Last edit by: beltway
British Airways' mileage currency (Avios) offer a potentially advantageous option for redeeming for award tickets on AA, especially on shorter flights. This wiki (which originated in a thread in the now-closed US forum) attempts to summarize key aspects of the program, as well as several problems and workarounds relating to use of the BA website.
What are the general rules for redeeming Avios?
What's the process for redeeming Avios?Go to the Avios award search page; log in; and enter your desired itinerary.
Great! That sounds easy! What's the catch?Unfortunately, there are several practical restrictions on redeeming Avios for domestic travel on AA, especially when attempting to book online.
OK, I managed to make an award booking despite all these pitfalls. How do I get my AAdvantage number into the reservation in order to enjoy my AA elite benefits?
When finalizing the booking of your award ticket on the BA site, delete your BA Executive Club number from the frequent-flyer ID box. Once the ticket is issued, you can update the reservation on the AA site (using the record locator number provided by BA) to add your AAdvantage number.
I want to change my seat but the BA site never gave me an AA record locator. What's the solution?
Look up your reservation on the AA site using the BA record locator. You can also go to "Manage My Booking" on the BA site; simply select the desired booking (you may need to click the large plus sign at the right), click "Choose Seats," and then follow the prompts. You will be redirected automatically to the AA site, where you can also view your AA record locator and add your AAdvantage member number to the reservation.
How can I Avios?
CAUTION
Post #1 contains outdated information and should not be relied on.
Post #1 contains outdated information and should not be relied on.
What are the general rules for redeeming Avios?
- Avios is charged per individual flight segment. The cost for a single connecting itinerary AAA-BBB-CCC is the same as the cost of two separate tickets for travel AAA-BBB & BBB-CCC.
- Avios uses a distance-based chart. (See below.)
- International first and AA domestic three-class first cost roughly 4x as many Avios as coach.
- For segments over 2000 miles, business class (and first-class awards on AA domestic two-class service) costs roughly 3x coach.
- For segments under 2000 miles, business class (and first-class awards on AA domestic two-class service) costs roughly 2x coach.
- You can redeem one-way awards with Avios.
- Avios is generally region-agnostic. (That is, a given distance costs the same regardless of whether it traverses one or more world regions.) Thus, Avios can provide great value when flying to Hawaii for those who fly coach and can do so in one segment.
- There is no ticketing fee for online booking. If you call instead of booking online, there is a $25 ticketing fee. (Some people have success in getting this fee waived when an itinerary cannot be booked online, making a phone call unavoidable.)
- There is no close-in ticketing fee.
- BA charges $55 to cancel or change a ticket. However, if you cancel online, your cost is capped at the amount of taxes/TSA fees paid; for domestic itineraries on AA, this will normally be much less than $55. (This workaround does not apply to changing a ticket online, which will incur the full $55 fee.) You must cancel 24 hours in advance to get the Avios redeposited; see the BAEC T&C, section 17.
What's the process for redeeming Avios?Go to the Avios award search page; log in; and enter your desired itinerary.
Great! That sounds easy! What's the catch?Unfortunately, there are several practical restrictions on redeeming Avios for domestic travel on AA, especially when attempting to book online.
- Most importantly, AA MileSAAver awards must be available. (You can confirm award availability at the lowest level by searching the AA site directly or by using a third-party service such as Expert Flyer.)
- The BA search tool cannot generate partner itineraries that include more than one connection. (You can still book each segment as an individual ticket, although doing so will create problems if you wish to check luggage all the way through and/or if you miss a connection owing to flight delays.)
- Even where AA has low-level award availability, the Avios search tool will often fail to display it. This is especially true on routes with numerous flights in a single day (such as the DCA-LGA, LGA-BOS & DCA-BOS shuttles), but occurs regularly on numerous routes. There is no workaround except calling BA reservations.
- Recommendation: Always search for one-way awards. The BA search tool is known to display no availability in either direction on round-trip searches when awards are in fact available in one direction but not the other.
- The BA search engine will accept metropolitan area pseudo-codes (WAS, LON, PAR, NYC, etc.) as well as individual airport codes. For best results, try both (e.g., DCA, BWI & IAD as well as WAS).
OK, I managed to make an award booking despite all these pitfalls. How do I get my AAdvantage number into the reservation in order to enjoy my AA elite benefits?
When finalizing the booking of your award ticket on the BA site, delete your BA Executive Club number from the frequent-flyer ID box. Once the ticket is issued, you can update the reservation on the AA site (using the record locator number provided by BA) to add your AAdvantage number.
- NOTE: Deleting your BAEC number prevents future modification of the award through the BA site or app. If there is any possibility that you may need to cancel, leave your BAEC number in until your plans are firm (or until the 24-hour advance deadline for canceling, whichever comes earlier) and then add your AA number, ideally through AA’s very responsive Twitter liaisons. Otherwise, you will need to call BA & likely suffer a lengthy hold time.
I want to change my seat but the BA site never gave me an AA record locator. What's the solution?
Look up your reservation on the AA site using the BA record locator. You can also go to "Manage My Booking" on the BA site; simply select the desired booking (you may need to click the large plus sign at the right), click "Choose Seats," and then follow the prompts. You will be redirected automatically to the AA site, where you can also view your AA record locator and add your AAdvantage member number to the reservation.
How can I Avios?
- Fly British Airways.
- Credit OneWorld flights to British Airways.
- Open a Chase British Airways credit card, ideally with a generous sign up bonus.
- Move Chase Ultimate Reward points (CSP, Ink Plus, Ink Preferred) to your BA account.
- Move AMEX Membership Rewards points to your BA account, preferably during the 2-3 times a year when a bonus is offered.
- Move Marriott points to your BA account. 60K Marriott points yields 25K BA Avios.
- Form a household account (see BA forum for discussion) so that miles can be pooled.
Booking American Airlines awards
#91
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
Looks like it was only announced last week.
Newsroom - American Airlines Adds New Service to Destinations in Mexico and South America - American Airlines Group, Inc.
#92
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
This might be relevant too (problems with BA seeing AA award inventory):
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29599403-post2959.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29599403-post2959.html
#93
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 159
Just curious if anyone knows when I should be looking at booking flights on AA with Avios for February 2019. I checked out the BA site and I see no availability that month. Is this because AA hasn't opened up availability yet, or is this a popular route in the winter and so they get snapped up quickly?
#94
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Just curious if anyone knows when I should be looking at booking flights on AA with Avios for February 2019. I checked out the BA site and I see no availability that month. Is this because AA hasn't opened up availability yet, or is this a popular route in the winter and so they get snapped up quickly?
#95
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 168
Hi guys, I'm trying to book one-way flight in Y for 2 pax on 29.12.2018 NYC-CUN using Avios. I did check flight availability on americanairlines.co.uk and it shows that flight is available for MileSAAver redemption (flight number 1434). When looking on BA website, it doesn't show any availability, obviously... Not for any day few months +/-. So I've called BA support, and the guy on the phone said there is no flights available for Avios redemption. And maybe they will become available later? Also he confirmed that the flight is half booked. Any advice, how to get tickets on this flight with Avios?
#96
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 166
Hi guys, I'm trying to book one-way flight in Y for 2 pax on 29.12.2018 NYC-CUN using Avios. I did check flight availability on americanairlines.co.uk and it shows that flight is available for MileSAAver redemption (flight number 1434). When looking on BA website, it doesn't show any availability, obviously... Not for any day few months +/-. So I've called BA support, and the guy on the phone said there is no flights available for Avios redemption. And maybe they will become available later? Also he confirmed that the flight is half booked. Any advice, how to get tickets on this flight with Avios?
#98
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 242
This evening has been a nightmare finding known AA flights with award availability on BA.com.
I would search multiple times, get nothing...
Then every now and then I might click the day before I want to travel and it all shows up.... But then disappears again for the day I want to travel, and then it will be gone for every day of the week.
Tried different browsers, same issues.
Oh, and one time I did get through on the day I wanted, but it errored out on the next step....
Will try tomorrow, and worse case give them a call...
I would search multiple times, get nothing...
Then every now and then I might click the day before I want to travel and it all shows up.... But then disappears again for the day I want to travel, and then it will be gone for every day of the week.
Tried different browsers, same issues.
Oh, and one time I did get through on the day I wanted, but it errored out on the next step....
Will try tomorrow, and worse case give them a call...
#99
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
This evening has been a nightmare finding known AA flights with award availability on BA.com.
I would search multiple times, get nothing...
Then every now and then I might click the day before I want to travel and it all shows up.... But then disappears again for the day I want to travel, and then it will be gone for every day of the week.
Tried different browsers, same issues.
Oh, and one time I did get through on the day I wanted, but it errored out on the next step....
Will try tomorrow, and worse case give them a call...
I would search multiple times, get nothing...
Then every now and then I might click the day before I want to travel and it all shows up.... But then disappears again for the day I want to travel, and then it will be gone for every day of the week.
Tried different browsers, same issues.
Oh, and one time I did get through on the day I wanted, but it errored out on the next step....
Will try tomorrow, and worse case give them a call...
#100
Join Date: May 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond, DL Diamond & 2M Miler, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 683
There's currently a bug on BA.com and possibly with the phone agents as well where they can't see any AA reward availability. Refreshing the website eventually shows the availability. I was able to see that specific flight after refreshing about 5 times. To refresh on the website, just hit the 'Change' button on top and then 'Find Flights'.
#101
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
I'm getting the same problem. I've tried two BA agents with no luck so far. After the second call I've asked her to contact the oneworld helpdesk and I'm waiting for her to call back.
I'm looking for TPA-MIA-LHR on the AA2584 connecting to the AA38 in business.
On the AA site it's available as shown below:
However, on BA.com the MIA-LHR sector shows no availability in business class. Both telephone agents can't see it either.
The other weird thing - which may be connected - is that if I search just MIA-LHR on AA.com this flight doesn't show there either. It only shows up when searching for TPA-MIA-LHR. ExpertFlyer shows the same thing with TPA-MIA-LHR available in MilesAAver on those flights but not when I search for just the MIA-LHR. The normal advice on BA.com is to search for individual sectors and that's possibly what the agents are doing but that won't work as it doesn't appear as available even on AA.com as individual sectors.
I have not experienced this before. Comments and suggestions welcome.
I'm looking for TPA-MIA-LHR on the AA2584 connecting to the AA38 in business.
On the AA site it's available as shown below:
However, on BA.com the MIA-LHR sector shows no availability in business class. Both telephone agents can't see it either.
The other weird thing - which may be connected - is that if I search just MIA-LHR on AA.com this flight doesn't show there either. It only shows up when searching for TPA-MIA-LHR. ExpertFlyer shows the same thing with TPA-MIA-LHR available in MilesAAver on those flights but not when I search for just the MIA-LHR. The normal advice on BA.com is to search for individual sectors and that's possibly what the agents are doing but that won't work as it doesn't appear as available even on AA.com as individual sectors.
I have not experienced this before. Comments and suggestions welcome.
Last edited by golfmad; Oct 8, 2018 at 3:25 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
I'm getting the same problem. I've tried two BA agents with no luck so far. After the second call I've asked her to contact the oneworld helpdesk and I'm waiting for her to call back.
I'm looking for TPA-MIA-LHR on the AA2584 connecting to the AA38 in business.
On the AA site it's available as shown below:
However, on BA.com the MIA-LHR sector shows no availability in business class. Both telephone agents can't see it either.
The other weird thing - which may be connected - is that if I search just MIA-LHR on AA.com this flight doesn't show there either. It only shows up when searching for TPA-MIA-LHR. ExpertFlyer shows the same thing with TPA-MIA-LHR available in MilesAAver on those flights but not when I search for just the MIA-LHR. The normal advice on BA.com is to search for individual sectors and that's possibly what the agents are doing but that won't work as it doesn't appear as available even on AA.com as individual sectors.
I have not experienced this before. Comments and suggestions welcome.
I'm looking for TPA-MIA-LHR on the AA2584 connecting to the AA38 in business.
On the AA site it's available as shown below:
However, on BA.com the MIA-LHR sector shows no availability in business class. Both telephone agents can't see it either.
The other weird thing - which may be connected - is that if I search just MIA-LHR on AA.com this flight doesn't show there either. It only shows up when searching for TPA-MIA-LHR. ExpertFlyer shows the same thing with TPA-MIA-LHR available in MilesAAver on those flights but not when I search for just the MIA-LHR. The normal advice on BA.com is to search for individual sectors and that's possibly what the agents are doing but that won't work as it doesn't appear as available even on AA.com as individual sectors.
I have not experienced this before. Comments and suggestions welcome.
#103
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
This sounds like a "married-segment availability" issue. AA is not making MIA-LHR available at the MileSAAver level as a stand-alone redemption, only as part of a TPA-MIA-LHR redemption. If BAEC searches one segment at a time, the availability will not appear. Whether BAEC can search TPA-LHR so as to get the availability on both segments is something I do not know.
#104
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
The second agent came back to me but had nothing new to offer so I ended up speaking with the manager of the GGL team in the India call centre. He was keen to assist but had absolutely no experience (not surprising really) of the relationship between AA MilesAAver and BA Avios. I explained the connection and we looked together at the availability on AA.com. Sadly, that didn't help because he asked me if I could point to some documentation that explained the link between AA MilesAAver and BA Avios. Of course, other than pointing to threads on FlyerTalk - which I did not want to do - I could not but I did say I'd check and get back to him.
So, does anyone have any BA or AA references (proper airline references other than on FlyerTalk) that explains the linkage between redemption availability between the two programs?
Otherwise, I shall have to find an alternative or use some of my actual AA miles to book it.
So, does anyone have any BA or AA references (proper airline references other than on FlyerTalk) that explains the linkage between redemption availability between the two programs?
Otherwise, I shall have to find an alternative or use some of my actual AA miles to book it.
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
The second agent came back to me but had nothing new to offer so I ended up speaking with the manager of the GGL team in the India call centre. He was keen to assist but had absolutely no experience (not surprising really) of the relationship between AA MilesAAver and BA Avios. I explained the connection and we looked together at the availability on AA.com. Sadly, that didn't help because he asked me if I could point to some documentation that explained the link between AA MilesAAver and BA Avios. Of course, other than pointing to threads on FlyerTalk - which I did not want to do - I could not but I did say I'd check and get back to him.
So, does anyone have any BA or AA references (proper airline references other than on FlyerTalk) that explains the linkage between redemption availability between the two programs?
Otherwise, I shall have to find an alternative or use some of my actual AA miles to book it.
So, does anyone have any BA or AA references (proper airline references other than on FlyerTalk) that explains the linkage between redemption availability between the two programs?
Otherwise, I shall have to find an alternative or use some of my actual AA miles to book it.
If you are considering doing that, I would immediately put those flights on a free, five-day hold at aa.com, before they disappear.