Maxamizing the BA card
 

Hey guys, new here. Been reading over the last month or so and really trying to learn and understand all the lingo. Finally figuring out all this YQ, CX, Y, J, F, etc....

Anyways, like lots of others, Im looking at maximizing the new BA 100k miles card. I already have spend my $2500 (dog needed a surgery) but now wondering about the companion ticket. Unlike lots of people here, I cant normally spend $30k a year on a credit card. I do have a possible opportunity though to get that $30k a year spending but it will cost me 2%. My parents own a small business that they can take credit cards with. THeir cost is a monthly fee + transaction fee + 1.9%.

Im wondering if it is worth pushing $30k on this card spending the 2% and getting the free companion ticket. Im really thinking a F or J ticket would be nice with the 100k promo and then get a free one would be stellar....but I have read that there are lots of fees and issues associated with the companion ticket.

Do you guys think its worth paying 2% and getting the companion ticket?

Im going to assume it is well worth the $600 IF the ticket is used on a long flight. My worry is that its only good for a BA flight and there is high YQ.

Benefits would be:
Free companion ticket
37,500 miles (30,000 x 1.25)

Negatives:
High YQ $400+
Have to be on BA flight
$600 for the companion ticket



Thanks
Tim

Don't forget that your estimate of $600 assumes that the entirety of the $30K will be spent in this manner. You've already spent $2.5K, so the relevant amount has already been reduced to $550.

If you're willing to use the miles for Business Class flights, I'd say "Go for it!" Otherwise, I don't think you'll end up saving too much.

This thread may help...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...visa-card.html

Make sure this doesn't affect their taxes in any way. Is there any chance that $30,000 'spend' would have to be reported as income since they ran it thru their system??

If you don't live in a BA gateway city, you'll have to factor in the costs in $ or miles of getting to a BA city to start your trip.

Taxes and fuel surcharges, etc. can be quite a bit, extra over the Award for each person. Also, check the Redemption table. And of course, availability is limited to certain days - so you need to be flexible in you plans. The Comp pass is a good deal if you can work around restrictions and were going busn or first class (as companion flys same class as you).

BA will put you on a partner as part of its award redemption. I'm flying ORF to GLA in August--the first part of that trip, from ORF to JFK, is on AA and was included in my redemption. ORF is clearly not a BA gateway city.

I appreciate it...I would split it into say 6-8 months. Talked to my dad and he said he will ask their CPA because they just send the business bank statements to them. He's not sure how they calculate the income from that.


Did you use miles for that flight?

I would imagine your dad would have to issue a "refund", maybe in a form of a company check to stay clear.

This is NOT the case if the OP wishes to use the 2-4-1 voucher. BA metal only.

Correct. I felt that previous statements left the impression that BA would not include a trip to a gateway city no matter whether or not the 2-4-1 was involved. I definitely used miles for my August trip to Glasgow, but I'm solo on this one.

For companion ticket purposes, keep in mind that in addition to obvious gateway cities, like New York and Washington, DC, there are some not so obvious gateway cities, like Tampa, Orlando, and San Diego that, in the context of a 2-4-1, may provide a reasonable alternative for a closer ground trip or cheaper flight.

Read this series on using your BA bonus miles
 

Check out this series from The Points Guy on how to get the most out of your BA miles. They are a great deal when you use on any of the partner airlines, so stay away from BA flights. Also, can get a lot of stopovers in there for free: http://thepointsguy.com/2011/04/how-...+Points+Guy%29

It is worth going for the companion voucher if you want to travel in club or first and want to go anywhere in Europe, but probably not if you want to fly in economy.

I just hit my 2-4-1 voucher this morning and looked at the cost of flying from IAD to MAN at Christmas (I live in DC but am from Manchester and we go back to visit the family for the holidays every year).

To fly in Club or First, it will cost us 100k or 150k miles and the fees are $912 each for either. To fly in cattle class it would cost 50k miles plus around $600, which is not much less than just paying for a cheap economy seat.

You can connect to pretty much anywhere in Europe through LHR as part of your redemption, but you just have to make sure that it is BA metal for the TA and the Euro flight when you are planning your trip.

jmho, but I passed on the 2-4-1 because of not being able to use it on the partner airlines which once again imho, is really the best way to use the miles.