A little help using ba avios
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA executive club, AAdvantage
Posts: 44
A little help using ba avios
So I’m looking at business class flights using ba avios btwn lax to Rabat one way - ba site has 18 Jan 2020 lax - lhr ba 0282 arrival on 19 jan then from Lgw - Rabat 2666. Not even close to sure how to make that connection btwn airports w/ luggage etc.
however, on 19 Jan 2020, American Airlines shows choice of lax -ord 1598 (AA), ord-mad IB6274,mad-raK IB3340 .... as a business saver 75k
the american, Iberia is my preference.,, can I call ba and ask them to book the american/Iberia flights with avios points?
I am always confused on this ability to use other one world sites for award avail for avios.
sorry in advance if this is stupid question. I’m not a frequent international traveler, but have gotten some really nice award seats , mostly through American airlines, but with credit card bonuses now have a bunch of BA avios and trying to maximize.
thanks for any guidance.
however, on 19 Jan 2020, American Airlines shows choice of lax -ord 1598 (AA), ord-mad IB6274,mad-raK IB3340 .... as a business saver 75k
the american, Iberia is my preference.,, can I call ba and ask them to book the american/Iberia flights with avios points?
I am always confused on this ability to use other one world sites for award avail for avios.
sorry in advance if this is stupid question. I’m not a frequent international traveler, but have gotten some really nice award seats , mostly through American airlines, but with credit card bonuses now have a bunch of BA avios and trying to maximize.
thanks for any guidance.
Last edited by happytravelskh; Jun 5, 2019 at 12:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,032
BA thread-->Heathrow to Gatwick transport options: a pictorial guide
So a good reason to go with IB, if other considerations are the same
Using BA avios you book via the BA web site or phone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabat%...%C3%A9_Airport
Great Circle Mapper
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA executive club, AAdvantage
Posts: 44
Thanks for quick reply... I couldn’t get the IB choice on the BA website. It was on the American Airlines website. Does that mean I call BA and let them know there is this one world availability business reward on American Airlines site for AA/IB but not on BA website and I’d like to book using avios? Is the mileage/ avios points (and fees) used the same as those listed on the american site (75k miles on american)? Likely not on BA site bc not direct flights.
This is what I’m confused about, having only read about this, never having done it.
Not sure if I’m asking the right question.
This is what I’m confused about, having only read about this, never having done it.
Not sure if I’m asking the right question.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
Thanks for quick reply... I couldn’t get the IB choice on the BA website. It was on the American Airlines website. Does that mean I call BA and let them know there is this one world availability business reward on American Airlines site for AA/IB but not on BA website and I’d like to book using avios? Is the mileage/ avios points (and fees) used the same as those listed on the american site (75k miles on american)? Likely not on BA site bc not direct flights.
This is what I’m confused about, having only read about this, never having done it.
Not sure if I’m asking the right question.
This is what I’m confused about, having only read about this, never having done it.
Not sure if I’m asking the right question.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
Taxes and surcharges are almost certainly higher on BA - they are regularly pilloried around here for their high surcharges, and unfortunately they also actually charge them on some other airlines which would otherwise waive/lower them for award travel. You should be able to estimate this if you can price a cash ticket on ITA Matrix - then just subtract the actual fare.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Not here; there!
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No, BA charges by segment - so add up the miles cost of LAX-ORD, ORD-MAD and MAD-RAK [which brings me to the fact that you said you want to go to Rabat but you're using the code for Marrakech...?].
Taxes and surcharges are almost certainly higher on BA - they are regularly pilloried around here for their high surcharges, and unfortunately they also actually charge them on some other airlines which would otherwise waive/lower them for award travel. You should be able to estimate this if you can price a cash ticket on ITA Matrix - then just subtract the actual fare.
Taxes and surcharges are almost certainly higher on BA - they are regularly pilloried around here for their high surcharges, and unfortunately they also actually charge them on some other airlines which would otherwise waive/lower them for award travel. You should be able to estimate this if you can price a cash ticket on ITA Matrix - then just subtract the actual fare.
If the OP has an IB Plus account that has been open for at least 90 days and has at least one earned Avios, then he should be able to transfer Avios from BAEC to IB Plus, and vice versa.
The OP might book the AA segment with BA Avios, and the IB segments with IB Plus Avios. If there will be checked baggage, the OP would have to claim them at ORD, and re-check them with IB, as AA policy is not to through-check bags on separate tickets.
#8
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https://www.britishairways.com/trave...e/public/en_us
(120K BA Avios + carrier charges and taxes for the OP's proposed itinerary in Business Class.)
#10
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
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Not on an award itinerary involving two or more BA partners. For that, BA's multi-partner award chart would kick in:
https://www.britishairways.com/trave...e/public/en_us
(120K BA Avios + carrier charges and taxes for the OP's proposed itinerary in Business Class.)
https://www.britishairways.com/trave...e/public/en_us
(120K BA Avios + carrier charges and taxes for the OP's proposed itinerary in Business Class.)
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA executive club, AAdvantage
Posts: 44
I screwed up in saying Rabat... Marrakech was what I was looking at. Couldn’t find flights into Casablanca, but maybe not looking at correct way. I usually look at a lot of these flights one way bc often more flexibility and less miles, but it seems in this case, you all seem to be saying i would do better roundtrip? Lax-rak? 19 Jan - 1 feb?
#12
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
I screwed up in saying Rabat... Marrakech was what I was looking at. Couldn’t find flights into Casablanca, but maybe not looking at correct way. I usually look at a lot of these flights one way bc often more flexibility and less miles, but it seems in this case, you all seem to be saying i would do better roundtrip? Lax-rak? 19 Jan - 1 feb?
In your particular case the is ~6,600 miles which is not close to one of the bands. You would pay for 9,000 miles of flying [120k Avios] - so you could add any extra flights [up to 8 total] totalling 2,300 miles or so and pay just the extra taxes/fees/surcharges. On the other hand, just turning round and doing the return is in the 14,000 mile band - so would only cost 180k Avios.
I suggest having a good read of that thread before proceeding.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA executive club, AAdvantage
Posts: 44
Ok... did a little more flight research using qantas and changed dates a little - and found following flights that are ba/Ib combo, so only one partner... used reward flight calculator as much as I could on ba site to convert to avios. Little glitch trying to find the 3 segments bc site kept saying nothing btwn lhr/Rak.
here’s what I found RT
12 feb 20: AA 2431 lax-ord, ba294 ord-lhr, ba 668 lhr-rak. This would be an off-peak day... would it still be 79.5k avios and $687 taxes fees
25 feb 20: Ib 3340 rak-mad, ib 3170 mad-lhr 26 feb, ba 281 lhr -lax; Off- peak day again so looking like 79.5 k avios with lesser fees at $353.
have I done this correctly?
thanks again for double checking my searches
here’s what I found RT
12 feb 20: AA 2431 lax-ord, ba294 ord-lhr, ba 668 lhr-rak. This would be an off-peak day... would it still be 79.5k avios and $687 taxes fees
25 feb 20: Ib 3340 rak-mad, ib 3170 mad-lhr 26 feb, ba 281 lhr -lax; Off- peak day again so looking like 79.5 k avios with lesser fees at $353.
have I done this correctly?
thanks again for double checking my searches
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,604
Ok... did a little more flight research using qantas and changed dates a little - and found following flights that are ba/Ib combo, so only one partner... used reward flight calculator as much as I could on ba site to convert to avios. Little glitch trying to find the 3 segments bc site kept saying nothing btwn lhr/Rak.
here’s what I found RT
12 feb 20: AA 2431 lax-ord, ba294 ord-lhr, ba 668 lhr-rak. This would be an off-peak day... would it still be 79.5k avios and $687 taxes fees
25 feb 20: Ib 3340 rak-mad, ib 3170 mad-lhr 26 feb, ba 281 lhr -lax; Off- peak day again so looking like 79.5 k avios with lesser fees at $353.
have I done this correctly?
thanks again for double checking my searches
here’s what I found RT
12 feb 20: AA 2431 lax-ord, ba294 ord-lhr, ba 668 lhr-rak. This would be an off-peak day... would it still be 79.5k avios and $687 taxes fees
25 feb 20: Ib 3340 rak-mad, ib 3170 mad-lhr 26 feb, ba 281 lhr -lax; Off- peak day again so looking like 79.5 k avios with lesser fees at $353.
have I done this correctly?
thanks again for double checking my searches