So frustrated with BA
Jun 18, 2019, 2:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 19
So frustrated with BA
Amazing BA availability
I have 500,000 AVIOS points but for the last 2 years I have not been able to spend them.
The issue is always the same:
BA will let you go anywhere in the world using AVIOS points...they just won't let you come back home.
The outbound flights are always "available"..but the inbound flights are "NO AVAILABILITY"
Does BA want you to fly to Europe and swim back?
I have tried 5,6,9,11 months in advance, the story is always the same. Of course, this is if you can successfully navigate the BA booking website.
It is frequently non-functional. In addition, there is some bug where it constantly asks you if you want to STOPOVER in London.
No I don;t want to stop over. No matter. The website will ask you again and again and again, until you go away and give up.
Does anyone have any tips for me.
AT this point I don't really care where I go: send me anywhere from the EAST COAST of the US to ANYWHERE.
Please don't tell me that the only flight BA has is one Premium economy seat to London, but only if you leave in 2 hrs.
Last edited by nrs250; Jun 18, 2019 at 2:12 pm Reason: Adding image
Jun 18, 2019, 2:12 pm
#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: 63,804
The thing that may well be holding you up is that the website isn't great with connections, particularly if you need 3 flights to get somewhere. But give us a few more clues and I'll certainly have a look for you.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:20 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 19
I don't care at this point:
I have 500K BA points that I cannot spend to go anywhere because of these little loopholes in BA rules.
They should introduce an option to fly passengers in FREIGHT class to Europe (bonus...lots of inbound availability if you want to fly cargo)
PICK a US city...pick any other city on planet EARTH.
4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 11 months.
I guarantee that BA will show you seats on the outbound and NONE on the inbound. I'm beginning to think BA takes people to Europe only if you want to move there (and I'm only half kidding). Also BA give you no choice....YOU MUST FLY TO HEATHROW, its a religious shrine for this airline so the "connection" issue is moot.
5-6 years ago I could get a flight (IAD, JFK, MIA to Europe and back, those days are gone). Why is the outbound available always and the INBOUND return always impossible.
I have 500K BA points that I cannot spend to go anywhere because of these little loopholes in BA rules.
They should introduce an option to fly passengers in FREIGHT class to Europe (bonus...lots of inbound availability if you want to fly cargo)
PICK a US city...pick any other city on planet EARTH.
4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 11 months.
I guarantee that BA will show you seats on the outbound and NONE on the inbound. I'm beginning to think BA takes people to Europe only if you want to move there (and I'm only half kidding). Also BA give you no choice....YOU MUST FLY TO HEATHROW, its a religious shrine for this airline so the "connection" issue is moot.
5-6 years ago I could get a flight (IAD, JFK, MIA to Europe and back, those days are gone). Why is the outbound available always and the INBOUND return always impossible.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:20 pm
#5
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: 63,804
Thanks for the screen shot.
There is actually availability almost every day in December and January between Washington and London, not immediately around Christmas and New Year. Paris also has lots of options.
Have a look for WAS to LON first, find some options. Then check LON to CDG separately and see what works best. Then call BA to get it all on one booking.
If you want to save a bit of time, use rewardflightfinder.com, it takes you to the options more quickly, then go to BA.com. Search using WAS/LON/PAR rather than airport codes.
There is actually availability almost every day in December and January between Washington and London, not immediately around Christmas and New Year. Paris also has lots of options.
Have a look for WAS to LON first, find some options. Then check LON to CDG separately and see what works best. Then call BA to get it all on one booking.
If you want to save a bit of time, use rewardflightfinder.com, it takes you to the options more quickly, then go to BA.com. Search using WAS/LON/PAR rather than airport codes.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:34 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
I picked a random date (4 Jan) and can see 3 flights from London to NYC showing anywhere between 1 and 9 Club seats, along with F available and buckets of PE.
BA reward availability can be painful sometimes but the miles aren’t as difficult to use as you state.
BA reward availability can be painful sometimes but the miles aren’t as difficult to use as you state.
Last edited by Swanhunter; Jun 18, 2019 at 2:41 pm
Jun 18, 2019, 2:35 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,585
How about a week in Bermuda in August? The aa.com website is showing MileSAAver Coach availability on its nonstops PHL-BDA-PHL for 8/13-8/20. Those flights should be available for just 18,000 Avios roundtrip. How about Japan on JAL? Or Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific?
For North America to Europe, Iberia can be another option with your Avios. And if you transfer your BAEC Avios to Iberia Plus, you will pay much lower surcharges for IB flights than if you redeemed BAEC Avios for them.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BD Gold, BAEC Gold, Hilton HHonors
Posts: 869
OP you'll be a lot less frustrated with BA's website if you search by individual segment, as per @corporate-wage-slave - and consider an overnight layover in London in one direction if it will line up the flights better for you (eg late incoming flight to LHR then early outgoing TATL the following morning etc). Good luck!
Jun 18, 2019, 2:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 44
Step 1: sign up to https://rewardflightfinder.com/
Step 2: set up some alerts for routes you’d like to fly
Step 3: look out for said alerts and book them when availability appears
I was a bit like you a few years ago, seemed to be nigh on impossible to redeem miles. But with the above site I’m always able to get the return flights I need in pretty much any class, it’s just a waiting game. Being flexible on dates by a few days also helps.
Step 2: set up some alerts for routes you’d like to fly
Step 3: look out for said alerts and book them when availability appears
I was a bit like you a few years ago, seemed to be nigh on impossible to redeem miles. But with the above site I’m always able to get the return flights I need in pretty much any class, it’s just a waiting game. Being flexible on dates by a few days also helps.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
I fail to see the problem. Random dates picked 20DEC IAD-LHR and returning 10JAN LHR-IAD reveal availability in Economy, Premium Economy and Business
So forgive me but I'm failing to understand your inability to make a successful search. You've been advised to check availability for each leg if travelling beyond London. That means Washington to London then again London to XXX. And again for the return sectors back to Washington. Have you actually done this yet?
Once you've found availability call BA and have them build your redemption booking for you.
People are trying to help you but getting antsy at the people who are trying to help isn't really the most practical thing you can do to help yourself.
Jun 18, 2019, 3:16 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,585
The OP might also consider doing his initial award search at aa.com, which is capable of displaying award-seat availability on AA, AY, BA, and IB (among others). It is better than ba.com at displaying connecting award flights.
Any AY, BA, or IB award flights displayed on aa.com should be bookable with Avios. With AA now moving to dynamic-award pricing for AA flights at the MileSAAver level, I'm not sure if all AA MileSAAver award flights will continue to be available with Avios.
Any AY, BA, or IB award flights displayed on aa.com should be bookable with Avios. With AA now moving to dynamic-award pricing for AA flights at the MileSAAver level, I'm not sure if all AA MileSAAver award flights will continue to be available with Avios.
Jun 18, 2019, 3:41 pm
#15
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
I dread to think what you'll think of the taxes/surcharges when you do eventually find availability
