Your guide to spending Avios | 2017 edition
Apr 6, 2017, 12:00 pm
#166
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cymru - Wales
Programs: Priority Club Platinum, UA Mileage Plus, BD Diamond Club
Posts: 46
Evening all, I was wondering if someone could explain the best way to now book EI transatlantic flight following their move to Avios? I have always done through BAEC for the no fees and low Avios especially for Dub-Bos.
Grateful if someone could give me the low down on the way now.
Many thanks
SteveBerch
Grateful if someone could give me the low down on the way now.
Many thanks
SteveBerch
Apr 6, 2017, 12:10 pm
#167
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,706
Evening all, I was wondering if someone could explain the best way to now book EI transatlantic flight following their move to Avios? I have always done through BAEC for the no fees and low Avios especially for Dub-Bos.
Grateful if someone could give me the low down on the way now.
Many thanks
SteveBerch
Grateful if someone could give me the low down on the way now.
Many thanks
SteveBerch
Apr 6, 2017, 12:20 pm
#168
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cymru - Wales
Programs: Priority Club Platinum, UA Mileage Plus, BD Diamond Club
Posts: 46
Thanks Flashware, any thoughts on which one provides better value these days, I havent quite got to understand AerClub yet
Apr 7, 2017, 6:48 pm
#170
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 1,302
Is it me or BA jacked up YQ once more?
I had booked a ticket on JL w avios a month ago.
HND-SFO in Y. YQ was 90.85 USD.
I checked pricing once more today, same flight on another day now costs 123.97. NO way this is due to currency fluctuation.
I had booked a ticket on JL w avios a month ago.
HND-SFO in Y. YQ was 90.85 USD.
I checked pricing once more today, same flight on another day now costs 123.97. NO way this is due to currency fluctuation.
Apr 8, 2017, 8:52 am
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
If I tried to upgrade all 4 segments (SJC-LHR-FCO return), it wanted something like an additional $700. However, if we upgraded only the longhaul (which is the important part anyway), the final fare he quoted me was $2 more than what I saw for the Premium Economy booking online. So, basically, no additional net.
A two hour flight in Economy versus Club Europe is minimal sacrifice
Oh, and it also saves the 45000 Avios for upgrading the intra-Europe segments as well.
A two hour flight in Economy versus Club Europe is minimal sacrifice
Oh, and it also saves the 45000 Avios for upgrading the intra-Europe segments as well.
The flight+hotel package price came in at $2611 in Premium Economy (versus about $3600 for the flights alone).
Called to upgrade with Avios and spoke with someone different as Martin was not available. She indicated initially that it looked like about $600 more per person, but said that she can't see the final until they put it though, so I needed to give the $400 deposit, she would check and I could cancel if I didn't like it. She suspected that the additional would melt away.
And it did. I saw the booking email about 10 minutes later- at the original package price. No additional for the upgrade YQ. She rang back and confirmed.
All very nice in the end, and very AA EQD-friendly
Cheers.
Apr 9, 2017, 4:46 am
#172
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: M&M Senator, BAEC GGL, Delta Platinum
Posts: 257
Always a hassle trying to book with a GUF2 online. Found a nice sale ex DE, which is only available until today and cant book online. The price jumps by 2K per person. Wonder when they will ever fix this issue. Cant call my TA today.....
Apr 20, 2017, 11:22 am
#173
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I need clarification. Can't I use Avios to book reward (Economy MileSaaver) seats on American metal? Did something change?
Apr 20, 2017, 1:19 pm
#174
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 65
Hi, this may be a dumb question... I was wondering if there is any difference in taxes/surcharges between booking an Aer Lingus flight (DUB to IAD) with avios on Avios.com vs calling BA to book the flight? I feel like it should be the same, but sometimes the difference in taxes/surcharges between different airlines confuse me.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Apr 20, 2017, 2:23 pm
#175
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
You should be able to do - although I take you are trying to do so through BA.com rather than on AA.com? (sorry for the basic question but not everyone realises that's how the system works)
Apr 20, 2017, 3:06 pm
#176
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I'm trying to do it through AA.com. I have always looked for milesaaver seats on American Airlines and then called BA to book the seats. I called back again and they said that there was no availability, but that they could book AA seats using Avios.
Apr 20, 2017, 3:14 pm
#177
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
Ah OK as long as you're calling BA to book - agree that normally the Milesaver seats should be available but I did notice some phantom availability even when using AA miles that then either disappeared when I clicked through to the next page or became a connecting flight. Have you tried searching availability on BA.com?
Apr 25, 2017, 12:35 am
#178
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
After browsing BA.com for long haul upgrade availability for two of us and quitting after finding out that in addition to the Avios I would have to pay taxes and fees that were more than the base ticket price, I got a survey from BA today asking why I didn't complete the booking. I was glad to get it because I just feel so ripped off every time I use my Avios. I let em have it! No upgrade availability for all of October and November, $1,500 per ticket in upgrade award fees for a different routing that added 5 hours to the journey, and no upgrade availability on the inbound on that routing. Not to mention $225 per ticket in seat selection fees on top of the base fare. I ended up giving my $7,000 to KLM.
Apr 25, 2017, 12:36 am
#179
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,886
After browsing BA.com for long haul upgrade availability for two of us and quitting after finding out that in addition to the Avios I would have to pay taxes and fees that were more than the base ticket price, I got a survey from BA today asking why I didn't complete the booking. I was glad to get it because I just feel so ripped off every time I use my Avios. I let em have it! No upgrade availability for all of October and November, $1,500 per ticket in upgrade award fees for a different routing that added 5 hours to the journey, and no upgrade availability on the inbound on that routing. Not to mention $225 per ticket in seat selection fees on top of the base fare. I ended up giving my $7,000 to KLM.
Apr 26, 2017, 8:04 am
#180
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, DL PM, , Hilton Diamond (from being in a bed), SPG Plat, MR Plat
Posts: 922
Quick question.
About to book my parents a holiday to Greece. Going to buy economy tickets. EDI-LGW-SKG. I would like to upgrade the return with avios but only the SKG-LGW leg. Is this possible or do I have to upgrade the domestic also? Both gold so lounge access no problem etc. Many thanks
About to book my parents a holiday to Greece. Going to buy economy tickets. EDI-LGW-SKG. I would like to upgrade the return with avios but only the SKG-LGW leg. Is this possible or do I have to upgrade the domestic also? Both gold so lounge access no problem etc. Many thanks