BA American Express 2-4-1 Voucher Discussion
Feb 23, 2020, 2:10 pm
#2056
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It would help to know, then, the sort of place where you might want to go. To take some random examples, you could use the inbound half to fly back to LHR from HKG, JNB or SIN, but you couldn't use the inbound half to fly back from JFK.
Feb 23, 2020, 2:19 pm
#2057
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 39
Yes, you can, but there are some limitations you have to be aware of.
First, there are restrictions on the route of the inbound half because of open-jaw rules.
Second, the change to the inbound half must be to return from a place in the same Avios zone as the place in the original booking. So, for example, if the inbound half is booked now as JFK-LHR, you can't later change it to MIA-LHR as MIA is in a different zone.
Third, if after you have flown the outbound half you decide not to use the inbound half, you won't get a refund of the Avios for the inbound half. There have been recent reports of people being permitted to cancel the inbound half before they start the outbound half and to get an Avios refund for the inbound half, but I'm not sure whether technically that's permitted by the rules.
Fourth, ISTR that technically you can't actually change the inbound half after the outbound half has been flown, although in practice BAEC is allowing this. In theory, that could potentially pose a problem.
First, there are restrictions on the route of the inbound half because of open-jaw rules.
Second, the change to the inbound half must be to return from a place in the same Avios zone as the place in the original booking. So, for example, if the inbound half is booked now as JFK-LHR, you can't later change it to MIA-LHR as MIA is in a different zone.
Third, if after you have flown the outbound half you decide not to use the inbound half, you won't get a refund of the Avios for the inbound half. There have been recent reports of people being permitted to cancel the inbound half before they start the outbound half and to get an Avios refund for the inbound half, but I'm not sure whether technically that's permitted by the rules.
Fourth, ISTR that technically you can't actually change the inbound half after the outbound half has been flown, although in practice BAEC is allowing this. In theory, that could potentially pose a problem.
Feb 23, 2020, 2:31 pm
#2058
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LHR-BOM 4487 miles
BOM-SIN 2435 miles (surface sector)
SIN-LHR 6765 miles
If you want to do a round-trip to JFK using the 2-4-1, why don't you just book that and buy a round-trip cash ticket for BOM? You may find it quite expensive to buy a one-way cash ticket to get back from BOM.
Even if the open-jaw limitation didn't exist on the 2-4-1, it would probably have been pretty expensive to use Avios for a one-way LHR-BOM, buy a cash ticket BOM-LHR, buy a cash ticket LHR-JFK, and use Avios for a one-way JFK-LHR,
Feb 23, 2020, 3:55 pm
#2059
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 39
The surface sector must not be longer than either of the flown sectors. So SIN is fine:-
LHR-BOM 4487 miles
BOM-SIN 2435 miles (surface sector)
SIN-LHR 6765 miles
If you want to do a round-trip to JFK using the 2-4-1, why don't you just book that and buy a round-trip cash ticket for BOM? You may find it quite expensive to buy a one-way cash ticket to get back from BOM.
Even if the open-jaw limitation didn't exist on the 2-4-1, it would probably have been pretty expensive to use Avios for a one-way LHR-BOM, buy a cash ticket BOM-LHR, buy a cash ticket LHR-JFK, and use Avios for a one-way JFK-LHR,
LHR-BOM 4487 miles
BOM-SIN 2435 miles (surface sector)
SIN-LHR 6765 miles
If you want to do a round-trip to JFK using the 2-4-1, why don't you just book that and buy a round-trip cash ticket for BOM? You may find it quite expensive to buy a one-way cash ticket to get back from BOM.
Even if the open-jaw limitation didn't exist on the 2-4-1, it would probably have been pretty expensive to use Avios for a one-way LHR-BOM, buy a cash ticket BOM-LHR, buy a cash ticket LHR-JFK, and use Avios for a one-way JFK-LHR,
Feb 24, 2020, 1:06 am
#2060
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
That means you only have to make the booking for a separate inbound before April, and that inbound flight could the be booked for any time up to March/April 2021.
Feb 24, 2020, 2:59 am
#2061
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Virgin Red
Posts: 57
I used my 2-4-1 voucher for myself and my wife to go to NYC this July in 1st and had our seats booked (4E & 4F). Without notice over the weekend the aircraft changed to 789 from 777, so 1st is now 8 seats only. We now don't have any seats booked and we can't book them as none are available. Our daughter is flying with us and she was booked in 3A but got moved (without being contacted by BA) to 1A. I phoned BA but the systems were down for two hours on Saturday and when I called back, I was told the cabin is "Locked out" and no changes can be made and I would have to wait until 24 hours before to see which seats will be available. I said that my daughter if flying with us and this is unacceptable, as we have hotels booked, travel arrangements to the airport to make, etc..... I was then told to wait until tomorrow to see if the cabin becomes "unlocked", I thought this was a line to get me off the phone.
Has anybody else had this issue? If so how did you resolve it?
This is the third time BA have either cancelled flights or reported me as not being on a flight and cancelling my return flight, without contacting me.
Thanks
Has anybody else had this issue? If so how did you resolve it?
This is the third time BA have either cancelled flights or reported me as not being on a flight and cancelling my return flight, without contacting me.
Thanks
Feb 24, 2020, 3:08 am
#2062
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
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I used my 2-4-1 voucher for myself and my wife to go to NYC this July in 1st and had our seats booked (4E & 4F). Without notice over the weekend the aircraft changed to 789 from 777, so 1st is now 8 seats only. We now don't have any seats booked and we can't book them as none are available. Our daughter is flying with us and she was booked in 3A but got moved (without being contacted by BA) to 1A. I phoned BA but the systems were down for two hours on Saturday and when I called back, I was told the cabin is "Locked out" and no changes can be made and I would have to wait until 24 hours before to see which seats will be available. I said that my daughter if flying with us and this is unacceptable, as we have hotels booked, travel arrangements to the airport to make, etc..... I was then told to wait until tomorrow to see if the cabin becomes "unlocked", I thought this was a line to get me off the phone.
Has anybody else had this issue? If so how did you resolve it?
This is the third time BA have either cancelled flights or reported me as not being on a flight and cancelling my return flight, without contacting me.
Thanks
Has anybody else had this issue? If so how did you resolve it?
This is the third time BA have either cancelled flights or reported me as not being on a flight and cancelling my return flight, without contacting me.
Thanks
177 is showing as having 1E/F and 2K free. 1A/K are not occupied but are blocked unless you are a gold.
179 is showing as 1E/F free, and all row 2 free. 1A is occupied, 1K is not occupied but is blocked unless you are a gold.
I am afraid this changing is inevitable over the next few years as BA swap between CWS aircraft and non CWS ones going between 8 and 14 F seats.
Feb 24, 2020, 4:16 am
#2063
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,847
Using 2-4-1 for parents
This is a hypothetical question, at least at the moment, involving two separate issues: the 2-4-1 voucher being valid for the cardholder + 1; and seat swapping. At some point I would like to treat my parents, who are not getting any younger and haven't ever* travelled in Business, to a CW trip.
Paid-for CW is unlikely, so my 2-4-1 would be the obvious way of doing this. A second 2-4-1, plus more Avios, would let me take them both (plus another person!) but on the assumption that this doesn't turn out to be feasible due to availability or lack of Avios/2-4-1...
If I were to book an Economy or Premium Economy seat on the same flight in the name of my other parent, is there a rules or etiquette faux-pas in me swapping seats with them so they can have my CW seat (I figured it would be most appropriate to do this on boarding, and to inform the CSM)? Or is this an absolute no?
* An op-up on a Swiss ZRH-LHR trip doesn't quite count!
Paid-for CW is unlikely, so my 2-4-1 would be the obvious way of doing this. A second 2-4-1, plus more Avios, would let me take them both (plus another person!) but on the assumption that this doesn't turn out to be feasible due to availability or lack of Avios/2-4-1...
If I were to book an Economy or Premium Economy seat on the same flight in the name of my other parent, is there a rules or etiquette faux-pas in me swapping seats with them so they can have my CW seat (I figured it would be most appropriate to do this on boarding, and to inform the CSM)? Or is this an absolute no?
* An op-up on a Swiss ZRH-LHR trip doesn't quite count!
Feb 24, 2020, 4:36 am
#2064
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
This is a hypothetical question, at least at the moment, involving two separate issues: the 2-4-1 voucher being valid for the cardholder + 1; and seat swapping. At some point I would like to treat my parents, who are not getting any younger and haven't ever* travelled in Business, to a CW trip.
Paid-for CW is unlikely, so my 2-4-1 would be the obvious way of doing this. A second 2-4-1, plus more Avios, would let me take them both (plus another person!) but on the assumption that this doesn't turn out to be feasible due to availability or lack of Avios/2-4-1...
If I were to book an Economy or Premium Economy seat on the same flight in the name of my other parent, is there a rules or etiquette faux-pas in me swapping seats with them so they can have my CW seat (I figured it would be most appropriate to do this on boarding, and to inform the CSM)? Or is this an absolute no?
* An op-up on a Swiss ZRH-LHR trip doesn't quite count!
Paid-for CW is unlikely, so my 2-4-1 would be the obvious way of doing this. A second 2-4-1, plus more Avios, would let me take them both (plus another person!) but on the assumption that this doesn't turn out to be feasible due to availability or lack of Avios/2-4-1...
If I were to book an Economy or Premium Economy seat on the same flight in the name of my other parent, is there a rules or etiquette faux-pas in me swapping seats with them so they can have my CW seat (I figured it would be most appropriate to do this on boarding, and to inform the CSM)? Or is this an absolute no?
* An op-up on a Swiss ZRH-LHR trip doesn't quite count!
(I don't think you mean to mix cabins on two 241s, but if they are both in your name you can only use two of your own 241s as a 442 with all four of you in the same cabin.)
Feb 24, 2020, 4:48 am
#2065
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
If I were to book an Economy or Premium Economy seat on the same flight in the name of my other parent, is there a rules or etiquette faux-pas in me swapping seats with them so they can have my CW seat (I figured it would be most appropriate to do this on boarding, and to inform the CSM)? Or is this an absolute no?
I'd just say to follow some rules, which may be fairly obvious, such as:
- Speak to the CSM/CSD and obtain their permission. As noted, if you explain why you are doing it, I would hope they would be fine with it
- Make it clear that you understand the swap will be for the full duration of the flight
- Make it clear that you won't be routinely "popping up" to visit them etc
Feb 24, 2020, 6:08 am
#2066
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Virgin Red
Posts: 57
At the moment is the issue that you are trying to reselect seats? Looks like you must be on BA177 or 179 that day?
177 is showing as having 1E/F and 2K free. 1A/K are not occupied but are blocked unless you are a gold.
179 is showing as 1E/F free, and all row 2 free. 1A is occupied, 1K is not occupied but is blocked unless you are a gold.
I am afraid this changing is inevitable over the next few years as BA swap between CWS aircraft and non CWS ones going between 8 and 14 F seats.
177 is showing as having 1E/F and 2K free. 1A/K are not occupied but are blocked unless you are a gold.
179 is showing as 1E/F free, and all row 2 free. 1A is occupied, 1K is not occupied but is blocked unless you are a gold.
I am afraid this changing is inevitable over the next few years as BA swap between CWS aircraft and non CWS ones going between 8 and 14 F seats.
Feb 24, 2020, 6:11 am
#2067
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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Feb 24, 2020, 6:15 am
#2068
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Virgin Red
Posts: 57
Feb 24, 2020, 6:18 am
#2069
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Posts: 42,968
Feb 24, 2020, 6:36 am
#2070
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Virgin Red
Posts: 57
Thanks again.