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]
Nov 28, 2013, 6:12 pm
#886
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
KVS Tool has 100% Award Availability coverage across the entire OneWorld Alliance (incl. BA):
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#BA
Once you add your search(es) to the [My Trips] Tab in the KVS Tool, you can periodically [re-]check for Award Seats in just 2 clicks.
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#BA
Once you add your search(es) to the [My Trips] Tab in the KVS Tool, you can periodically [re-]check for Award Seats in just 2 clicks.
Nov 28, 2013, 7:40 pm
#887
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 288
Dec 3, 2013, 2:01 am
#888
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
Couldn't find the answer to this in here, so please help me:
I am currently booked in CW to PHX on Avios. Hoping for F seats to become available. If they should, will the change to F incur the 25GBP change fee?
I am currently booked in CW to PHX on Avios. Hoping for F seats to become available. If they should, will the change to F incur the 25GBP change fee?
Dec 3, 2013, 10:05 am
#889
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ore-avios.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ked-avios.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-avios.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...e-booking.html
Dec 4, 2013, 2:15 pm
#890
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 117
Hello, I was hoping someone can confirm something for me: Does it cost 4,500 or 9,000 Avios to fly one way from IAH to SGF with a connection at DFW?
Distances (from Webflyer):
Do they charge by each leg, even if the total travel qualifies as a zone 1? Thanks!
Distances (from Webflyer):
- IAH to SGF - 514 miles
- IAH to DFW - 225 miles
- DFW to SGF - 364 miles
- Sum of IAH to DFW to SGF - 589 miles
Do they charge by each leg, even if the total travel qualifies as a zone 1? Thanks!
Dec 4, 2013, 2:18 pm
#891
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
Hello, I was hoping someone can confirm something for me: Does it cost 4,500 or 9,000 Avios to fly one way from IAH to SGF with a connection at DFW?
Distances (from Webflyer):
Do they charge by each leg, even if the total travel qualifies as a zone 1? Thanks!
Distances (from Webflyer):
- IAH to SGF - 514 miles
- IAH to DFW - 225 miles
- DFW to SGF - 364 miles
- Sum of IAH to DFW to SGF - 589 miles
Do they charge by each leg, even if the total travel qualifies as a zone 1? Thanks!
Dec 8, 2013, 12:18 pm
#892
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Germany / Thailand
Programs: M&M/S SPG livetime gold, but not running behind status & points anymore! Now only book value for $
Posts: 3,090
...... Multi-partner redemptions offer an infinite range of options, ............................There are benefits to Multi-partner redemptions, such as a complex booking with a single ticket provides greater protection in the event of irregular operations. Note, the distance bands for multi-partner bookings are calculated as complete journeys. So you apply the accumulated distance to determine the number of Avios needed.
If this is not the case, and it`s really only up to the total flown milage, this also could be a good Thing ! Specially the up to 50.000 miles in Business for 320k AVIOS in Business.
someone could fly 4 roundtrips between Asia and Europe + some intrazone onnections.
My idea would be something like AMS-HKG-FRA-KUL-CDG-HKG-LON-BKK-HEL-AMS-LON-SIN
with single tix it would be more than 500k AVIOS
Dec 9, 2013, 5:28 am
#893
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 218
sitting on about 200k avios with a voucher from BA PP card soon.. wondering what the best F redemption is? (I am not fussy about where to go as long as it is a nice destination). Was thinking on going to Asia/Oceania, maybe even Africa but want the avios to stretch the distance as much as possible so me and the mrs can go to places that we have not been before or might not be able to go in the future.. So about 200k now, closer to 300k Q2 2014...
Thanks
Thanks
Dec 9, 2013, 5:36 am
#894
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 218
sitting on about 200k avios with a voucher from BA PP card soon.. wondering what the best F redemption is? (I am not fussy about where to go as long as it is a nice destination). Was thinking on going to Asia/Oceania, maybe even Africa but want the avios to stretch the distance as much as possible so me and the mrs can go to places that we have not been before or might not be able to go in the future.. So about 200k now, closer to 300k Q2 2014...
Thanks
Thanks
Dec 9, 2013, 5:49 am
#895
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
sitting on about 200k avios with a voucher from BA PP card soon.. wondering what the best F redemption is? (I am not fussy about where to go as long as it is a nice destination). Was thinking on going to Asia/Oceania, maybe even Africa but want the avios to stretch the distance as much as possible so me and the mrs can go to places that we have not been before or might not be able to go in the future.. So about 200k now, closer to 300k Q2 2014...
Thanks
Thanks
The highest redemption is to SYD for 300k avios, however availability is very difficult to find.
If you are flexible and want to travel in Q2 2015 onwards (a year after you will hit 300k avios) you can try for SYD.
If you are somewhat inflexible with dates you will just need to see what availability there is when you want to travel.
Some F options include: SIN, HKG, TYO, JNB, CPT, GRU. You can book an open jaw, eg LHR-HKG // NRT-LHR.
Starting from Europe will only add an extra connection to/from London. All BA F flights are ex-LON.
Dec 9, 2013, 11:18 am
#896
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 93
Excuse me for the basic question, because I'm sure this is documented somewhere, but after spending time reading and looking, I think I've overlooked it.
I read that AA (miles saver only) and Oneworld flights can be booked with Avios. I believe the best way to search for these is on aa.com and award nexus. The question is how do I book them with my avios? I see a statement that for straightforward bookings, I should be able to do this online, but I wasn't sure how. Do you just have to use their search for flights and find the same one? I haven't seen many (any?) AA or oneworld partner flights when I was searching for flights that are being booked with avios at the british airways site.
Any thoughts?
I read that AA (miles saver only) and Oneworld flights can be booked with Avios. I believe the best way to search for these is on aa.com and award nexus. The question is how do I book them with my avios? I see a statement that for straightforward bookings, I should be able to do this online, but I wasn't sure how. Do you just have to use their search for flights and find the same one? I haven't seen many (any?) AA or oneworld partner flights when I was searching for flights that are being booked with avios at the british airways site.
Any thoughts?
Dec 9, 2013, 12:26 pm
#897
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
Excuse me for the basic question, because I'm sure this is documented somewhere, but after spending time reading and looking, I think I've overlooked it.
I read that AA (miles saver only) and Oneworld flights can be booked with Avios. I believe the best way to search for these is on aa.com and award nexus. The question is how do I book them with my avios? I see a statement that for straightforward bookings, I should be able to do this online, but I wasn't sure how. Do you just have to use their search for flights and find the same one? I haven't seen many (any?) AA or oneworld partner flights when I was searching for flights that are being booked with avios at the british airways site.
Any thoughts?
I read that AA (miles saver only) and Oneworld flights can be booked with Avios. I believe the best way to search for these is on aa.com and award nexus. The question is how do I book them with my avios? I see a statement that for straightforward bookings, I should be able to do this online, but I wasn't sure how. Do you just have to use their search for flights and find the same one? I haven't seen many (any?) AA or oneworld partner flights when I was searching for flights that are being booked with avios at the british airways site.
Any thoughts?
Dec 10, 2013, 10:59 am
#898
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 183
Did anyone had experience upgrading AA ticket and codeshare on BA metal using Avios? The ticket priced on AA much cheaper than booking on BA directly. However, now when attempting to upgrade from MMB, the website says "Sorry, it is not possible to change this booking on ba.com. Please contact your booking/travel agent." Am I out of luck?
Dec 10, 2013, 4:25 pm
#899
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Last edited by IMH; Dec 10, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Dec 11, 2013, 2:24 am
#900
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Sorry, you're out of luck. You can only upgrade a flight on BA metal if it has been booked with a BA flight number. (You could upgrade it using AAdvantage miles, if you have any or if a mechanism to transfer miles across from US is implemented in time for you. All subject to availability, of course.)