Easiest way to find "I" buckets
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
Easiest way to find "I" buckets
Hi all, i have my very first GUF and have a 241 Amex alongside it which expires in May 22. Ideally i would love to do a Business to First but I also want to get back to Vegas next year now that the borders are opening up and space really is limited and of course no 1st.
I thought the best way to do it was to do PEC on the 241 and then use the GUF to Business.
I called BA as i wasnt aware of the exact rules and at first she told me there had to be Avios redemption availability in Business to use the GUF but from reading on here i now see its NOT that but its the fact there needs to be I fare availability.
I tried to have a look on Expert Flyer but only have the free package and im not sure if i need Basic or Premium.....but im also hoping there may be a better tool to identify any 12-17 day return I fares for Vegas in April or May and i would even consider doing LAX for one of those inbound/outbound assuming you can do that and still use GUF.
Any pointers would be super appreciated.
I thought the best way to do it was to do PEC on the 241 and then use the GUF to Business.
I called BA as i wasnt aware of the exact rules and at first she told me there had to be Avios redemption availability in Business to use the GUF but from reading on here i now see its NOT that but its the fact there needs to be I fare availability.
I tried to have a look on Expert Flyer but only have the free package and im not sure if i need Basic or Premium.....but im also hoping there may be a better tool to identify any 12-17 day return I fares for Vegas in April or May and i would even consider doing LAX for one of those inbound/outbound assuming you can do that and still use GUF.
Any pointers would be super appreciated.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
#3
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
It used to be the case that there had to be reward availability for GUF but now it can just be revenue availability in the desired class, if you do it at the time of booking. You might want to try another agent. Clearly, if you book the reward flight first, with the intention of upgrading later, there would have to be reward availability initially in the lower class.
If you want to get First (for which you would need A class availability), I guess you could book 241 to LAX and then a separate connection to LAS. Otherwise, as you say, use avios for PE and upgrade to club for direct LAS, which in club suites on a 350 is as good as F seat-wise.
I think a basic ExpertFlyer subscription would work, it includes class availability but is limited to 250 searches a month. I can see more A class availability to LAX, than I class to LAS.
If you want to get First (for which you would need A class availability), I guess you could book 241 to LAX and then a separate connection to LAS. Otherwise, as you say, use avios for PE and upgrade to club for direct LAS, which in club suites on a 350 is as good as F seat-wise.
I think a basic ExpertFlyer subscription would work, it includes class availability but is limited to 250 searches a month. I can see more A class availability to LAX, than I class to LAS.
Last edited by vintagepilot; Sep 22, 2021 at 7:19 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
#8
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
But also, as per my initial response, if you earned the voucher before 1st September 2021 then the agent is correct, you would need Avios availability to book. It's unclear when your voucher was earned and on which BA AMEX card type, each of which changes redemption potential.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
But also, as per my initial response, if you earned the voucher before 1st September 2021 then the agent is correct, you would need Avios availability to book. It's unclear when your voucher was earned and on which BA AMEX card type, each of which changes redemption potential.
If that rules me out of using the GUF on I fare then unlikely be able to use it as Business redemption are few and far between..
#12
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
But also, as per my initial response, if you earned the voucher before 1st September 2021 then the agent is correct, you would need Avios availability to book. It's unclear when your voucher was earned and on which BA AMEX card type, each of which changes redemption potential.
Q: Does there have to be Avios availability in the upgraded cabin to use the Gold Upgrade voucher?
No. There only needs to be discounted revenue fare availability in the cabin you are upgrading to (A for First, I for Club and T for WT+).
It used to be the case that you had to book through a Travel Agent to achieve this, and that direct bookings with BA required Avios availability in the cabin you are upgrading to. With changesto GUF2 made in 2019, this is no longer the case.
No. There only needs to be discounted revenue fare availability in the cabin you are upgrading to (A for First, I for Club and T for WT+).
It used to be the case that you had to book through a Travel Agent to achieve this, and that direct bookings with BA required Avios availability in the cabin you are upgrading to. With changesto GUF2 made in 2019, this is no longer the case.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 833
If you want to get First (for which you would need A class availability), I guess you could book 241 to LAX and then a separate connection to LAS. Otherwise, as you say, use avios for PE and upgrade to club for direct LAS, which in club suites on a 350 is as good as F seat-wise.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
However, this is not a 241 problem - this is a Gold Upgrade issue - and about which class needs to available where, to upgrade into. The 241 does affects the problem slightly, as you couldn't book LHR-LAX-LAS with a 241 as that has to be on BA metal only, hence the 2-ticket comment.