Reward flights November 2023
Oct 2, 2022, 7:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite
Posts: 461
Reward flights November 2023
Hi
I’m looking to book reward flights for my wife’s 40th November 2023. I’d like to book somewhere that we can get first class flights. It’s been a long time since we travelled long haul as we have a disabled son. It appears that first class destinations are much reduced. AMEX companion voucher.
Where are we (if at all as blue member / but lots or avios available through Marriott bonvoy) likely to get First class reward flights, ideally from LHR due to Concorde lounge in early November, maybe Thursday to Tuesday? Days are flexible. Originating from MAN. Didn’t think they was any direct international reward flights from MAN
Thank you
I’m looking to book reward flights for my wife’s 40th November 2023. I’d like to book somewhere that we can get first class flights. It’s been a long time since we travelled long haul as we have a disabled son. It appears that first class destinations are much reduced. AMEX companion voucher.
Where are we (if at all as blue member / but lots or avios available through Marriott bonvoy) likely to get First class reward flights, ideally from LHR due to Concorde lounge in early November, maybe Thursday to Tuesday? Days are flexible. Originating from MAN. Didn’t think they was any direct international reward flights from MAN
Thank you
Oct 2, 2022, 7:21 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,237
There’s no F guaranteed - and it’s slim pickings as the total number of F seats shrinks across the network. In my opinion Atlanta, New York, Boston, Washington (IAD) and San Jose (CA) are your best bets. You can regularly get them, and then fly onwards if you need. Not always released at 355 days, so it’s a patient game.
Also, you van book something and change for £35 if something better opens.
With a decent seat now on the Club Suites, I’d maybe sack off F and go where you want to go in J, I wouldn’t let a couple of hours in an “ok” lounge such as the CCR influence my destination
Finally, do ensure you’ve got the correct companion voucher as new ones without annual fee are restricted to Y
Also, you van book something and change for £35 if something better opens.
With a decent seat now on the Club Suites, I’d maybe sack off F and go where you want to go in J, I wouldn’t let a couple of hours in an “ok” lounge such as the CCR influence my destination
Finally, do ensure you’ve got the correct companion voucher as new ones without annual fee are restricted to Y
Last edited by mikeyfly; Oct 2, 2022 at 7:26 am
Oct 2, 2022, 7:26 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite
Posts: 461
Thanks - we don’t have any particular destination in mind but want somewhere with decent weather, we’d hoped for LAS as it was the first stop on our honeymoon in 2011 when NF was first being rolled out across the fleet. We are lucky to get NF both ways LHR-LAS and LAX-LHR on our return.
it’s just a thought as to where we are most likely to get F on reward flights at a blue access window
so doesn’t have to be North America
it’s just a thought as to where we are most likely to get F on reward flights at a blue access window
so doesn’t have to be North America
Oct 2, 2022, 7:30 am
#5
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Posts: 461
Oct 2, 2022, 7:31 am
#6
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Oct 2, 2022, 7:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 117
I have to put in a vote for Jo’burg, which has relatively good F availability (although this may be less if they’re still using the 787 8-seat F rather than twice daily A380).
Early this year I managed to get 2 seats out and back in F for November this year. Doing a combination of Jo’burg, safari, Cape Town and Garden Route.
I used Reward Flight Finder website to set up alerts and watch and wait. There was a pattern to how availability was opening up. It wasn’t 355 days, obviously, more like 180 days. I initially booked the return in WTP but called to switch to F when it opened up. There was not change fee, possibly because of covid flexibility which is now gone.
Early this year I managed to get 2 seats out and back in F for November this year. Doing a combination of Jo’burg, safari, Cape Town and Garden Route.
I used Reward Flight Finder website to set up alerts and watch and wait. There was a pattern to how availability was opening up. It wasn’t 355 days, obviously, more like 180 days. I initially booked the return in WTP but called to switch to F when it opened up. There was not change fee, possibly because of covid flexibility which is now gone.
Oct 2, 2022, 7:41 am
#9
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Hi,
Dubai could be an option ( short flight though and can be an overnight flight) . There seems to be a lot of aircrat swaps depending on time of year ie A380, 777, A350 ( A350 does not have first)
Regards
TBS
Dubai could be an option ( short flight though and can be an overnight flight) . There seems to be a lot of aircrat swaps depending on time of year ie A380, 777, A350 ( A350 does not have first)
Regards
TBS
Oct 2, 2022, 7:41 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite
Posts: 461
I have to put in a vote for Jo’burg, which has relatively good F availability (although this may be less if they’re still using the 787 8-seat F rather than twice daily A380).
Early this year I managed to get 2 seats out and back in F for November this year. Doing a combination of Jo’burg, safari, Cape Town and Garden Route.
I used Reward Flight Finder website to set up alerts and watch and wait. There was a pattern to how availability was opening up. It wasn’t 355 days, obviously, more like 180 days. I initially booked the return in WTP but called to switch to F when it opened up. There was not change fee, possibly because of covid flexibility which is now gone.
Early this year I managed to get 2 seats out and back in F for November this year. Doing a combination of Jo’burg, safari, Cape Town and Garden Route.
I used Reward Flight Finder website to set up alerts and watch and wait. There was a pattern to how availability was opening up. It wasn’t 355 days, obviously, more like 180 days. I initially booked the return in WTP but called to switch to F when it opened up. There was not change fee, possibly because of covid flexibility which is now gone.
Oct 2, 2022, 7:43 am
#11
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Oct 2, 2022, 7:50 am
#12
Original Poster
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Posts: 461
Oct 2, 2022, 10:49 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Posts: 2,347
Oct 2, 2022, 11:28 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
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Posts: 7,262
I’ll note that Atlanta has pretty limited connection options outside the SkyTeam realm. It’s even more of a Delta fortress hub than BA has at Heathrow and non-ST airlines get second class treatment there.