Upgrade using Avios
Jun 17, 2019, 7:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 66
Upgrade using Avios
Hello there,
Was wondering if some of you experts could help regarding upgrading using Avios.
In the past, I have found particularly cheap flights in WT using Google Flights (let's say £600 return for two passengers). I have used Reward Flight Finder to match up availability in WT+. However, when I have used the upgrade using Avios facility on the BA website, it charges £1200. It doesn't appear to aknowledge the cheaper flights and then perform the upgrade.
Do you need to book the flights first and then upgrade using the online system (manage your booking)? This would be more difficult for me as I would be flying first from a regional airport (I don't think you can upgrade due to this reason)?
Any help on this matter would be appreciated. It just never seems to be good value for money and I'm looking for a bit of a deal to use my 150,000 Avios.
Thank you in advance.
Was wondering if some of you experts could help regarding upgrading using Avios.
In the past, I have found particularly cheap flights in WT using Google Flights (let's say £600 return for two passengers). I have used Reward Flight Finder to match up availability in WT+. However, when I have used the upgrade using Avios facility on the BA website, it charges £1200. It doesn't appear to aknowledge the cheaper flights and then perform the upgrade.
Do you need to book the flights first and then upgrade using the online system (manage your booking)? This would be more difficult for me as I would be flying first from a regional airport (I don't think you can upgrade due to this reason)?
Any help on this matter would be appreciated. It just never seems to be good value for money and I'm looking for a bit of a deal to use my 150,000 Avios.
Thank you in advance.
Jun 17, 2019, 7:55 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
That functionality doesn't seem to work unfortunately !
To upgrade to WT+ you need to NOT be booked in fare class G, O or Q. You can see this by clicking the flight number during booking
Once booked you can in theory upgrade online but it never works for me so you'll need to call in. Do it immediately just in case the seats have gone, then you can cancel under the cooling off 24hr period if required
If it is offering a too low fare class you can check the price for N class at ITA matrix by entering f bc=N in the "extension" code boxes under advanced options
The easiest way to book then is to book it online and then call and have them correct it to N for the fare difference (within 24hrs) and they can do the upgrade
No problem leaving the regional flights in economy as flights are upgraded sector by sector
In theory you can book with a OTA in your exec club home country and have it upgraded by BA (if its cheaper) but there can be issues with the TA giving you a "private " fare so best avoided. If you are finding it cheaper you could invoke the best price guarantee
lastly, in my experience rarely is WT-WT+ good value- if at all possible go for WT+ - CW which is a much better use of avios!
To upgrade to WT+ you need to NOT be booked in fare class G, O or Q. You can see this by clicking the flight number during booking
Once booked you can in theory upgrade online but it never works for me so you'll need to call in. Do it immediately just in case the seats have gone, then you can cancel under the cooling off 24hr period if required
If it is offering a too low fare class you can check the price for N class at ITA matrix by entering f bc=N in the "extension" code boxes under advanced options
The easiest way to book then is to book it online and then call and have them correct it to N for the fare difference (within 24hrs) and they can do the upgrade
No problem leaving the regional flights in economy as flights are upgraded sector by sector
In theory you can book with a OTA in your exec club home country and have it upgraded by BA (if its cheaper) but there can be issues with the TA giving you a "private " fare so best avoided. If you are finding it cheaper you could invoke the best price guarantee
lastly, in my experience rarely is WT-WT+ good value- if at all possible go for WT+ - CW which is a much better use of avios!
Jun 17, 2019, 7:57 am
#3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
Hello there,
Was wondering if some of you experts could help regarding upgrading using Avios.
In the past, I have found particularly cheap flights in WT using Google Flights (let's say £600 return for two passengers). I have used Reward Flight Finder to match up availability in WT+. However, when I have used the upgrade using Avios facility on the BA website, it charges £1200. It doesn't appear to aknowledge the cheaper flights and then perform the upgrade.
Do you need to book the flights first and then upgrade using the online system (manage your booking)? This would be more difficult for me as I would be flying first from a regional airport (I don't think you can upgrade due to this reason)?
Any help on this matter would be appreciated. It just never seems to be good value for money and I'm looking for a bit of a deal to use my 150,000 Avios.
Thank you in advance.
Was wondering if some of you experts could help regarding upgrading using Avios.
In the past, I have found particularly cheap flights in WT using Google Flights (let's say £600 return for two passengers). I have used Reward Flight Finder to match up availability in WT+. However, when I have used the upgrade using Avios facility on the BA website, it charges £1200. It doesn't appear to aknowledge the cheaper flights and then perform the upgrade.
Do you need to book the flights first and then upgrade using the online system (manage your booking)? This would be more difficult for me as I would be flying first from a regional airport (I don't think you can upgrade due to this reason)?
Any help on this matter would be appreciated. It just never seems to be good value for money and I'm looking for a bit of a deal to use my 150,000 Avios.
Thank you in advance.
Should be no issues upgrading even with the regional airport, assuming all flights are on BA and/or the ticket is booked directly with BA?
You'll probably have to call. Upgrading using Manage My Booking has not once worked for me in about a dozen WT+ --> CW (or occasionally ET --> CE) upgrades over the past few years.
Jun 17, 2019, 7:59 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
it wouldn't even work on a simple ET-CE LHR-Istanbul recently!
Jun 17, 2019, 8:02 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Jun 17, 2019, 8:03 am
#6
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
Has to be costing them at least a bit of revenue, though. I know there have been a couple times where I wanted to upgrade ET --> CE, couldn't do it online, and figured the upgrade wasn't important enough to me to spend time on the phone so stuck with my exit row in Y. I can't be the only one...
Jun 17, 2019, 8:05 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 66
Thanks for the help guys I am going to have to delve into this a bit deeper using your suggestions.
Something that confuses me is when upgrading from WT to WT+ is that the number of Avios remains constant (as it should) but the amount you need to pay extra, is constant. Why is this? Flights on the BA website are all different prices based on the time of day, demand etc. It seems to charge you a flat fee.
Something that confuses me is when upgrading from WT to WT+ is that the number of Avios remains constant (as it should) but the amount you need to pay extra, is constant. Why is this? Flights on the BA website are all different prices based on the time of day, demand etc. It seems to charge you a flat fee.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:10 am
#8
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
Thanks for the help guys I am going to have to delve into this a bit deeper using your suggestions.
Something that confuses me is when upgrading from WT to WT+ is that the number of Avios remains constant (as it should) but the amount you need to pay extra, is constant. Why is this? Flights on the BA website are all different prices based on the time of day, demand etc. It seems to charge you a flat fee.
Something that confuses me is when upgrading from WT to WT+ is that the number of Avios remains constant (as it should) but the amount you need to pay extra, is constant. Why is this? Flights on the BA website are all different prices based on the time of day, demand etc. It seems to charge you a flat fee.
Last edited by taxicabnumber; Jun 17, 2019 at 9:01 am
Jun 17, 2019, 8:14 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LBA
Programs: KLM FB Gold, LH M&M
Posts: 454
So for Upgrade Using Avios (UUA) from WT+ to CW, you have to:
(i) Book the WT+ fare using cash
(ii) Phone up and ask how many Avios it will be for UUA from WT+ to CW. Is there a way that a customer can make a rough estimate of the likely UUA cost prior to phoning?
This sounds a very time-consuming process for both BA and the customer. Why don't they just fix the web site?
(i) Book the WT+ fare using cash
(ii) Phone up and ask how many Avios it will be for UUA from WT+ to CW. Is there a way that a customer can make a rough estimate of the likely UUA cost prior to phoning?
This sounds a very time-consuming process for both BA and the customer. Why don't they just fix the web site?
Jun 17, 2019, 8:14 am
#10
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,936
The extra TFC paid when going from WT to WT+ is the extra APD if the flight departs from the UK. Usually all other components on the TFC (including the carrier surcharge) are the same.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:37 am
#11
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,936
Yes, just price up the same booking on ba.com (or itamatrix) as a normal cash booking in WT+ and then CW. Compare the figures for taxes/fees/charges for both, the extra cash for the UuA should be more or less the same,