Avios reward search on BA app has 1 week minimum lead time
Jul 21, 2020, 12:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
Avios reward search on BA app has 1 week minimum lead time
I've been using BA app and I have over 300k avios to travel in the USA usually on American Airlines. The past year all searches would reveal reward flights through the app only 1 week in advance even though there were plenty of flights available during that week. This never happened 1 year ago I could book same day reward flights. Now with reduced phone hours and massive wait times has anyone found a way around this limitation?
Jul 21, 2020, 12:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Gold at BA, Hilton and Radisson.
Posts: 591
Can you use the website?
Can't see any issue there looking at Boston as an example this week. Availability on BA is there.
Possible due to the worldwide events availability just is not the same as 1 year ago.
Also(!!!) Where in the US costs 300,000 Avios?
Can't see any issue there looking at Boston as an example this week. Availability on BA is there.
Possible due to the worldwide events availability just is not the same as 1 year ago.
Also(!!!) Where in the US costs 300,000 Avios?
Jul 21, 2020, 1:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
i have done multiple searches, one way vs round trip, NY to Boston, ATL to MIA and it is always the same. same with website from computer. nothing shows available until 1 week later July 28 and then it's like 7 open seats business and economy on 3 flights.
the common issue is that flights only show 1 week later. i am using standard avios search.
the common issue is that flights only show 1 week later. i am using standard avios search.
Jul 21, 2020, 1:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LCY
Posts: 1,222
Have just searched using the website, and (at least the handful of US domestic routes I searched) nothing available until exactly seven days from today. After that flights available in first and coach every day. Perhaps there is some new delay in ticketing? Or a security restriction to deal with hacked accounts?
Jul 21, 2020, 2:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kendal, Cumbria and Luzon
Programs: BA Silver, PR Elite, Avis Preferred Plus, PC Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 1,120
Sounds worryingly similar to the Cathay Pacific issue - also 7 days. Have you tried calling..... I know,...... but Cathay pre covid could be booked within 7 days by calling.
Jul 22, 2020, 9:08 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 860
Have just searched using the website, and (at least the handful of US domestic routes I searched) nothing available until exactly seven days from today. After that flights available in first and coach every day. Perhaps there is some new delay in ticketing? Or a security restriction to deal with hacked accounts?
Generally the saver level award needs to be available on AA before you can book it on BA (and BA will, generally, show the same availability - with exceptions). Looking at AA for NYC-ATL for the next week they don't have any saver level awards (which is understandable - they slashed their capacity at all NY area airports and are still running very limited schedules).
Jul 22, 2020, 11:02 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
Have you tried looking on the AA site to find saver award availability (or using Expert Flyer)?
Generally the saver level award needs to be available on AA before you can book it on BA (and BA will, generally, show the same availability - with exceptions). Looking at AA for NYC-ATL for the next week they don't have any saver level awards (which is understandable - they slashed their capacity at all NY area airports and are still running very limited schedules).
Generally the saver level award needs to be available on AA before you can book it on BA (and BA will, generally, show the same availability - with exceptions). Looking at AA for NYC-ATL for the next week they don't have any saver level awards (which is understandable - they slashed their capacity at all NY area airports and are still running very limited schedules).
Jul 23, 2020, 3:59 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
so after analyzing AA.com website offerings it appears that AA is the one pulling the SuperSaver flights that qualify for Avios until 1 week later from booking. This applies to both Economy and Business. There are other mileage flights available but they are just a few thousand miles more than Avios (ATL to MIA is 10k 1-way for Avios and there are plenty of 12k flights but no 10k till 1 week later).
so it seems for now you will have to book at least 1 week in advance and that calling in won't help.
so it seems for now you will have to book at least 1 week in advance and that calling in won't help.
Jul 25, 2020, 9:21 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
I've just checked ExpertFlyer (which I normally use for checking availability that doesn't show up on ba.com) and I'm seeing the same thing. No U or T class availability until a week out...so, it is AA limiting availability.