Your guide to spending Avios | 2021 edition
#121
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
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.
#122
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,791
I think I messed up bad here. I requested a cancellation online for a miles booking and received a voucher. I tried to make a fake booking to see what this voucher is worth and the code is invalid. Ughhh what a mess. Have a sneaking suspicion I just gave up 16500 Avios
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?

Any tips to recover this value at all?
You FTV is fine and the avios and cash are still on it. They are available to use towards a new booking for travel up to April 2023, You haven't lost anything. If you really want, you can still cancel the FT and get a refund, minus a 35/$55 per person cancellation fee, again this would need a call.
#123
Just depends on where you are going and when.
Of course, like any award search, you need flexibility.. but I wouldn't give up on it.
#124
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
A reward booking FTV will always be an offline FTV and you would have to call to use - you can't use them online unfortunately.
You FTV is fine and the avios and cash are still on it. They are available to use towards a new booking for travel up to April 2023, You haven't lost anything. If you really want, you can still cancel the FT and get a refund, minus a 35/$55 per person cancellation fee, again this would need a call.
You FTV is fine and the avios and cash are still on it. They are available to use towards a new booking for travel up to April 2023, You haven't lost anything. If you really want, you can still cancel the FT and get a refund, minus a 35/$55 per person cancellation fee, again this would need a call.

#125
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 47
Hello! I have skimmed this thread and don't think I saw anything related to a question I have. I booked a Club World cash ticket on BA.com on BA metal but have put my American Airlines # on it to credit to AA for regaining status purposes. However, I have an Avios account and was wondering if its possible to use my Avios to upgrade this ticket to F or if cash upgrade will be only option? Many thanks and apologies if I missed this somewhere in the thread.
#126
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,791
Hello! I have skimmed this thread and don't think I saw anything related to a question I have. I booked a Club World cash ticket on BA.com on BA metal but have put my American Airlines # on it to credit to AA for regaining status purposes. However, I have an Avios account and was wondering if its possible to use my Avios to upgrade this ticket to F or if cash upgrade will be only option? Many thanks and apologies if I missed this somewhere in the thread.
#127
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 39
CDG - LHR
Trying to book a flight using avios from CDG -> LHR. The flight is 216ish miles non-stop so expecting zone 1 pricing. For some reason all of the awards are showing off peak but pricing in the 9250-9250 range. What am I missing here? Why aren't the flights 4750? If I look at flights on avios.com CDG -> Dublin I'm seeing 4,500 avios on Aer Lingus.
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,448
Trying to book a flight using avios from CDG -> LHR. The flight is 216ish miles non-stop so expecting zone 1 pricing. For some reason all of the awards are showing off peak but pricing in the 9250-9250 range. What am I missing here? Why aren't the flights 4750? If I look at flights on avios.com CDG -> Dublin I'm seeing 4,500 avios on Aer Lingus.
#130
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
- British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre
#131
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: BAEC Bronze, Mucci recipient
Posts: 1,686
Thanks. I am not giving up on them altogether, but definitely harder to use. I cannot figure out now HOW to book them. I was told you could book them on BA website, but I cannot find any US flights that are bookable there. Even tried SEA-LAS and it still says
- British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre

and then click the flights icon it takes me to the BA mobile site and the Book with Avios page. I entered SEA and LAS in the from and to fields and randomly selected 15 Dec 2021 one way:

and the following direct flights on Alaska Airways came up:


So it is possible to spend Avios on US flights.
#132
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG100, Hyatt Globalist, MGM Gold, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 617
I'm booking a PE LAX-LHR round trip. Was deciding whether to book AA or BA on AA or BA and when I looked at upgrading to business it seemed I have a choice of 25K miles and $350 on AA or 17K miles on BA. Does that seem right? Easy choice if so
#133
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 569
Trying to book FRA-HEL-ARN on AY using Avios. I realize AY doesn't make for the most efficient routing here, but I have a well-stocked avios account and I've never flown with Finnair, so I'd like to try this.
When searching for this routing on BA.com, I get a message
"British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre "
What's going on? I googled before posting here and HFP says that you can do the usual avios booking for AY flights online on BA.com, no problem
When searching for this routing on BA.com, I get a message
"British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre "
What's going on? I googled before posting here and HFP says that you can do the usual avios booking for AY flights online on BA.com, no problem
#134
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: AA EXP, DL Plat, VX Gold, VS Gold, HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 237
Possible to UUA on a CHase Ultimate Rewards (Expedia) booking
I'm looking to make a r/t Premium Economy booking using chase ultimate rewards, meaning it will be like a revenue booking made by Expedia.
Does anyone know if this will let me use MMB to upgrade using Avios once ticketed by Expedia?
Thx
Does anyone know if this will let me use MMB to upgrade using Avios once ticketed by Expedia?
Thx
#135
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,791
Trying to book FRA-HEL-ARN on AY using Avios. I realize AY doesn't make for the most efficient routing here, but I have a well-stocked avios account and I've never flown with Finnair, so I'd like to try this.
When searching for this routing on BA.com, I get a message
"British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre "
What's going on? I googled before posting here and HFP says that you can do the usual avios booking for AY flights online on BA.com, no problem
When searching for this routing on BA.com, I get a message
"British Airways and its partners do not fly this route. Please consider alternative destinations or contact your executive club service centre "
What's going on? I googled before posting here and HFP says that you can do the usual avios booking for AY flights online on BA.com, no problem