Awards seats released the day before?
Jun 23, 2022, 8:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 41
Awards seats released the day before?
I have noticed pretty consistently that there seem to be award seats popping up on certain routes I regularly fly on just one day before departure. I am curious if anyone knows, is this intentional from BA to potentially fill up those remaining seats, or is this just the result of people regularly cancelling Avios bookings very close to departure?
Jun 23, 2022, 8:10 am
#4
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
In the past I have often seen this. Avios tickets are flexible up to 24 hours before departure. Under book with confidence, flights could still be vouchered until very close before departure but now that has been removed tickets will once again be cancelled up to T-24. Of course, not always will these cancellations go straight back to Avios inventory, but I have found that often they do.
If you managed to book FAO-LCY in CE yesterday for today, you're welcome !
If you managed to book FAO-LCY in CE yesterday for today, you're welcome !
Jun 23, 2022, 8:12 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 41
. Prices for August are pretty crazy in a bunch of places!
Jun 23, 2022, 8:12 am
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
It's actually always been the case. Once the flight is within a couple of days of departure and the revenue management team are fairly sure what's going to happen they may or may not release additional reward seats.
Jun 23, 2022, 8:19 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,261
Also, if Gold you can use a Gold Priority Reward (double avios) and then cancel up to 24hrs before with no charge and full return - or call up and switch to the new availability you've seen and get half Avios back
Jun 23, 2022, 8:36 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 41
call up and switch to the new availability you've seen and get half Avios back
Jun 23, 2022, 8:43 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,261
I used double Avios (140k !!) for two in Y (
) back from LAS as a back up plan last month. J opened from Phoenix day before so grabbed this and got my double avios and taxes back no issue...
) back from LAS as a back up plan last month. J opened from Phoenix day before so grabbed this and got my double avios and taxes back no issue...
Jun 23, 2022, 9:19 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, BA Silver, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 485
Just after 12AM UK time on the day before departure, for short haul flights at least, a lot of seats open up for booking relative to the frequency of flights on a particular route. Things that affect this include seasonal routes, route with only 1 flight per day, routes where cancellations have occurred in the days before causing a lot of rebookings.
Outside of the holiday periods, this is what I do for all my short haul flights as it's virtually guaranteed availability on routes such as EDI, DUB, AMS, FRA and MAD (amongst others)
Outside of the holiday periods, this is what I do for all my short haul flights as it's virtually guaranteed availability on routes such as EDI, DUB, AMS, FRA and MAD (amongst others)
Jun 23, 2022, 9:33 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756