Your guide to spending Avios | 2019 edition
May 16, 2019, 2:56 am
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Apologies for cutting in here. Please can someone correct me if I'm wrong with regards to avios upgrades:
- I check that there is reward availability on the days I wish to travel
- If yes, I then purchase my flight on BA.com in the cabin below the one I wish to travel in
- Then I upgrade using my avios (online?)
However, if you do this, then I would advise that before you book, you price a straight (non-upgrade) cash fare in the cabin for which you wish to pay (the lower cabin). Only then use the Book and upgrade function. If that throws up a fare that is substantially more than the cash fare you first got, then you have hit a known bug and you shouldn't proceed further with this method.
May 22, 2019, 12:42 pm
#198
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, BA Silver
Posts: 260
JER-LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł249
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
May 22, 2019, 12:48 pm
#199
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
JER-LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł249
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
May 22, 2019, 2:00 pm
#200
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,921
JER-LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł249
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
LGW-TPA one-way in CW has taxes of Ł414
On attempting to book an award by phone for JER-LGW-TPA where JER-LGW is only available as WT but LGW-TPA is as available as CW, they told me that the total taxes would be Ł420 - is that right? Thanks
May 27, 2019, 7:02 pm
#201
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
I also tried paying by PayPal too, just in case. Same 'sorry' error.
Of course, the call center is also closed today (Holiday) and I transferred 62k UR Chase points for this! I HOPE the flight doesn't sell out, or isn't available for some reason. I only transferred them due to the 30% Avios bonus with UR transfers and I triple checked the flight availability before transferring! Now I transferred,, go thru checkout and get "Sorry, we have been unable to complete your transaction at this time." Call center reopens at 730am tomorrow. I HOPE they can purchase this flight for me or I'm out 62k UR points
May 28, 2019, 6:03 am
#202
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
Complete scam.
I should've known something was up when UR was offering 30% Avios bonus. They don't just do that.
I called and was told that even tho the website is showing availability, it's not actual availability.what does that even mean? Executive Club not really helpful, they can't give me back my UR points or book the flight.
Now, I can't even book with United (My original plan) since my points are with BA. SCAM SCAM SCAM.
Submitting a BBB complaint, we'll see if they do anything, doubt it.
I should've known something was up when UR was offering 30% Avios bonus. They don't just do that.
I called and was told that even tho the website is showing availability, it's not actual availability.what does that even mean? Executive Club not really helpful, they can't give me back my UR points or book the flight.
Now, I can't even book with United (My original plan) since my points are with BA. SCAM SCAM SCAM.
Submitting a BBB complaint, we'll see if they do anything, doubt it.
May 28, 2019, 6:18 am
#203
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
Complete scam.
I should've known something was up when UR was offering 30% Avios bonus. They don't just do that.
I called and was told that even tho the website is showing availability, it's not actual availability.what does that even mean? Executive Club not really helpful, they can't give me back my UR points or book the flight.
Now, I can't even book with United (My original plan) since my points are with BA. SCAM SCAM SCAM.
Submitting a BBB complaint, we'll see if they do anything, doubt it.
I should've known something was up when UR was offering 30% Avios bonus. They don't just do that.
I called and was told that even tho the website is showing availability, it's not actual availability.what does that even mean? Executive Club not really helpful, they can't give me back my UR points or book the flight.
Now, I can't even book with United (My original plan) since my points are with BA. SCAM SCAM SCAM.
Submitting a BBB complaint, we'll see if they do anything, doubt it.
May 28, 2019, 6:52 am
#204
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
yes, BA.com is showing reward availability.
9/26/19 EWR to RENO, 2 pax, first class.
once going thru checkout and entering credit card info for the $11.20, I get: "Sorry, we have been unable to complete your transaction at this time." I just called BA and they're saying the site is incorrectly showing availability. complete scam.
9/26/19 EWR to RENO, 2 pax, first class.
once going thru checkout and entering credit card info for the $11.20, I get: "Sorry, we have been unable to complete your transaction at this time." I just called BA and they're saying the site is incorrectly showing availability. complete scam.
May 28, 2019, 6:56 am
#205
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
Have you cross checked with what aa.com is showing?
May 28, 2019, 7:06 am
#206
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
AA.com shows paid and 45k mile seats available.
May 28, 2019, 7:09 am
#207
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
what type of reward does it show? Does it show milessaaver availability? If so it should be bookable. Unfortunately if it’s not working online you will just have to call to do it.
btw paid seating availability is not relevant.
btw paid seating availability is not relevant.
May 28, 2019, 7:20 am
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
The problem here is that AA is using married sector availability. From what I can see, EWR-DFW booked on its own has 2 saver seats available, and DFW-RNO booked on its own has 3 saver seats. If you ask AA for EWR-DFW-RNO, there is no availability. That is probably why AA refuses to confirm your reservation, even though it's showing BA that there are available seats at that price level.
The AA website itself says that there are no available seats at the required price level.
May 28, 2019, 7:43 am
#209
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
If I book the first segment with Avios, EWR to DFW, and then the 2nd segment either with cash or Avios, can AA merge the reservation together so I don’t need to check in again for the 2nd leg?
May 28, 2019, 7:46 am
#210
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
this question isn't really specific to BA i guess, but how are flight cancellations handled when you book with Avios for a flight on a partner airline like AA?
ORD-LGA nonstop in business class (15k Avios) was cancelled due to weather. they wanted to put me on an economy flight the next day. Would I contact BA and get a refund of the Avios difference? or is it a "tough luck" situation? or does the operating airline provide compensation?
ORD-LGA nonstop in business class (15k Avios) was cancelled due to weather. they wanted to put me on an economy flight the next day. Would I contact BA and get a refund of the Avios difference? or is it a "tough luck" situation? or does the operating airline provide compensation?