Mar 31, 2014, 4:31 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
This thread is to help BAEC members use US Airways for travelling, earning and redeeming Avios. Your comments are welcome.
One obvious resource for more information about US Airways is their main Flyertalk presence, which is to be found here:
US Airways | Dividend Miles (Pre-Merger)
The US Airways website:
http://www.usairways.com/default.aspx
The US Airways UK website - this allows you to pay in GBP, therefore avoiding currency conversion fees. Note that if you are a BA Amex PP cardholder you can also book via BAEC by telephone to get more Avios, however there may be a service fee.
http://www.usairways.com/en-UK/default.html
One obvious resource for more information about US Airways is their main Flyertalk presence, which is to be found here:
US Airways | Dividend Miles (Pre-Merger)
The US Airways website:
http://www.usairways.com/default.aspx
The US Airways UK website - this allows you to pay in GBP, therefore avoiding currency conversion fees. Note that if you are a BA Amex PP cardholder you can also book via BAEC by telephone to get more Avios, however there may be a service fee.
http://www.usairways.com/en-UK/default.html
US Airways - your BA Executive Club guide
Apr 15, 2014, 4:25 am
#106
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold, HH *G, IHG Platinum
Posts: 33
Apr 15, 2014, 4:26 am
#107
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: scotland/EDI
Programs: BAEC , M&M , VIRGIN FC , FLYING BLUE
Posts: 1,438
Apr 15, 2014, 4:29 am
#108
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold, HH *G, IHG Platinum
Posts: 33
I hope to confirm these 70TP soon also! Seems whatloyalty flew 5 days before me so I have hopefully no more than 5 days to wait for them to post!
If 70TP post, that surely wont be left like that for too long!
@whatloyalty did you also receive double avios? as per the promotion?
If 70TP post, that surely wont be left like that for too long!
@whatloyalty did you also receive double avios? as per the promotion?
Apr 15, 2014, 4:32 am
#109
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Here
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hilton Gold, Alitalia STE+
Posts: 98
I took some small internals (FLG - PHX - LAX) over a week ago (3rd April) on CRJ-200 and A321 in economy respectively.
At time of booking couldn't put in my BAEC number on the reservation but when I checked in at FLG the desk agent put it on the booking and was printed on the BP.
I would expect at least 20 tier points from the two sectors but these yet haven't posted.....
At time of booking couldn't put in my BAEC number on the reservation but when I checked in at FLG the desk agent put it on the booking and was printed on the BP.
I would expect at least 20 tier points from the two sectors but these yet haven't posted.....
Apr 15, 2014, 4:34 am
#110
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold, HH *G, IHG Platinum
Posts: 33
And thank you for coming back with these comments, very interesting. In addition to how quickly they posted (presumably no more than 15 days), could you also let us know whether this was a discounted / inflexible ticket? The reason being that if it was, the CLT to MIA leg in particular would be normally 10 TPs, though the BA calculator has not shown this for US Airways yet.
As to the poor quality of service - well this is an airline which is not going to exist in a few years time and so it must have some impact on staff morale. Furthermore US Airways roots were towards a lower cost model compared to, say, AA. However over recent years - and with the arrival of Southwest - the difference between them all has narrowed a lot, particularly in Economy / Coach.
As to the poor quality of service - well this is an airline which is not going to exist in a few years time and so it must have some impact on staff morale. Furthermore US Airways roots were towards a lower cost model compared to, say, AA. However over recent years - and with the arrival of Southwest - the difference between them all has narrowed a lot, particularly in Economy / Coach.
With regards to service, well at least AA recognises loyalty as the gold card came in handy when checking in.... :-)
Apr 15, 2014, 4:51 am
#111
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, Copenhagen
Programs: SK*G, BA Gold, IHG Plat AMB
Posts: 969
I took some small internals (FLG - PHX - LAX) over a week ago (3rd April) on CRJ-200 and A321 in economy respectively.
At time of booking couldn't put in my BAEC number on the reservation but when I checked in at FLG the desk agent put it on the booking and was printed on the BP.
I would expect at least 20 tier points from the two sectors but these yet haven't posted.....
At time of booking couldn't put in my BAEC number on the reservation but when I checked in at FLG the desk agent put it on the booking and was printed on the BP.
I would expect at least 20 tier points from the two sectors but these yet haven't posted.....
Apr 15, 2014, 6:56 am
#112
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: BA GGL + GfL
Posts: 293
Excellent, that's the first confirmation I've seen that business gets business TPs! I hope you got more than 12,000 Avios too? Thank you, I will amend some of the early posts in this thread.
I've also made an Edinburgh to Philadelphia booking, and can confirm that the low level of surcharges on redemptions: £160 in Business in that direction, an almost incredible £1.50 from PHL to EDI in Business, same 40k Avios as BA. So from EDI to PHL and back to EDI, US wants 80k Avios and £161. BA via LHR is 80k Avios and £573.
I've also made an Edinburgh to Philadelphia booking, and can confirm that the low level of surcharges on redemptions: £160 in Business in that direction, an almost incredible £1.50 from PHL to EDI in Business, same 40k Avios as BA. So from EDI to PHL and back to EDI, US wants 80k Avios and £161. BA via LHR is 80k Avios and £573.
Or do you think I should got double for the US Air sector?
Apr 15, 2014, 8:38 am
#113
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,508
US Airways Avios award availability issues on ba.com
I’ve spent the past couple of days looking for reward flight availability on PHL-YUL, and noticed that ba.com shows “no flights available” while usairways.com does in their ‘low’ bucket. Testing other routes makes this appear to be a Montreal problem – PHL-YYZ, DCA-YYZ, and PHL-YHZ show the same availability as on usairways.com, while PHL-YUL and DCA-YUL do not. It does not appear to affect AA flights LGA-YUL from what I can see.
Talking to the BAEC hotline, they see the same availability that is on usairways.com, so this is likely a BA issue. Filed a ‘website feedback’ form, but I’m guessing it won’t do a lot of good.
Has anyone else seen this on other routes?
Also of note, some US Airways airports are not yet in the ba.com system, like Quebec City (YQB) and Allentown, PA (ABE)
Talking to the BAEC hotline, they see the same availability that is on usairways.com, so this is likely a BA issue. Filed a ‘website feedback’ form, but I’m guessing it won’t do a lot of good.
Has anyone else seen this on other routes?
Also of note, some US Airways airports are not yet in the ba.com system, like Quebec City (YQB) and Allentown, PA (ABE)
Apr 15, 2014, 9:26 am
#114
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,828
I don't know about the YUL problem, though it wouldn't surprise me.
In terms of missing locations such as ABE, there is a well known workaround.
Say you are looking for ABE to PHL. Do a search for something like CLT to PHL in the usual way. Then when you get the Choose Your Flights page, look along the Outbound Flight line, and there is a Change button. Press than and then enter ABE like this:
You will see BA came up with the nearest location it could think of, which is Aberdeen in the UK, ignore that, don't select Aberdeen, instead press Find Flights and then all should be OK:
As you can see from the first screen layout, it's best to put ensure that your known destination or start point stays in the query untouched, so you can more easily access the area for the apparently unknown location.
In terms of missing locations such as ABE, there is a well known workaround.
Say you are looking for ABE to PHL. Do a search for something like CLT to PHL in the usual way. Then when you get the Choose Your Flights page, look along the Outbound Flight line, and there is a Change button. Press than and then enter ABE like this:
You will see BA came up with the nearest location it could think of, which is Aberdeen in the UK, ignore that, don't select Aberdeen, instead press Find Flights and then all should be OK:
As you can see from the first screen layout, it's best to put ensure that your known destination or start point stays in the query untouched, so you can more easily access the area for the apparently unknown location.
Apr 15, 2014, 3:06 pm
#116
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,828
They can check it, they have a mechanism of emulating ba.com. If they are unable to see it on that system and it really should be book-able online, then the fee should be waived. You can always ask them not to book it if there is a fee. I agree that something looks odd, in that there's plenty of availability from LGA to YUL. I hope it's not the Wisconsin equipment that is causing the difficulty for the computers, but I can't understand it either.
Apr 15, 2014, 3:34 pm
#117
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,508
I agree that something looks odd, in that there's plenty of availability from LGA to YUL. I hope it's not the Wisconsin equipment that is causing the difficulty for the computers, but I can't understand it either.
If only there was someone at corporate I could talk to about it.
Apr 15, 2014, 3:43 pm
#118
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Great to have confirmation of the 140TPs in Business - thanks to those that posted!
That's pretty good pricing indeed! I was considering an ex-DUB redemption on Aer Lingus but after factoring in the cash fare for EDI-DUB and the likely overnight hotel in betwen for safety it could be worth going the direct route. What was the availability like?
It sounds like it should post separately within a week. I certainly hope it's still eligible as my upcoming HNL TP run is on US metal but under AA flight nos as it was booked prior to 31st March on BA stock so they that was the only way they showed up.
I've also made an Edinburgh to Philadelphia booking, and can confirm that the low level of surcharges on redemptions: £160 in Business in that direction, an almost incredible £1.50 from PHL to EDI in Business, same 40k Avios as BA. So from EDI to PHL and back to EDI, US wants 80k Avios and £161. BA via LHR is 80k Avios and £573.
It sounds like it should post separately within a week. I certainly hope it's still eligible as my upcoming HNL TP run is on US metal but under AA flight nos as it was booked prior to 31st March on BA stock so they that was the only way they showed up.
Apr 15, 2014, 4:04 pm
#119
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,828
I presume you're looking at a Boston Aer Lingus flight for the lower Avios charge? I can't see have Aer Lingus would beat the £1.50 total fee for PHL to EDI.
Apr 15, 2014, 4:12 pm
#120
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
For a solo passenger the availability was fine. I didn't even get as far as checking the GLA or MAN alternatives. I only spent about 20 minutes searching before finalising that reservation, so I didn't check in detail, but with one exception all the business class availability was for 1 seat. The exception had 3 seats. There are only 11 business class seats total on the service, which it should be pointed out is a 757-200 v4.
I presume you're looking at a Boston Aer Lingus flight for the lower Avios charge? I can't see have Aer Lingus would beat the £1.50 total fee for PHL to EDI.
I presume you're looking at a Boston Aer Lingus flight for the lower Avios charge? I can't see have Aer Lingus would beat the £1.50 total fee for PHL to EDI.
)Shame it's not the A330 but not surprising I guess and should be OK for a quick East Coast flight.
Yes - the lower Avios (plus not bad Aer Lingus product and generally good availability) was making me thinking of going down that route with their Boston one, but this US Air one could be worth a look too. I'll be due over 52k Avios for my HNL trip with US thanks to the current promo so it'd only be costing me another 28k + £161.50 for a return trip, which seems pretty good value!