BA American Express 2-4-1 Voucher Discussion
Jan 9, 2019, 4:34 am
#1171
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
What sort of honeymoon do you want, and what’s the date range. You might get some novel ideas. For example NBO is often available F - safari and coast/Zanzibar?
Jan 9, 2019, 4:35 am
#1172
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
Agree with all the above. The key to getting the best from a 241 is to immediately grab anything acceptable if optimum is not available, then spend the next months making improvements at £35 a time but safe in the knowledge that you have something. Despite the horrendous fees & taxes, the great thing about redemptions is the flexibliity, and you never know, a great cash sale fare might come along in which case you can cancel snd get your vouchet, svios and cash back for just £35.
Last edited by Bullswood; Jan 9, 2019 at 5:35 am
Jan 9, 2019, 4:50 am
#1173
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,851
I believe the person behind the website is a member here, though I can't remember their username. Perhaps they're able to comment - or it might be worth contacting them?
Jan 9, 2019, 4:56 am
#1174
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 45
Thanks again all.
In terms of honeymoon, probably something hot and coastal but with enough to do to keep us interested for 2-3 weeks. Just returned from Costa Rica and, although I'd return in an instant (if you've not been, go), probably want to do something different this year. Hence I'm leaning east.
Current 'acceptable' option looks like a J redemption to Chennai, from which we can easily connect to Colombo, and then possibly gamble on an open jaw return from Male, but failing that, back from Chennai again.
Quick question - does the tactic of booking an outbound and then later adding a return to the booking for no penalty also apply to open jaw routes?
In terms of honeymoon, probably something hot and coastal but with enough to do to keep us interested for 2-3 weeks. Just returned from Costa Rica and, although I'd return in an instant (if you've not been, go), probably want to do something different this year. Hence I'm leaning east.
Current 'acceptable' option looks like a J redemption to Chennai, from which we can easily connect to Colombo, and then possibly gamble on an open jaw return from Male, but failing that, back from Chennai again.
Quick question - does the tactic of booking an outbound and then later adding a return to the booking for no penalty also apply to open jaw routes?
Jan 9, 2019, 4:59 am
#1175
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 100
Agree with all the above. The key to getting the best from a 241 is to immediately grab anything acceptable if optimum is not available, then spend the next months making improvements at £35 a time but safe in the knowledge that you have domething. Despite the horrendous fees & taxes, the great thing about redemptions is the flexibliity, and you never know, a great cash sale fare might come slong in which case you can cancel snd get your vouchet, svios and cash back for just £35.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:15 am
#1176
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
Just a quick query on the process here. Assuming I am booked in CW because there is no F reward availability on my route and dates at T-355 and F availability subsequently opens up nearer the time, is it a case of 'upgrading' the booking by calling BA and paying £35 per pax and having the additional Avios (and £s for the additional 'taxes') ready or is it a 'cancel and rebook', in which case the Avios for the CW booking may not be immediately returned so one would need all the Avios for the new F booking?
Jan 9, 2019, 5:54 am
#1177
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,210
You can call to upgrade. Usually it's just additional Avios, the taxes are the same. There are some exceptions, like one-way F from the USA, for example, but that's not possible on a 2-4-1 anyway.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:59 am
#1178
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 45
Similar question to the one above: I've booked Chennai in J outbound on our preferred date. When it is time to ring BA at midnight to try and book our preferred return leg, do I need to have enough Avios to cover 2 reward flights (i.e. 2 x 75,000), or will the agent apply the 2-4-1 such that I only need the single 75,000?
I need to know whether I need to transfer any MR points across.
I need to know whether I need to transfer any MR points across.
Jan 9, 2019, 6:04 am
#1179
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,093
Similar question to the one above: I've booked Chennai in J outbound on our preferred date. When it is time to ring BA at midnight to try and book our preferred return leg, do I need to have enough Avios to cover 2 reward flights (i.e. 2 x 75,000), or will the agent apply the 2-4-1 such that I only need the single 75,000?
I need to know whether I need to transfer any MR points across.
I need to know whether I need to transfer any MR points across.
I believe there was a fairly recent change where you can now book the return online (needing avios for both passengers) and then call up later to have the 2-4-1 retroactively applied, at which point they then refund 1 set of the Avios, but that will not apply here if you are calling, it is just useful if you want to book online. I've not personally done this I must stress, only read it is possible
Jan 9, 2019, 6:06 am
#1180
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 45
Thanks Bertie - appreciate it.
Infuriating reading that BA won't check bags through onto connecting Sri Lankan flights from Chennai. Apart from that, Chennai appears to be the perfect staging point for Colombo. £150 worth of Indian transit visas to be added to the budget...
Infuriating reading that BA won't check bags through onto connecting Sri Lankan flights from Chennai. Apart from that, Chennai appears to be the perfect staging point for Colombo. £150 worth of Indian transit visas to be added to the budget...
Jan 9, 2019, 1:35 pm
#1181
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SW UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 26
It is possible (though unlikely) that one pair could be upgraded, downgraded, offloaded or re-routed differently to the other pair for 'operational reasons'. You can ask BA to put a note on the bookings - called TCP (To Complete Party) that will note that the two bookings are linked. However, that's a manual note and does not stop them treating the two parties separately if necessary, or if done by some automatic process that doesn't read the notes.
My most immediate concern would be getting seats together (if that's what you want of course). You can look at the seat map as if you were going to pay for seat allocation, and use that to monitor the situation and decide whether you want to pay or wait until T-7 days when your Bronze status will let you both book seats for the two pairs.
Overall, I wouldn't worry too much. I have done bookings in two pairs for similar reasons and never had a problem. So no I don't think you've made a faux pas.
My most immediate concern would be getting seats together (if that's what you want of course). You can look at the seat map as if you were going to pay for seat allocation, and use that to monitor the situation and decide whether you want to pay or wait until T-7 days when your Bronze status will let you both book seats for the two pairs.
Overall, I wouldn't worry too much. I have done bookings in two pairs for similar reasons and never had a problem. So no I don't think you've made a faux pas.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:25 am
#1182
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
I have done a search and cant see this having been brought up but apologies if it has....im considering taking the recent email offer and getting one of these but in the email it says an assumed credit limit of £1200. If im using the 2-4-1 companion voucher, what if the flights i am buying are more than that and i dont have another Amex to pay the difference on. Will this make it ineligible ?
Also....if im paying say £3000 for flights on BA and want to use £1200 on the amex card and the rest on another card, is this possible to use 2.....and a further complication, is it possible that i could put 1200 on, pay it off immediately, put another 1200 on, pay it off immediately then pay the final 600 again......boosting me towards the £10k ??
Thanks in advance and apologies again if this has been answered.
Also....if im paying say £3000 for flights on BA and want to use £1200 on the amex card and the rest on another card, is this possible to use 2.....and a further complication, is it possible that i could put 1200 on, pay it off immediately, put another 1200 on, pay it off immediately then pay the final 600 again......boosting me towards the £10k ??
Thanks in advance and apologies again if this has been answered.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:30 am
#1183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,306
I have done a search and cant see this having been brought up but apologies if it has....im considering taking the recent email offer and getting one of these but in the email it says an assumed credit limit of £1200. If im using the 2-4-1 companion voucher, what if the flights i am buying are more than that and i dont have another Amex to pay the difference on. Will this make it ineligible ?
Also....if im paying say £3000 for flights on BA and want to use £1200 on the amex card and the rest on another card, is this possible to use 2.....and a further complication, is it possible that i could put 1200 on, pay it off immediately, put another 1200 on, pay it off immediately then pay the final 600 again......boosting me towards the £10k ??
Thanks in advance and apologies again if this has been answered.
Also....if im paying say £3000 for flights on BA and want to use £1200 on the amex card and the rest on another card, is this possible to use 2.....and a further complication, is it possible that i could put 1200 on, pay it off immediately, put another 1200 on, pay it off immediately then pay the final 600 again......boosting me towards the £10k ??
Thanks in advance and apologies again if this has been answered.
Jan 11, 2019, 4:09 am
#1184
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 304
I believe £1,200 is the standard credit limit used by credit card companies when illustrating the typical APR. Something to do with financial regulation, I suspect. Amex will determine a personal limit for you based on your financial circumstances. I think It is also possible to put your credit card account into credit by making an excessive debit card payment, but I suspect this may displease Amex, so wouldn't make a habit of it.
Jan 11, 2019, 4:10 am
#1185
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 100
I have done a search and cant see this having been brought up but apologies if it has....im considering taking the recent email offer and getting one of these but in the email it says an assumed credit limit of £1200. If im using the 2-4-1 companion voucher, what if the flights i am buying are more than that and i dont have another Amex to pay the difference on. Will this make it ineligible ?
I've had a fair few Amex cards over the years and never had one with a credit limit starting as low as £1,200.
EDIT - notakeenflyer beat me to it!