guv1976

Correct. Multi-carrier redemptions cannot be booked online; they require a call to BA.

aircrashsurvivor

this article explains it well also. And it says yes - you have to call to book https://princeoftravel.com/guides/br...r-award-chart/

skimthetrees

Do not use the AA calendar since you will be booking outside the AA booking window you will not see any results for your dates. AA's calendar only goes out 330 days. JAL books out 360 days. I think BA is 355? By the time F awards show up on the AA calendar they will likely already have been booked by other programs (BA, JAL, QF, CX). JL will only release 1F award a year in advance (maybe more later) so hopefully that is all you need. You are looking to book as far out as you can (355 days for BA?) since that is when you will find best JL F availability. Book as one ways so as not to lose inbound availability while waiting for outbound availability to open. I would go so far as to use a program that books 360 days out to check what is available in the days before BA can book and then book as soon as BA has access.

You are only searching in a couple of week window around 355 days out so searching day by day won't be too bad.

guv1976

The problem is that the OP needs to add a second BA partner to the itinerary if he wants to utilize the multi-carrier award table; that will almost certainly have to be AA, if the OP wants to stay within the 14,000-flown-miles rate band.

I'm not sure whether BA will allow the OP to convert two JL one-ways to a multi-carrier award if he books those one-ways before the booking window opens for AA flights.

onlynik

Sorry to hijack this, so one could for example book QR EDI - DOH - BNE in J and a return QF SYD -LHR - EDI in Y and only be charged for the Y cost for the entire trip?

guv1976

Yes. In fact, if you fly the longest segment in Y, you could even fly the shorter segments in F -- if available -- and pay the Y redemption rate for the entire trip.

skimthetrees

I get the appeal of the multi-carrier pricing, but I would not want to lose out on the award by waiting until 330 days out.

I am sure it will not be possible to combine two one ways into one award. It should be possible to add to an existing award, so booking the outbound in F first, waiting until return availability became available to add it to the initial booking and convert the award type to multi-carrier. With the huge number of miles the OP has though I would probably just book two F one-ways non-stop and call it a win.

JAXBA

The calculation always used to be based on NYC-TYO, so shouldn't be airport dependant.

guv1976

While not dispositive on the issue, the BA Avios calculator currently shows more Avios awarded for JFK-HND than for JFK-NRT.

onlynik

So - segment - that�s probably going to be DOH - SYD, so I could theoretically have stop overs to break it up even more?

guv1976

SYD-LHR on QF would be the longest segment on the itinerary you proposed. What are you asking?

guv1976

A little OT, but . . .

I realize that the OP would like to make good use of his large stash of Avios, but if the multi-carrier redemption does not work out, perhaps he could amass a sufficient amount of AAdvantage miles for at least a one-way to or from TYO. As a Canadian resident, he could earn AA miles through credit cards (Diners Club or RBC Avion), and by crediting upcoming cash oneworld flights, if any, to AA. JFK-TYO in F on JL is a relative steal at 80,000 AA miles plus $5.60.

aircrashsurvivor

thanks so much for all the advice from everyone
1) I don�t want to miss out on the F reward space either direction if possible
2) the multi carrier concept will require the longest segment be in J and although this will save a lot of Avios I have lots to burn and currently generate about 100,000-150,000 a year from various credit cards. My wife and I don�t spend them as fast as we earn them and they will likely just become devalued over time
3) I think booking 1 seat each direction out of JFK and back into regardless of the Tokyo airport unless one of the lounges is significantly better than the other for outbound travel in F despite the increased amount of Avios will give me the best experience here. And looking 360 days and booking hopefully 355 days is my best bet. I need to take one segment to/from Tokyo in J to benefit from saving what seems to be close to 90,000 Avios and even though J is almost certainly more than adequate I will think if travelling one direction in F the other in J is what I want.
And if so what direction (east or west) is the best to enjoy the F experience the best ??
4) I have some flexibility on dates so I can spend a few days trying to get the outbound flight in F and will likely make it the �shorter� trip as long as allows the multi segment. Once it�s booked I�ll call and see if they can convert it all to a multi carrier if I find return space in J Im
guessing J space is easier to find than F

aircrashsurvivor

Might look at Avion (RBC) to AA Crappy transfer 1 gets me only 0.7 but if I have enough to get one way at least in F it�s only 80,000 and $5

guv1976

Since one CAD is currently worth about 0.75 USD, that's not as bad a transfer ratio as it might seem at first glance. Ordinary purchases on US-issued AA credit cards earn just one mile per USD.

And you also need to consider the lower mileage-redemption rates and fees when redeeming AA miles on certain routes, compared to what BA charges. (There are other routes -- like JFK-MAD on IB -- where Avios offer the better redemption deal.)