Newbie - Amex 2-4-1 Redemption Questions
Jan 7, 2008, 5:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Newbie - Amex 2-4-1 Redemption Questions
Please be patient - newbie here! I have searched on this forum but would be grateful for some further help.
I recently received my Amex 2-4-1 voucher and am fortunate enough to have enough miles to book a First Class return for my wife and myself to Barbados.
At present only our preferred outbound date is showing but no dates yet for an acceptable return.
From reading this Board I know that it is recommended to book to secure the outbound, putting in any available return date and then change later if and when the desired return date is available.
I would be grateful for help with the following questions:
1. If I book on-line, can I then change the booking on-line later and, if so, can I change it unlimited times? Is it easy to do?
I telephoned BA this morning to ask about this and they said it can only be changed by telephoning them and paying the off-line service charge. Is this true?
2. Is an open-jaw flight possible, e.g. out to Barbados and back from Grenada?
BA said it is not but from searching on this Board it appears that it is.
3. If I book to secure the outbound but an acceptable return date does not subsequently present itself and I wish to change our routing completely how is this done?
I would be grateful for some definitive answers based on experience.
Many thanks
I recently received my Amex 2-4-1 voucher and am fortunate enough to have enough miles to book a First Class return for my wife and myself to Barbados.
At present only our preferred outbound date is showing but no dates yet for an acceptable return.
From reading this Board I know that it is recommended to book to secure the outbound, putting in any available return date and then change later if and when the desired return date is available.
I would be grateful for help with the following questions:
1. If I book on-line, can I then change the booking on-line later and, if so, can I change it unlimited times? Is it easy to do?
I telephoned BA this morning to ask about this and they said it can only be changed by telephoning them and paying the off-line service charge. Is this true?
2. Is an open-jaw flight possible, e.g. out to Barbados and back from Grenada?
BA said it is not but from searching on this Board it appears that it is.
3. If I book to secure the outbound but an acceptable return date does not subsequently present itself and I wish to change our routing completely how is this done?
I would be grateful for some definitive answers based on experience.
Many thanks
Jan 7, 2008, 5:47 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Up North
Posts: 659
Welcome
1. Yes, easily done online via the change flight option within 'Manage My Booking'
I think you've been misinformed by the BA Agent - others can confirm. I've changed by CPT booking a number of times online.
2. Open Jaw is possible but only by calling BA.
3. You would probably need to cancel, await the refund of miles and 241, and then rebook.
Hope this helped.
1. Yes, easily done online via the change flight option within 'Manage My Booking'
I think you've been misinformed by the BA Agent - others can confirm. I've changed by CPT booking a number of times online.
2. Open Jaw is possible but only by calling BA.
3. You would probably need to cancel, await the refund of miles and 241, and then rebook.
Hope this helped.
Jan 7, 2008, 6:06 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK & Oslo, Norway
Programs: Mucci (Diamond Hairbrush Status), BA Gold (earned on almost all (wh)Y travel), *A Gold.
Posts: 567
Welcome to FT Barbadoslover.
The good lady and myself have done BGI run a number of times and have always had good experiences of the LGW crew in F.
What we tend to do is LGW-BGI in F and then BGI-LGW in J as we sleep for most of the return and don't take full advantage of the F service on the return leg.
That will also save you a few miles for use in the future. Redemption availability in J is usually better too if you book well enough in advance.
The good lady and myself have done BGI run a number of times and have always had good experiences of the LGW crew in F.
What we tend to do is LGW-BGI in F and then BGI-LGW in J as we sleep for most of the return and don't take full advantage of the F service on the return leg.
That will also save you a few miles for use in the future. Redemption availability in J is usually better too if you book well enough in advance.
Jan 7, 2008, 6:42 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North-east UK
Programs: BAEC lowly blue, various semi-worthless hotel programs.
Posts: 174
This is a timely post for me. Thanks to Kezza25 for confirming that an open-jaw is possible. I had been searching on this and thought it was, but never having done a redemption booking before I was a bit nervous I would get an uninformed droid in the call centre. Now I definitely know it can be done...
Jan 7, 2008, 6:48 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Yes, many thanks to Kezza25 and The Specialist for the speedy replies and helpful information.
I'm in the same boat as Flycatcher - never done a redemption booking before, so all help appreciated.
Can the outbound in F and return in J be booked and dates amended on-line or is a call to BA necessary?
I'm in the same boat as Flycatcher - never done a redemption booking before, so all help appreciated.
Can the outbound in F and return in J be booked and dates amended on-line or is a call to BA necessary?
Jan 7, 2008, 11:18 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 437
I have had two different experiences with 2-4-1 refunds. The first time, it took a phone call two days later to get the voucher back online (it appeared about 4 hours after the call). Second time, the voucher reappeared within half an hour of the online cancellation.
Jan 7, 2008, 11:24 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North-east UK
Programs: BAEC lowly blue, various semi-worthless hotel programs.
Posts: 174
An update on the open-jawing 2-4-1s. I've gone through some older posts (such as http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=open+amex+jaw) which seem to confirm that you can open-jaw with a 2-4-1, but only within the same "region". For my purposes I'm hoping that I can have an outbound to YYZ and an inbound from BOS...
Jan 7, 2008, 12:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,104
An update on the open-jawing 2-4-1s. I've gone through some older posts (such as http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=open+amex+jaw) which seem to confirm that you can open-jaw with a 2-4-1, but only within the same "region". For my purposes I'm hoping that I can have an outbound to YYZ and an inbound from BOS...
Jan 7, 2008, 12:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MAN
Programs: F
Posts: 2,898
A point to note about open jaws is that they can only be booked through an agent, and will then have none of the free on-line change / cancellation facilities you would otherwise have had if you had booked on-line. I.e. if you want to change the dates on or cancel such a booking, you will have to go through an agent again and pay the (small) fee.
Jan 7, 2008, 6:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North-east UK
Programs: BAEC lowly blue, various semi-worthless hotel programs.
Posts: 174
A point to note about open jaws is that they can only be booked through an agent, and will then have none of the free on-line change / cancellation facilities you would otherwise have had if you had booked on-line. I.e. if you want to change the dates on or cancel such a booking, you will have to go through an agent again and pay the (small) fee.
Jan 8, 2008, 2:30 am
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 75
A point to note about open jaws is that they can only be booked through an agent, and will then have none of the free on-line change / cancellation facilities you would otherwise have had if you had booked on-line. I.e. if you want to change the dates on or cancel such a booking, you will have to go through an agent again and pay the (small) fee.
Jan 8, 2008, 3:35 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 27
In my experience it is possible to change dates if booked in the same class outbound and return, but if classes differ you have to use the call centre.
I have changed them through the call centre with no charges incurred. They even let me off the £1.40 increase in tax. How generous after I had only paid £400 on the original booking!
I have changed them through the call centre with no charges incurred. They even let me off the £1.40 increase in tax. How generous after I had only paid £400 on the original booking!