Your guide to spending Avios | 2017 edition
Nov 10, 2017, 12:23 pm
#481
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: AMS/DUS
Programs: BAEC Gold and Honors Gold
Posts: 21
Could anyone help me with explaining the difference in upgrade prices we got quoted for the route DUS-LHR-LAX-SJC-LAX-LHR-DUS with the upgraded part being LHR-LAX-LHR?
I got quoted 245 euro and my partner, same route, date booked and fare got quoted 292 euro. YQ on our ticket is 130 for PE, the same route completely in BC was YQ 422. This seems to be the 292 difference quoted, but we didn't upgrade the full ticket.
I already called BA back as also told here on the forum, the lady I first spoke told me my 245 was rifght but had to speak with a supervisor as it was on a German Holiday. I got called back the next day (Dutch-speaking lady) and she sticks to the 292 euro is correct and the 245 was a lucky shot as the first guy forgot to calculate some taxes. I can't really believe that as we only did upgrade the LHR-LAX-LHR flights and the rest stays in economy. The lady even told me if I would like the rest to be upgraded I even had to pay more. How is that possible, then we pay more YQ as the BC ticket was on the same day? I spoke with the German office, and now spoke different persons quoting different amounts.
Could somebody tell me what the right amount should be? I think the estimate of 245 could be correct, with being the difference in 292-245 for the other parts of the ticket.
The thing is BA can quote everything but they can't seem to show me how the calculated something and everyone is telling me something different at BA.
I got quoted 245 euro and my partner, same route, date booked and fare got quoted 292 euro. YQ on our ticket is 130 for PE, the same route completely in BC was YQ 422. This seems to be the 292 difference quoted, but we didn't upgrade the full ticket.
I already called BA back as also told here on the forum, the lady I first spoke told me my 245 was rifght but had to speak with a supervisor as it was on a German Holiday. I got called back the next day (Dutch-speaking lady) and she sticks to the 292 euro is correct and the 245 was a lucky shot as the first guy forgot to calculate some taxes. I can't really believe that as we only did upgrade the LHR-LAX-LHR flights and the rest stays in economy. The lady even told me if I would like the rest to be upgraded I even had to pay more. How is that possible, then we pay more YQ as the BC ticket was on the same day? I spoke with the German office, and now spoke different persons quoting different amounts.
Could somebody tell me what the right amount should be? I think the estimate of 245 could be correct, with being the difference in 292-245 for the other parts of the ticket.
The thing is BA can quote everything but they can't seem to show me how the calculated something and everyone is telling me something different at BA.
Nov 13, 2017, 1:32 pm
#482
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
Could somebody tell me what the right amount should be? I think the estimate of 245 could be correct, with being the difference in 292-245 for the other parts of the ticket.
The thing is BA can quote everything but they can't seem to show me how the calculated something and everyone is telling me something different at BA.
The thing is BA can quote everything but they can't seem to show me how the calculated something and everyone is telling me something different at BA.
From what I’ve seen, it may be that YQs are decided point-to-point not leg-by-leg. We know they vary by departure point (A-B not equal to B-A) and for a trip like DUS-LHR-LAX I’ve never seen the YQ in 2 parts (and A-B-C not equal A-B plus B-C).
As such it may be that there is no YQ for a Y/J mixed class outbound (or inbound). Hence you are having to pay the J/J YQ even if your first leg is not upgraded. I can’t prove that, because you can’t prove a single fare element in mixed classes - any J fare puts you in J shorthaul too - but that would be the very reason only a J/J YQ exists.
The closest I can get to demonstrate this is, a bit randomly, a dummy avios booking. If I search DUS-LAX one way then choose an overnight stopover (<24hr) in LON, I can choose the flights individually Y/J or J/J. The former won’t then let me through to the booking page, but both options preview the taxes as the same £530. Which implies the YQ is the same for both (if the IT problem hasn’t misled me).
Nov 14, 2017, 2:25 pm
#483
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: AMS/DUS
Programs: BAEC Gold and Honors Gold
Posts: 21
I don’t have a definitive answer for you but as no one else has tried, here’s my best.
From what I’ve seen, it may be that YQs are decided point-to-point not leg-by-leg. We know they vary by departure point (A-B not equal to B-A) and for a trip like DUS-LHR-LAX I’ve never seen the YQ in 2 parts (and A-B-C not equal A-B plus B-C).
As such it may be that there is no YQ for a Y/J mixed class outbound (or inbound). Hence you are having to pay the J/J YQ even if your first leg is not upgraded. I can’t prove that, because you can’t prove a single fare element in mixed classes - any J fare puts you in J shorthaul too - but that would be the very reason only a J/J YQ exists.
The closest I can get to demonstrate this is, a bit randomly, a dummy avios booking. If I search DUS-LAX one way then choose an overnight stopover (<24hr) in LON, I can choose the flights individually Y/J or J/J. The former won’t then let me through to the booking page, but both options preview the taxes as the same £530. Which implies the YQ is the same for both (if the IT problem hasn’t misled me).
From what I’ve seen, it may be that YQs are decided point-to-point not leg-by-leg. We know they vary by departure point (A-B not equal to B-A) and for a trip like DUS-LHR-LAX I’ve never seen the YQ in 2 parts (and A-B-C not equal A-B plus B-C).
As such it may be that there is no YQ for a Y/J mixed class outbound (or inbound). Hence you are having to pay the J/J YQ even if your first leg is not upgraded. I can’t prove that, because you can’t prove a single fare element in mixed classes - any J fare puts you in J shorthaul too - but that would be the very reason only a J/J YQ exists.
The closest I can get to demonstrate this is, a bit randomly, a dummy avios booking. If I search DUS-LAX one way then choose an overnight stopover (<24hr) in LON, I can choose the flights individually Y/J or J/J. The former won’t then let me through to the booking page, but both options preview the taxes as the same £530. Which implies the YQ is the same for both (if the IT problem hasn’t misled me).
Nov 15, 2017, 11:11 am
#484
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
Anyone else not see JAL award availability? Flights seem to have disappeared from yesterday on a good few routes and doubt they have just been booked....
Nov 15, 2017, 2:13 pm
#485
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,793
JAL will be migrating to Amadeus on Nov 16, 2017
Nov 15, 2017, 2:26 pm
#486
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
JAL is moving to a new reservation system (Amadeus); disruptions are expected. See this thread in JAL forum:
JAL will be migrating to Amadeus on Nov 16, 2017
JAL will be migrating to Amadeus on Nov 16, 2017
Nov 16, 2017, 5:27 pm
#487
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Fee for cancelling an award
What's the penalty fee for cancelling an award? I guess there's no leeway for Gold members either., right?
Nov 16, 2017, 5:28 pm
#488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Nov 17, 2017, 9:26 pm
#489
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Since American doesn't have good availability of rewards seats to use with Avios, what is the best use for them now for someone in the Southwest US?
Nov 19, 2017, 9:15 am
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
I paid for the ticket via Paypal. 20 quid. So does that mean it will cost me an additional 15 quid or will BA refund the previous amount and charge the full £35 fee?
Also what is the cut off? My award flight is on the 23rd. Is it 24 hours prior?
Last edited by Guy Betsy; Nov 19, 2017 at 9:22 am
Nov 19, 2017, 9:20 am
#491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Nov 19, 2017, 9:20 am
#492
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,201
They don;t charge more than you have paid, and it is precisely 24hrs before.
Nov 19, 2017, 7:08 pm
#493
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Nov 20, 2017, 1:26 am
#495
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I'm not sure how this part of the sticky post (to which I have already linked) could be any clearer:-
I've put it into bold in case it was difficult to see that part of the sentence.
Cancellations are also permitted. So long as you cancel your ticket no later than 24 hours prior to the departure of the first flight sector on your ticket, you will receive a full refund of Avios Points as well as the taxes, fees, and surcharges paid minus a nominal redeposit fee (£35.00/€42.50/US$55.00). The additional offline fee also applies to redeposits.
