Your guide to spending Avios | 2021 edition
May 27, 21, 8:57 pm
#106
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 88
If I make a cash booking and then upgrade using avios, what happens to the points part of the booking if I have to cancel and take an future travel voucher?
If the points become part of the voucher along with the cash are you able to then use the avios part of the voucher for a separate booking to what the cash part is used for?
If the points become part of the voucher along with the cash are you able to then use the avios part of the voucher for a separate booking to what the cash part is used for?
May 28, 21, 5:04 am
#107
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Flying Blue, BAEC, VAFC, IHG Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 387
Sorry, I imagine this has been answered many times before.
If I make a straightforward Avios redemption on a BA direct flight, using "Book Using Avios" with the highest amount of Avios and the lowest co-pay, on what I do not believe is a RFS, what happens if I subsequently need to cancel?
I've got a decent Economy redemption for my family ( I realise economy isn't normally good value, but for the purposes of this trip it is) and there are enough seats, so I want to lock it in, but I'm conscious of the current way of the world so I don't want to be stuck with something I can't change.
Is it just 35 per person, which will be the amount that my taxes/fees/surcharges cash payment will be reduced by, and then I'll get the balance of that and all my Avios back?
If I make a straightforward Avios redemption on a BA direct flight, using "Book Using Avios" with the highest amount of Avios and the lowest co-pay, on what I do not believe is a RFS, what happens if I subsequently need to cancel?
I've got a decent Economy redemption for my family ( I realise economy isn't normally good value, but for the purposes of this trip it is) and there are enough seats, so I want to lock it in, but I'm conscious of the current way of the world so I don't want to be stuck with something I can't change.
Is it just 35 per person, which will be the amount that my taxes/fees/surcharges cash payment will be reduced by, and then I'll get the balance of that and all my Avios back?
Last edited by DeeGee26.2; May 28, 21 at 5:12 am
May 31, 21, 9:20 am
#108
Join Date: May 2019
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 9
I have a 2-4-1 BA companion voucher expiring on 4 March 2022. I want to lock down a destination for Easter 2022 (which is around 15-18 April 2022).
As such, in order to 'extend' my 2-4-1 voucher, do I have to use towards a bogus flight, then cancel and receive a FTV expiring in April 2023? Is that right? Also, am I right in thinking that cancelling the 2-4-1 will also cost me 35 per person?
Thank you!
As such, in order to 'extend' my 2-4-1 voucher, do I have to use towards a bogus flight, then cancel and receive a FTV expiring in April 2023? Is that right? Also, am I right in thinking that cancelling the 2-4-1 will also cost me 35 per person?
Thank you!
Jun 2, 21, 12:11 pm
#109
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 841
Quick question about middle names. There was no option for a middle name when booking using Avios so I put it in the last name field, with a space in between. Now the ticket looks like MiddleLast in the last name field. Is this going to be a problem? The booking is using Avios on AA metal. Thank you!
Jun 3, 21, 2:53 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,512
Can someone update my knowledge on BA Award cancellation policy?
I vaguely remember bookings canceled online would be charged the LOWER of the cash portion (taxes) and the online cancellation fee which I cant remember how much.
Need to book a US domestic award for Oct travel. AA charges more than BA on the desirable route and schedule, as in 10K versus 9K with the same $5.60 taxes.
AA no longer charge award reinstatement fee, i.e. the booking is fully cancellable / refundable. In fact people said the miles return to the account almost immediately after hitting the cancel button. The taxes return to original form of payment in a few days.
Can we cancel the award bookings online or still need to call BA to do so?
How do the Avios return to the BA account after online cancellation? I vaguely remember in the past the Avios did return, may take a few hours or a day, but they returned, automatically.
Would appreciate if someone can post the current practice on award cancellation done online, based on above info. TIA.
I vaguely remember bookings canceled online would be charged the LOWER of the cash portion (taxes) and the online cancellation fee which I cant remember how much.
Need to book a US domestic award for Oct travel. AA charges more than BA on the desirable route and schedule, as in 10K versus 9K with the same $5.60 taxes.
AA no longer charge award reinstatement fee, i.e. the booking is fully cancellable / refundable. In fact people said the miles return to the account almost immediately after hitting the cancel button. The taxes return to original form of payment in a few days.
Can we cancel the award bookings online or still need to call BA to do so?
How do the Avios return to the BA account after online cancellation? I vaguely remember in the past the Avios did return, may take a few hours or a day, but they returned, automatically.
Would appreciate if someone can post the current practice on award cancellation done online, based on above info. TIA.
Last edited by Happy; Jun 3, 21 at 3:09 pm
Jun 15, 21, 2:22 pm
#111
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
It used to be a pretty straightforward process using Avios to book an Alaska airlines flight in the US. I could use the American AIrlines chart, find the flight, call in and book it. I can no longer figure out how to find ANY flights that are available, let alone the ones at the lowest level SSA. Any suggestions of how to find a non stop flight from KOA to SEA on Alaska using Avios? I suppose I could call them, but do not want to waste their time searching, lol, not even sure if they would.
Jun 17, 21, 9:30 am
#112
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 12
I might well be missing something obvious as I have only booked with Avios once before . Looking at the revised chart from March on page one above I was looking to get an off peak trip to Portugal in September and thought it should consist of 2 band one legs ( GLA > LHR ) and 2 band two legs ( LHR > FAO ) for a total of 24000 Avios. When logged in this is coming up at 42000 + 2.00
I’ve added a few thousand Avios in the past year from cards and a couple of recent flights. Am I indeed missing something obvious ?
I’ve added a few thousand Avios in the past year from cards and a couple of recent flights. Am I indeed missing something obvious ?
Jun 17, 21, 9:35 am
#113
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,791
If you click through to the "Your price quote" screen you should see the following options:
42000 Avios + 2.00
39000 Avios + 18.00
34000 Avios + 38.00
24000 Avios + 70.00
16700 Avios + 135.00
11700 Avios + 175.00
42000 Avios + 2.00
39000 Avios + 18.00
34000 Avios + 38.00
24000 Avios + 70.00
16700 Avios + 135.00
11700 Avios + 175.00
Jun 17, 21, 9:40 am
#114
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 12
Thx for looking KARFA, that is totally correct. If the charts at the top of the thread are correct should it not be 24000 avios + 2.00 ? Rather than 42000
I have re read the guidance from Prospero again and see you are spot on - thanks for looking
I have re read the guidance from Prospero again and see you are spot on - thanks for looking
Last edited by Wizardp629; Jun 17, 21 at 9:49 am Reason: Have re read guidence
Jun 22, 21, 1:49 am
#115
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,550
Can we cancel the award bookings online or still need to call BA to do so?
How do the Avios return to the BA account after online cancellation? I vaguely remember in the past the Avios did return, may take a few hours or a day, but they returned, automatically.
Would appreciate if someone can post the current practice on award cancellation done online, based on above info. TIA.
Jun 23, 21, 1:41 pm
#116
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 42
I need to book BHX to DUB and trying to price it out with BA Avios since my understanding is taxes/fees should be lower than with Aer Lingus directly. My first call the agent said this route couldn't be booked with Avios. My second call the agent was able to see the route, but the taxes+fees were not only more than the cash price of the ticket but more than what I paid for a BA Aer Lingus DUB-JFK. I confirmed that I was trying to book an award flight and not "Pay with Avios", is there something else I'm missing, or just a quirk of the system? Thanks in advance.
Jun 27, 21, 6:49 pm
#118
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 52
Hoping to get some help here... trying to book an Avios booking from DXB to JFK on QR through DOH on J. Problem is, it looks like QR only offers a two-cabin now (First, Economy) on DXB to DOH. As a result, DXB-DOH-JFK is not showing up on BA.com. I've called in and the agent said they can only book what is on the website i.e. as a First class booking @24kpts p.p. for DXB to DOH and a separate business class booking for DOH to JFK. I vaguely remember reading (and I could be wrong) that in some two-cabin routes, the "First" class should price as a Business redemption but the agent said that isn't true and they can only book what the website shows. Can someone please confirm? I can see on AA.com that AA treats the DXB-DOH "First" as business so I'm hoping BA would do the same.
Last edited by xtremester; Jun 27, 21 at 7:13 pm
Jun 30, 21, 9:23 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA
Posts: 10,022
BA prices by segment, and takes the cabin class of each segment. QR has always - bar a few weeks/months just after restarting DXB/AUH - sold that route as F & Y, and redemptions are priced accordingly (so is TP earning, for that matter).
What AA does has no relevance, and that is likely done that way as a replica of US Domestic First, which really "is J" from a system perspective.
BA used to do the same when AA sold domestic F as F.
What AA does has no relevance, and that is likely done that way as a replica of US Domestic First, which really "is J" from a system perspective.
BA used to do the same when AA sold domestic F as F.
Jul 1, 21, 2:40 am
#120
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
I haven't canceled an Avios award online in years and got tricked here. Not sure it even matters though since my 200K remaining Avios are next to worthless since AA partner availability has gone to near zero these days with their dynamic pricing. Any tips to recover this value at all?
