BA American Express 2-4-1 Voucher Discussion
Jun 24, 2019, 7:57 am
#1576
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Halfway between BHD & BFS
Programs: DC, BAEC
Posts: 38
This is possibly a (very) stupid question but which leg do you actually use the voucher on?
Assuming you have enough miles do you book the outbound as a straight 2x person redemption (not using the 2-4-1) and then use the 2-4-1 when you ring up to add the inbound? Or, use the 2-4-1 on the outbound so it is already applied to the booking when you phone up for the inbounds?
Assuming you have enough miles do you book the outbound as a straight 2x person redemption (not using the 2-4-1) and then use the 2-4-1 when you ring up to add the inbound? Or, use the 2-4-1 on the outbound so it is already applied to the booking when you phone up for the inbounds?
Jun 24, 2019, 8:02 am
#1577
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sheffield, UK
Programs: BA, Emirates, IHG, Accor, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 637
This is possibly a (very) stupid question but which leg do you actually use the voucher on?
Assuming you have enough miles do you book the outbound as a straight 2x person redemption (not using the 2-4-1) and then use the 2-4-1 when you ring up to add the inbound? Or, use the 2-4-1 on the outbound so it is already applied to the booking when you phone up for the inbounds?
Assuming you have enough miles do you book the outbound as a straight 2x person redemption (not using the 2-4-1) and then use the 2-4-1 when you ring up to add the inbound? Or, use the 2-4-1 on the outbound so it is already applied to the booking when you phone up for the inbounds?
Also the flight must originate for the UK, so you could not use for an inbound on it's own.+
Jun 24, 2019, 8:09 am
#1578
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Halfway between BHD & BFS
Programs: DC, BAEC
Posts: 38
Thanks parklife!
Of course that makes sense, as you rightly point out the outbound will not be able to be 'converted' to a 2-4-1 redemption.
Sometimes you can over-think these things!
Of course that makes sense, as you rightly point out the outbound will not be able to be 'converted' to a 2-4-1 redemption.
Sometimes you can over-think these things!
Jun 24, 2019, 8:11 am
#1579
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: England
Programs: BAEC Gold, UA Mileage Plus, Hotels.com Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Pizza Express Gold
Posts: 600
As I wrote this, I checked again and managed to book our outbound to Tokyo in F on the 17th March and return from Shanghai in F on the 1st April, so still should get to see the cherry blossoms (fingers crossed). Good to hear some of the experiences, as it sounds like availability is unlikely to open up for the exact dates I want - luckily I managed to find a route available on alternative dates!
Cherry blossom season will vary year to year, but when I went we were a week later than you and the cherry blossom was only properly out in Tokyo by the end of our trip. If cherry blossom is a priority then you should aim to go further south in Japan during your trip, where the blossom should be out earlier.
Jun 24, 2019, 9:55 am
#1580
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 47
How are people upgrading to the platinum plus? I've just called Amex and was told I can't upgrade the standard BA card and would have to apply for the platinum plus online. But if I do this my current spend won't carry over.
Jun 24, 2019, 10:00 am
#1581
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
The BA premium plus is probably what you want. To upgrade from the standard BA card you do have to submit a new application, but any spend towards a 241 should carry over to the new card if you are approved.
Jun 24, 2019, 10:03 am
#1582
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 47
Platinum is a totally different card and nothing to do with BA.
The BA premium plus is probably what you want. To upgrade from the standard BA card you do have to submit a new application, but any spend towards a 241 should carry over to the new card if you are approved.
Jun 24, 2019, 10:06 am
#1583
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
Yes I think you can only apply online but you won’t end up with both and your spend should carry over. Worked for me.
Jun 25, 2019, 11:22 am
#1584
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23
That's a pretty good result - I think it's pretty easy to get from Japan to Shanghai, and you shouldn't need a visa if you want to stop there for a day or two.
Cherry blossom season will vary year to year, but when I went we were a week later than you and the cherry blossom was only properly out in Tokyo by the end of our trip. If cherry blossom is a priority then you should aim to go further south in Japan during your trip, where the blossom should be out earlier.
Cherry blossom season will vary year to year, but when I went we were a week later than you and the cherry blossom was only properly out in Tokyo by the end of our trip. If cherry blossom is a priority then you should aim to go further south in Japan during your trip, where the blossom should be out earlier.
Having checked the cherry blossom forecasts fastidiously, I believe they've been blooming a bit earlier in recent years (probably down to global warming). For example, this year they started opening in Tokyo on March 21st and were in full bloom by 27th March. In 2018 they fully bloomed by 26th March, so if 2020 follows suit, we should be lucky enough to catch the full bloom by the end of our trip
Jun 25, 2019, 12:10 pm
#1585
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
Jun 27, 2019, 3:02 am
#1586
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 243
2-4-1 Voucher for UK to HKG booking - Taxes
I am planning a trip to Hong Kong for January 2020 using an Amex 2-4-1 voucher.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
Jun 27, 2019, 3:04 am
#1587
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
I am planning a trip to Hong Kong for January 2020 using an Amex 2-4-1 voucher.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
Jun 27, 2019, 4:47 am
#1588
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: England
Programs: BAEC Gold, UA Mileage Plus, Hotels.com Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Pizza Express Gold
Posts: 600
I am planning a trip to Hong Kong for January 2020 using an Amex 2-4-1 voucher.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
If booking a return Inverness (INV) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Heathrow (LHR) in Club the taxes quoted are £435.88 pp.
If booking the outbound and return separately the taxes quoted are £250.18 pp and £35.12 pp – total £285.40 pp. A saving of over £140 pp.
From what I read in this thread, am I correct in thinking that I can book the outbound first and book a return later and then ask for the return to be linked to the outbound to take full advantage of the voucher for both legs? If so, does this save on the taxes or do they recalculate them?
This process seems too good to be true (so probably isn’t) and I appreciate that HKG is an extreme case because of the low taxes. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
Jun 30, 2019, 2:52 pm
#1589
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: On the underground
Programs: BMI Dimond club, BA Executive Club
Posts: 462
Looking for some advice,
My wife has gone and got herself knocked up.
We were due to go to Asia at the end of the year but now it means we won't be able to travel.
Great news is we can cancel, What would the 2 4 1 voucher expire date come back as? I'm guessing it comes back with the original date?
My wife has gone and got herself knocked up.
We were due to go to Asia at the end of the year but now it means we won't be able to travel. Great news is we can cancel, What would the 2 4 1 voucher expire date come back as? I'm guessing it comes back with the original date?
Jun 30, 2019, 2:55 pm
#1590
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
Looking for some advice,
My wife has gone and got herself knocked up. We were due to go to Asia at the end of the year but now it means we won't be able to travel.
Great news is we can cancel, What would the 2 4 1 voucher expire date come back as? I'm guessing it comes back with the original date?
My wife has gone and got herself knocked up.
We were due to go to Asia at the end of the year but now it means we won't be able to travel.Great news is we can cancel, What would the 2 4 1 voucher expire date come back as? I'm guessing it comes back with the original date?
