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]
Dec 11, 2013, 6:47 am
#901
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Maybe this ("BA ticket number") could be added to subsection 2 or 3 of post 6 above?
Dec 15, 2013, 1:41 pm
#902
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,777
You should be able to upgrade one way only online, at least if it's a simple round-trip itinerary with only one sector in each direction. Otherwise, phone to do it.The BA website was always the main way of finding this. To do it fast, learn to operate the BA website fast.
Some partners' websites will also show you BA award availability. Some find some of these faster than ba.com.
No waitlisting.
Some partners' websites will also show you BA award availability. Some find some of these faster than ba.com.
No waitlisting.
Is upgrade availability using Avios the same as using QF Frequent Flyer points?
Thanks.....
Last edited by Explore; Dec 15, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Dec 15, 2013, 3:28 pm
#903
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 34
availability tools...
I have around 250,000 k avios and have used them a bunch last year. to date, I have found availability using the BAEC tool, AA and Quantas.
I am really getting sick and tired of plodding through BAEC/ Plus, quantas and AA availability seem not to tally so much with BA avios availability.
What other options are there out there to search for BA availability (I'm mostly using AA but would also like to travel to Latin America)?
Award Nexus is interesting but not super quick, and could get quite expensive. IS KVS any quicker?
any experts have any advice?
thanks
I have around 250,000 k avios and have used them a bunch last year. to date, I have found availability using the BAEC tool, AA and Quantas.
I am really getting sick and tired of plodding through BAEC/ Plus, quantas and AA availability seem not to tally so much with BA avios availability.
What other options are there out there to search for BA availability (I'm mostly using AA but would also like to travel to Latin America)?
Award Nexus is interesting but not super quick, and could get quite expensive. IS KVS any quicker?
any experts have any advice?
thanks
Dec 15, 2013, 3:53 pm
#904
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
I don't have much of a problem with ba.com for research BA/CX/AY/QF flights. For AA and AS, I use each of their websites to find flights (saver availability generally means BA points will work) and then I call to book (fee free due to Gold card). In general, I find the above to be quite efficient.
Dec 15, 2013, 4:18 pm
#905
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I've learnt to use the BA site to get quick answers, so I don't find the QF site any faster when looking specifically for BA upgrade availability.
Don't forget that you can only upgrade from WT to WT+ if you are originally booked in Y, B or H booking classes.
Dec 15, 2013, 5:00 pm
#906
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 34
i'm trying to find availability for a short break from the east coast to latin america any time in the first half of 2014- buenos aires, lima or santiago. It's a real drag...
Dec 15, 2013, 5:30 pm
#907
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Why is it a drag? You're not dealing with a whole lot of flights, so it should be pretty easy to search for them one-by-one (e.g. MIA/JFK-EZE/LIM/SCL) using aa's award calendar.
Dec 15, 2013, 6:01 pm
#908
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 34
That would be great, but I'm finding that aa milesaver award flights are not replicated in the BAEC tool.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
Dec 15, 2013, 6:18 pm
#909
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
That would be great, but I'm finding that aa milesaver award flights are not replicated in the BAEC tool.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
Last edited by moondog; Dec 16, 2013 at 8:13 am
Dec 16, 2013, 7:54 am
#910
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,813
That would be great, but I'm finding that aa milesaver award flights are not replicated in the BAEC tool.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
For instance, there are plenty of 15k AA milesaver awards from WAS - Santiago in February, none come up in the BAEC tool. I also called an agent to confirm no availability.
As these available flights involve connections, if you input the connecting flights individually on ba.com you will see the IAD-DFW and DFW-SCL flights as available on ba.com.
Dec 16, 2013, 8:12 am
#911
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
Anyone else find Avios+Money to be a really good deal to conserve Avios and get discounted fares on flights?
I can get a roundtrip to Rio de Janeiro from NYC for 50,000 Avios and $52.50 in taxes & fees or 15,000 Avios and $452.50.
Seems to me like the latter is a great deal, allowing me to get very discounted roundtrip flights while using very few Avios. If I paid in cash the roundtrip would be over $1300. If I valued the 15,000 Avios at $150 it would be like I'm only paying $602.50 for the roundtrip flight.
I can get a roundtrip to Rio de Janeiro from NYC for 50,000 Avios and $52.50 in taxes & fees or 15,000 Avios and $452.50.
Seems to me like the latter is a great deal, allowing me to get very discounted roundtrip flights while using very few Avios. If I paid in cash the roundtrip would be over $1300. If I valued the 15,000 Avios at $150 it would be like I'm only paying $602.50 for the roundtrip flight.
Last edited by wiivile; Dec 16, 2013 at 8:59 am
Dec 16, 2013, 8:21 am
#912
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Yes. I've noticed this as well... comes out to 1.1 cents per mile (BMI's cash+miles scheme was similarly generous).
Dec 21, 2013, 8:59 am
#914
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
Quite frustrated at the moment. Been waiting for First seats to appear on my upcoming flight. Currently in Club with Avios.
They came on today. German Exec Club is only open during the week so called GB hotline. Spend about 45 mins waiting, then finally they started to change the booking. Apparently it is a bit complicated for them because they need to log in with a German office ID so they can change the booking. All looked well until he came back on the line and told me that the award space diasappeaered while trying to confirm it. Sure enough it was gone online.
Six hours later it came back. This time I called US hotline. Same procedure basically, while trying to book the upgrade the agent said it was not available from Germany and that someone else with a German account must have booked it.
Is there any way to get this to work? I am afraid the seats might be gone if I wait until Monday.
They came on today. German Exec Club is only open during the week so called GB hotline. Spend about 45 mins waiting, then finally they started to change the booking. Apparently it is a bit complicated for them because they need to log in with a German office ID so they can change the booking. All looked well until he came back on the line and told me that the award space diasappeaered while trying to confirm it. Sure enough it was gone online.
Six hours later it came back. This time I called US hotline. Same procedure basically, while trying to book the upgrade the agent said it was not available from Germany and that someone else with a German account must have booked it.
Is there any way to get this to work? I am afraid the seats might be gone if I wait until Monday.
Dec 22, 2013, 11:34 pm
#915
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern California
Programs: BA Blue; UA Premier
Posts: 22
Any suggestions about how to find available flights on the Companion ticket scheme? I'm weary of the "no availability" responses on bookings I want to make next October.