Flexible Avios options
 

My wife and I are expecting our first child this Christmas and my mother in law is going to come over for several months to help us out.

We know she will be coming over around 3rd December from YYC to LHR and I'm trying to work out the best thing to do in order to have flexibility for when she goes back - we were thinking of pencilling in around 28th Feb but this may change.

Normally I don't waste Avios on redeeming economy tickets but I'm wondering if this would be the best way in order to get some flexibility on the return date as I seem to recall redemption tickets are quite flexible?!

My thinking is that a flexible economy to let would be crazy expensive and buying the cheapest economy ticket means no way of changing inbound flight without insane fees.

Would I be best in:

- Using Avios and booking her two economy singles. If so I'm pretty sure that these can be changed (subject to availability) or cancelled (with nominal admin fee)

- Use Avios to book an economy return. If so - can the inbound flight be cancelled / changed (subject to reward availability) I looked at some flights and as this is off peak it was 32500 Avios + £400 taxes

- Or does anyone a better idea?!

She is a BA member and will be regularly over in the UK from YVR or YYC so maybe there is a smarter other way to either pay / part pay in order for her to acrue some Avios herself. I.e could we potential pay £ to have a fixed outbound and then have a flexible inbound, that way she will acrue quite a few Avios on top of what she already has.

Thanks!