Avios upgrade
Jan 11, 2019, 7:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, Hilton
Posts: 159
Avios upgrade
Hello,
I went through the avios program wiki. But I am still not clear if I have the answers.
I am planning to take my family from NA to Spain. Both my wife and I are AA gold and would like to continue to credit BA, IB and AA flights to AA. But I also find there might be upgrade space from PE to Business in BA segments. Can we buy the PE fare through BA site and upgrade to Business with Avios points while still credit the trip to AA?
I went through the avios program wiki. But I am still not clear if I have the answers.
I am planning to take my family from NA to Spain. Both my wife and I are AA gold and would like to continue to credit BA, IB and AA flights to AA. But I also find there might be upgrade space from PE to Business in BA segments. Can we buy the PE fare through BA site and upgrade to Business with Avios points while still credit the trip to AA?
Jan 11, 2019, 8:00 am
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
Yes, you can, it's a bit finicky but it is possible to do this, essentially along the lines your post implies. The best bet is to book via BA.com and try to do it all online, but check the details to make sure it is charging the correct amount. You do this under your BAEC account to begin with. When the reservation and UuA is all in place and the booking looks fully ok you then use Finnair.com - or ring up BA - to swap the booking's frequent flyer number to AA. The booking will then credit at the World Traveller Plus level to AA in the usual way. I would double check at the airport(s) that only your AA frequent flyer code is in the booking.
Jan 11, 2019, 7:48 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, Hilton
Posts: 159
Yes, you can, it's a bit finicky but it is possible to do this, essentially along the lines your post implies. The best bet is to book via BA.com and try to do it all online, but check the details to make sure it is charging the correct amount. You do this under your BAEC account to begin with. When the reservation and UuA is all in place and the booking looks fully ok you then use Finnair.com - or ring up BA - to swap the booking's frequent flyer number to AA. The booking will then credit at the World Traveller Plus level to AA in the usual way. I would double check at the airport(s) that only your AA frequent flyer code is in the booking.
Jan 11, 2019, 10:31 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
I echo the good advice you have been given and would add that, with the occasional exception, I've found calling BA to change FFP a pretty straightforward process.