Redeeming an award flight for march/april 2004 ... would be grateful if you could provide comments !!

Need to go to Birmingham and London - and want to maximize the number of flights en route ...

Whole trip HKG-FCO-BHX-CDG-LHR-HKG :

1. HKG-FCO (Rome) on CX F class
2. FCO-BHX (Birmingham) on BA C class

(about 5 hours in FCO on transit)

3. BHX-CDG (Paris) on BA C class
4. CDG-LHR (London) on BA C class

(about 1.5 hours in CDG on transit)

5. LHR-HKG on CX F class


I really love flying and can't wait to try CX F class (after so many years in C class with no upgrade ...)

My friends and travel agent have teased me for planning to go from Birmingham to London via Paris - when I could easily take a train in half the time needed. But I love shopping and would love to practice my French! And I would like to have BA's lamb chops/grilled chicken salad on C class ...

Does anybody know how good the shopping is at FCO airport? I'm a designer person .... fashion victim.

I guess I'm the one who needs therapy!

Thanks

You haven't said which programme you're redeeming from.

If it's Asiamiles, you can't mix carriers. And you can only connect when the onward carrier is the same which you arrived on. ie HKG-LHR-BHX, and its only 1 stopover and point of turnaround. Asiamiles' rules are a bit tricky when it comes to connections. They count it as transfers and you're only allowed 2 and you can't back track. ie your BHX-CDG-LHR sector.

Only on AAdvantage can you mix carriers but ONLY if the rules allow it. You need to check with AAdvantage on this. Similarly you cannot backtrack with BHX-CDG-LHR. You will need 2 awards.

Er, what???

I have done this on a number of occasions. If you read the AsiaMiles award booklet it says quite clearly that the base AsiaMiles Award chart is valid for travel on single or two carrier awards where Cathay is one of the carriers. It also says that "restrictions on redemption combinations apply".

The rules also clearly state : "maximum two stopovers, two transfers and one open jaw".

There is also another chart for multi-carrier awards.

You have one too many transfers and I agree that the backtracing may be a problem. I think you'd have to do BHX-LHR by surface to make this work on one award.

Note that FCO is one of the routes where CX has said it will withdraw First Class some time in 2004.

Guy Betsy, I'll be redeeming on Asia Miles. I've called the service center in HK, they said my trip plan was ok - including the CX/BA mix.

They said the BHX-CDG-LHR trip was ok too - despite the obvious remark "why not do it by rail?" .... I've been to London too many times, and besides, it's a sunday - nothing to do - would rather be on two BA Club World flights ... and shopping at CDG.

Christep, thanks for the info. What would happen if I redeemed on F and then F gets withdrawn ... do I get a "mileage refund" or is it just tough luck, I get stuck in C?

This is my first time in F class ... don't want to get bumped down to C !

[This message has been edited by Psychiatrist (edited Dec 14, 2003).]

CX/BA mix... is new to me. I've always thought I had to stick with 1 carrier..

Oh well, I live and learn through the FT board! Thank you for enlightening me.

I feel soooooo embarrassed!

As for Psychiatrist, CX can't just withdraw the F class on a flight. For one thing, there isnt' a long haul aircraft that has just 2 class at the moment. So you shouldnt' worry.

I think that if they let you book in F you can be pretty sure there will be an F. The plans for downgrading the 340-300 fleet to 2-class doesn't seem to be firm yet (or at least is not published in a firm state).

I am surprised if AsiaMiles allows BHX-CDG-LHR, but great if they do.