Your guide to spending Avios | 2019 edition
May 30, 2019, 3:14 am
#241
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
I wouldn't hold your breath. Problems caused by married sector logic and/or phantom availability, or reservation requests that won't confirm for some other reason, are pretty common on airline websites and reservation systems. There's nothing unusual about the situation you encountered.
May 30, 2019, 4:17 am
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
In an ideal world, it shouldn't happen. But the real world is what it is, and that may have an effect on whether the BBB or any other regulator is likely to get you any satisfaction.
May 30, 2019, 8:25 am
#243
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
Whilst I agree because I've had issues like that before, it doesn't mean that we should put up with it. If I transferred a load of points from one program to another which I don't really care about, only to find out that it was phantom availability, I'd be royally p'd off.
a few years ago I had Hyatt points. I was trying to book Paris Vendome. I forget the exact details but if X room
type was available to purchase with cash, then you could also use points. Well, it wouldn’t work. I called various times and no one could book it. They said it was blocked out. (It was fashion week, but still, the rules state if x room cash was available, points can be used).
filed BBB complaint. I actually got a response within a few days and a phone call from someone in power at Hyatt relations. She was able to book me using the points. So yes, it is possible that a BBB complaint will get you somewhere.
May 30, 2019, 7:26 pm
#244
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
Neither there are any MH seats anywhere. Think it’s the usual BA tactics in withholding award seats till the new charts come out.
May 31, 2019, 7:44 am
#245
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
is there a rule of thumb on how many days/weeks/months there can be between segments on an itinerary? brazil bans carrier-imposed surcharges, so if i intend to fly GRU-JFK on AA, could i use that to my advantage and tack on flights i intend to take later such as JFK-LHR on BA/AA without any surcharges? it is my understanding that any itinerary that begins in brazil does not have surcharges, so maybe i could fly GRU-JFK and JFK-LHR days/weeks(?)/months(?) later without any surcharges. if this is possible, what are the downsides?
Jun 3, 2019, 1:21 pm
#246
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY, NY
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K
Posts: 124
Avios upgrade on BA metal/AA codeshare
Apologies if this has been asked already in the thread, but couldn't find a similar query. I'm not that familiar with BAEC, so didn't 100% follow the guide up top. I have an upcoming trip later this year that I booked through AA...two of the legs are on BA metal, the first is EWR-LHR on a BA 777 but is booked as an AA codeshare. I have a BA record locator and can pull up the reservation on the BA website. When I click "upgrade with Avios" I'm told I can't do this online. My question is...in theory should I be able to upgrade this ticket (CW to first) with Avios, or does the AA codeshare (or something else) kill its upgradability? If it's upgradeable, should I call BA to do so, or is there another way I should go about it? Thanks!
Jun 3, 2019, 1:26 pm
#247
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,977
Apologies if this has been asked already in the thread, but couldn't find a similar query. I'm not that familiar with BAEC, so didn't 100% follow the guide up top. I have an upcoming trip later this year that I booked through AA...two of the legs are on BA metal, the first is EWR-LHR on a BA 777 but is booked as an AA codeshare. I have a BA record locator and can pull up the reservation on the BA website. When I click "upgrade with Avios" I'm told I can't do this online. My question is...in theory should I be able to upgrade this ticket (CW to first) with Avios, or does the AA codeshare (or something else) kill its upgradability? If it's upgradeable, should I call BA to do so, or is there another way I should go about it? Thanks!
have a look at post 6 of the TP time thread where there is a summary of what can and can’t be upgraded with avios.
Jun 3, 2019, 1:37 pm
#248
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Avios
Posts: 2
anybody canceled a flight bought in promotion last year for 50% avios? it shows me a 100% refund of avios; they correct it?
Jun 4, 2019, 6:40 am
#249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,130
I've always been refunded the actual amount paid (as expected).
Jun 9, 2019, 8:03 pm
#250
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
update on my EWR to RNO dilemma. No word back yet from BA or the BBB ( besides complaint submitted ).
that said, I randomly have been checking AA.com for a 25k option for the EWR-DFW-RNO route to no avail. This morning I got an email on my previously booked tickets (separate itineraries, EWR-DFW, then DFW-RNO) that the EWR-DFW flight changed times from 515am to 509am. Randomly thinking about the flight time change and decided to see if milesAAver was available on AA.com and sure enough it popped up! Of course with the Avios increases I was slightly short (needed 7400 more Avios) to book the new 44k Avios fare.
I reluctantly transferred 6k UR points (1:1.3 ratio still). Checked out thru BA.com and bingo! got a confirmation for EWR to RNO for 44k Avios + $5.60. Pasted the conf number into AA.com and chose my seats. I will call AA shortly to have them add my AA mileage number to the reservation so I can see it in my app.
Ended up costing me more points than originally advertised plus an extra $5.60 (due to the separate itinerary tickets), but I still was able to save UR points than what it would've costed via United. Spent 68k UR points and $16.80 versus the 100k UR and $11.20 that it would've costed for a similar United flight.
that said, I randomly have been checking AA.com for a 25k option for the EWR-DFW-RNO route to no avail. This morning I got an email on my previously booked tickets (separate itineraries, EWR-DFW, then DFW-RNO) that the EWR-DFW flight changed times from 515am to 509am. Randomly thinking about the flight time change and decided to see if milesAAver was available on AA.com and sure enough it popped up! Of course with the Avios increases I was slightly short (needed 7400 more Avios) to book the new 44k Avios fare.
I reluctantly transferred 6k UR points (1:1.3 ratio still). Checked out thru BA.com and bingo! got a confirmation for EWR to RNO for 44k Avios + $5.60. Pasted the conf number into AA.com and chose my seats. I will call AA shortly to have them add my AA mileage number to the reservation so I can see it in my app.
Ended up costing me more points than originally advertised plus an extra $5.60 (due to the separate itinerary tickets), but I still was able to save UR points than what it would've costed via United. Spent 68k UR points and $16.80 versus the 100k UR and $11.20 that it would've costed for a similar United flight.
Last edited by alanisrox69; Jun 9, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Jun 14, 2019, 2:17 pm
#251
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
I got a response from my BBB complaint. BA credited my Avios account with 8k Avios which was the difference in the ultimately booked trip vs the 'originally advertised' trip. (88k vs 80k).
I did email them back and asked about the additional $5.60 ticket cost. hey, it's worth a shot!
I did email them back and asked about the additional $5.60 ticket cost. hey, it's worth a shot!
Jun 17, 2019, 8:21 am
#252
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
Does it make a difference with regard to seat selection whether you book with Avios or cash? I'm oneworld Ruby and flying international longhaul business GRU-LHR with Avios and it won't let me choose a seat. Surprised by that. You would think any elite member flying longhaul business with miles would be able to choose a seat.... is it any different with cash?
Jun 17, 2019, 8:22 am
#253
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,977
Does it make a difference with regard to seat selection whether you book with Avios or cash? I'm oneworld Ruby and flying international longhaul business GRU-LHR with Avios and it won't let me choose a seat. Surprised by that. You would think any elite member flying longhaul business with miles would be able to choose a seat.... is it any different with cash?
Jun 17, 2019, 8:30 am
#254
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
Yes, but flight not until January. After some research I now see that this is normal for BA but a common point of confusion/disappointment for oneworld people who don't fly BA metal often. Not many airlines charge for seat selection in business class, or elite members, and particularly elite members flying business class. I think the only time seat selection differs on Avios vs cash is the question of 'basic economy/hand baggage only' fares - Avios are, for now, never 'basic economy' fares.
Jun 18, 2019, 4:51 am
#255
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,357
I’m sure this has been asked ad nauseum but I can’t find the answer.
Im looking at flights from LHR-SFO/SJC for May next year. They’re currently around 1700 direct in Club World. But I want to add on a couple of nights hotel so I only have to put down a deposit.
According to BA.com there are reward seats in F around the dates I’m looking at but how do I know what business fare class it’ll book into on BA hols & if the flights can be upgraded to F?
Thanks
Im looking at flights from LHR-SFO/SJC for May next year. They’re currently around 1700 direct in Club World. But I want to add on a couple of nights hotel so I only have to put down a deposit.
According to BA.com there are reward seats in F around the dates I’m looking at but how do I know what business fare class it’ll book into on BA hols & if the flights can be upgraded to F?
Thanks