticket.
Sep 13, 2012, 5:32 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
We are a family of four and my wife will soon get a BA companion voucher based on 2012 spending (i.e., $30K on Chase BA Visa CC). If she spends another $30K in the first quarter of 2013 and gets another companion voucher, can she use both of these vouchers for our kids and travel together in late 2013? Also, when she uses the voucher, can she travel on an award ticket or does she need to purchase a ticket?
I can't see what's unclear about the words "This allows the travelling card holder to take three travel companions. A maximum of two vouchers can be used towards any single booking."
Last edited by Globaliser; Sep 13, 2012 at 5:34 am Reason: _
Sep 13, 2012, 5:36 am
#80
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Sep 13, 2012, 8:05 am
#81
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred Plus, Amex Plat
Posts: 2,080
Excellent guide. Thank you very much. Just a couple of things which may be worth adding to the RFS section re domestic connections.
1. Domestic add-ons are free, but only at one end of the journey. If you want, for example, NCL-LHR-MAD-XRY, you pay a higher rate. Eg:
LHR-MAD 7,500 Avios + £13
NCL-LHR-MAD 7,500 Avios + £13
LHR-MAD-XRY 7,500 Avios + £13
NCL-LHR-MAD-XRY 12,000 Avios + £27
2. The domestic connection can be a stopover if you want. This means that any time you London-based folks book a RFS in to LHR, you should think about adding a stopover and a domestic to NCL/MAN/EDI/GLA if you can think of a likely date when you will use it. It will be at zero cost.
1. Domestic add-ons are free, but only at one end of the journey. If you want, for example, NCL-LHR-MAD-XRY, you pay a higher rate. Eg:
LHR-MAD 7,500 Avios + £13
NCL-LHR-MAD 7,500 Avios + £13
LHR-MAD-XRY 7,500 Avios + £13
NCL-LHR-MAD-XRY 12,000 Avios + £27
2. The domestic connection can be a stopover if you want. This means that any time you London-based folks book a RFS in to LHR, you should think about adding a stopover and a domestic to NCL/MAN/EDI/GLA if you can think of a likely date when you will use it. It will be at zero cost.
Sep 13, 2012, 8:39 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 360
2. The domestic connection can be a stopover if you want. This means that any time you London-based folks book a RFS in to LHR, you should think about adding a stopover and a domestic to NCL/MAN/EDI/GLA if you can think of a likely date when you will use it. It will be at zero cost.
= 2 European city breaks spread 6 months apart with a free weekend break in the IOM! (or EDI/GLA/NCL etc sould you please). **
I don't suppose JER falls in to the 'Domestic' category?
**Edited to add you will need to purchase 2 one-ways ie. LCY-AMS at the beginning and NCE-LCY at the end. If done in advance though I reckon you could get 3 weekend breaks for approx £150 in total + 9000 Avios per person.
Last edited by AllTheNines; Sep 13, 2012 at 8:42 am Reason: See above
Sep 13, 2012, 3:53 pm
#83
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
Are all online bookings made at https://www.britishairways.com/trave...lub/_gf/en_gb?
I'm having trouble getting it to show me direct BRU-JFK flights. It always wants to route me via LHR, although I can see availability on AA for a direct MileSAAver flight.
I was trying to figure out if I need a different BA page to find and book the direct flight.
Thx
EDIT: A night's rest helped me track this down, so sorted.
I'm having trouble getting it to show me direct BRU-JFK flights. It always wants to route me via LHR, although I can see availability on AA for a direct MileSAAver flight.
I was trying to figure out if I need a different BA page to find and book the direct flight.
Thx
EDIT: A night's rest helped me track this down, so sorted.
Last edited by EsherFlyer; Sep 14, 2012 at 6:27 am
Sep 14, 2012, 2:48 am
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
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I also noticed the other day that IOM falls in to this bracket which could be a new destination for a weekend break for plenty of people. For example, I could to AMS-LCY-IOM with a 2 month 'stopover' in London for 4500 Avios + £13.50. I could then do IOM-LCY-NCE leaving IOM a few days later with another 2 month 'stopover' in London for the same again.
I don't suppose JER falls in to the 'Domestic' category?
I don't suppose JER falls in to the 'Domestic' category?
Sep 14, 2012, 3:31 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,041
Zonal map - Origin Johannesburg
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
the Sept. issue of High Life South Africa
Sep 16, 2012, 7:31 am
#86
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Programs: Mucci of the Dominion of Maple and Moose; Keeper of Sir MightyMoose; BAEC Silver; AC MileagePlus
Posts: 1,311
Sep 16, 2012, 7:43 am
#87
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You can MFU/UuA subsequently if you want (eg if there's no award availability when you book the cash ticket but it opens up later), and you can do it on ba.com if it lets you, or you can always do it on the phone (but subject to a possible phone fee for non-Golds).
Sep 16, 2012, 7:47 am
#88
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Programs: Mucci of the Dominion of Maple and Moose; Keeper of Sir MightyMoose; BAEC Silver; AC MileagePlus
Posts: 1,311
Thanks - if I do what you suggest, via BA.com, will it be considered a 'change' under I fare rules, and incur a fee?
Sep 16, 2012, 7:52 am
#89
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Others have reported that they've been charged a change fee according to the fare rules when doing this. I don't think that can be correct, although in some cases it has turned out that the passenger has wanted to change to a different flight in order to MFU - and in that case, there is clearly a change involved with a change fee due.
Sep 16, 2012, 9:19 am
#90
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Programs: Mucci of the Dominion of Maple and Moose; Keeper of Sir MightyMoose; BAEC Silver; AC MileagePlus
Posts: 1,311
I've never had this treated as a "change" when MFUing a T class ticket into CW, including during the last week.
Others have reported that they've been charged a change fee according to the fare rules when doing this. I don't think that can be correct, although in some cases it has turned out that the passenger has wanted to change to a different flight in order to MFU - and in that case, there is clearly a change involved with a change fee due.
Others have reported that they've been charged a change fee according to the fare rules when doing this. I don't think that can be correct, although in some cases it has turned out that the passenger has wanted to change to a different flight in order to MFU - and in that case, there is clearly a change involved with a change fee due.
Had read the fare rules before on an I ticket and saw that 'change' condition, hence the query.
Did do something very similar before the change over to Avios - just wanted to cover my bases to avoid nasty surprises! Cheers