BA Companion Pass - Impossible?
Jan 27, 2016, 9:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
BA Companion Pass - Impossible?
Looking to travel to Europe from LAX (or another West US city - SFO, PHX etc) but I cannot find a single first outbound flight... Is it impossible, or just improbable?
Any suggestions?
Willing to go at non-optimum times, and flexibility with work allows for building a trip around available dates.
Any suggestions?
Willing to go at non-optimum times, and flexibility with work allows for building a trip around available dates.
Jan 27, 2016, 9:51 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
Which month are you looking?? There are some generous times (Nov?) for these - a flight last week had three F seats to LAX in Nov
You can often get Dallas DFW / Houston IAH and then a small hop on a budget airline ?
You can often get Dallas DFW / Houston IAH and then a small hop on a budget airline ?
Jan 27, 2016, 9:54 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
I just checked March-January '17, and nothing out of LAX... I'm open to dates. Prefer something warmer, but can adjust. Pass expires in Nov.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:07 am
#4
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: 63,821
That's a particularly difficult station for this, along with CPT probably the most difficult in BA's entire network to get redemptions, unless you book at T-355 days. Try SJC, SFO, SAN, YVR, SEA, DEN, LAS and PHX. I can see some availability during this period. If all else fails Houston, Atlanta and New York are your new best friends.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:13 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
I'm not sure how the companion voucher works in the US, but in the UK it must be used on BA metal, and therefore it could only be a flight to London. Is that the case?
Jan 27, 2016, 10:15 am
#7
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: 63,821
And if you find something which is "best of a bad deal", sign up for it, then check once a day for your favourite option. Then switch over if it's worth the change fee. The connecting flight to Atlanta (etc) would have to probably be on a separate booking, but this can easily be cancelled for minimal fees if done with Avios.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:18 am
#8
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: 63,821
Yes, from the USA, but it can be used on to a Europe destination as a connection from LHR, and in the case of NYC, LGW and LCY. Also there is the OpenSkies to Paris. But it is a good point, best to search LAX to LHR first, then look separately for other options, ringing up to conect flights if necessary. Avios redemptions involving connections can be quite poor in showing up.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:24 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,539
That's a particularly difficult station for this, along with CPT probably the most difficult in BA's entire network to get redemptions, unless you book at T-355 days. Try SJC, SFO, SAN, YVR, SEA, DEN, LAS and PHX. I can see some availability during this period. If all else fails Houston, Atlanta and New York are your new best friends.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:37 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
The Reward Flight Map tool is not a good indication of real-time availability. Best to use the actual flight search "Book flights with Avios" tool which shows real-time availability.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:41 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
The BA app is also quite good to do certain kinds of award searches.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:46 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
Cheers!
Jan 27, 2016, 10:50 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
My suggestion would be to book and then check if any space comes up in first later on. You could then change your booking for a small fee.
Jan 27, 2016, 10:52 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
Club World (CW) is BA business class. You should consider booking CW if that is available then changing to F if that becomes available later.