Need help with LAX to MAD flight
 

Hi guys,

I've about 120k of Amex MR points along with 200k United points and would like to make a trip from LAX to MAD next September (me and my wife want to visit Spain and Portugal). I have the following questions:

• It appears that I can transfer my MR points to Avios and book the flight with Iberia via American Airlines? Does that sound like it'd work?

• I'd also like to see if it makes sense for me to take advantage of the Amex MR 40% transfer bonus to British Airways Avios.

If anyone have a better suggestion please suggest! (fly open jaw?)


Thank you very much in advance!

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How many is "we"? What class of service?

If you use BA Avios on either AA or IB, you will be charged hefty surcharges. But if you open an Iberia Plus account now and fund it (by earning miles on it or converting some MR points to it), you will be able to transfer your BA Avios to Iberia Plus after a 90-day waiting period. If you find award seats on IB's season LAX-MAD nonstop, you will then pay only modest surcharges.

Another possibility is to use BA Avios to fly LAX-DUS-MAD on AB; there are no surcharges when redeeming Avios on AB.

Whatever you do, don't transfer anything any where until you are sure that the award seats you want are available.

Hi guv,

Only two of us will be flying and we'd like to fly economy. I've just signed up for an Iberia Plus account as well.

I might decide to fly open jaw and do:

LAX to MAD or BCN
LIS to LAX

Would BA Avios let me fly open jaw without penalties? Thanks in advance!

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BAEC charges for each flight flown, so you are essentially redeeming for one ways; therefore, an open-jaw itinerary is not an issue. In fact, since UA permits one-way redemptions as well, you could redeem Avios for the outbound to Madrid, and UA miles for the return from either Lisbon or Porto on any of several Star Alliance carriers.

But Iberia Plus' redemption scheme is a little different than BAEC's, so make sure you investigate it before transferring any Avios to Iberia Plus.

Thanks for your help Guv!

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Glad to help!

Just one other thought: Although UA offers one-way redemptions, you are not entitled to a stopover on such redemptions. However, on a roundtrip Mileage Plus redemption, you are entitled to a free stopover, so LAX-MAD/BCN (stopover) - LIS (destination) - LAX should be permitted for the cost of a U.S.-Europe roundtrip award. @:-)

Great tip! I verified the free stopover on United.com! You just saved me 200 bucks, thanks a ton! :)

Sorry for bumping an old thread:

Does anyone know why I can do the following on United:

LAX - LIS - BCN
SVQ - LAX

but not:

LAX - BCN - MAD
LIS - LAX

Thanks in advance!

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Probably best to ask a Mileage Plus-specific question in the FT UA forum. If you alert a Moderator, perhaps (s)he can move your latest post.

Need help with LAX to MAD flight
 

I would suggest star alliance since with IB or BA you will pay a lot in fees. if you do transfer to BA look to go via TXL or DUS on Air Berlin since the fees are low. But I would recommend to do this fast since the transfer bonus ends soon

My *guess* is that the first example is using TAP in the alliance so that LIS is a valid connecting point from USA to BCN. However, for the second example, to connect to BCN through MAD would require IB, which belongs to oneworld rather than *A.

Typically stopovers like this are only allowed in the main hub airport of the flying airline.

Thanks so much for the feedback guys. If that's the case I think I'm going to try:

LAX to LIS
BCN to LAX

and see if I can get an additional leg from LAX to somewhere in the US.

If you're allowed a free stopover, you should also be able to get a LIS-BCN segment on your ticket without paying more.

You probably cannot do a double open jaw, so I wouldn't expect another domestic leg to/from LAX to be possible on your ticket without paying more.