Looking to redeem for a ticket from NY to LAX
 

I am looking to buy a ticket from New York to Los Angeles (LAX) this week. Dates: May 22nd to May 26th.

I have 90000 BA, 90000 of ultimate rewards (chase Saphire), and like 50000 AA miles (citi).

I have heard that traveling to LA Round Trip should only be 25000 miles using British Avios miles. However, I went to ba.com and when i try searching for flights, it says that British Airways doesn't have traffic rights to operate between these two cities. Any advice? Which states are possible stopover ideas?

I am a rookie and new to this forum, so I am sorry if I am raising a question that has been dealt with already in the past.

Your help is much appreciated.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

To redeem BA Avios for flights on AA, you must first log in to your BAEC account at ba.com, and then indicate in the booking engine that you want to pay with Avios.

But before bothering to do that, I would go to aa.com, and check award-seat availability there. (No log-in required at aa.com.) If you find nonstop Coach award flights offered at the "MileSAAver" level, then you should be able to find those same flights at ba.com.

However, if you only find connecting-flight MileSAAver award itineraries offered on aa.com, BA will charge you more than 12,500 Avios, since BA now charges for each flight flown.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

And welcome to FT!

Thanks for the welcome. You guys are really friendly here-- I appreciate it.

So I went to to AA.com and found a flight from NYC to LAX with the MileSaver , but not on the days I was looking for this week.

Are there are any tips? Do the flights ever open up last minute?

Also, how would you suggest getting there with miles under the current situation....


Thanks again.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

You could also search at united.com for Saver awards on your desired dates, but when you redeem UA miles so close to departure date, there will be a close-in ticketing fee ($75, I think).

It's possible that AA will release more SAAver seats closer to departure date, but there's no way to accurately predict whether they will.

Got it!

One more thing I want to clarify.

It seems that what you are saying is that a ticket found on AA MileSaver will work for the BA Avios. I just want to to confirm that I am understanding the following correctly.

After I went to aa.com and found a flight (not on the dates I wanted), I tried going to BA.com and finding the same flight. After searching, though, it says that British Airways doesn't have traffic rights to operate directly between these two cities.

How then can I use the BA Avios, if i don't want to waste another 12500 for stopping over?

Am i misunderstanding something?

Thanks

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Did you log in to your BAEC account and specify (from the drop-down window) that you wanted to pay with Avios before searching for the AA flight?

BA does not have local traffic rights for inter-U.S. travel, but that's irrelevant since you would be flying on AA. I though that the BAEC search engine now automatically includes partner flights on a search, but if not, make sure you click on the "Include Partners" button if one is offered.

K. Thanks. :)

I will log into my BAEC account and let you know.

Have a great day!

BA works great if you learn its quirks. Search each individual flight, plan to book one-ways as round trips often do not show up. Unfortunately there are no coach seats this week, but there are JFK-LAX first class for 37500 Avios, and LAX-JFK business class for 25K. I did find one routing through STL that showed up on AA but not BA - you should be able to book anything from AA along those lines over the phone.

Start here, log in, search for one-ways in each class: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...n_type=STD_RED

Another possibility is to transfer Chase UR to Virgin Atlantic and then book Virgin America JFK-LAX. But (and this is a STRONG STRONG "but") you have to call Virgin Atlantic and make sure the award seats are available. Should cost 25k for the roundtrip if you can find availability. Do NOT make the transfer until you know the seats are there. Good Luck

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Keep in mind that BA and United each offer one-way awards, so you might be able to fly out on UA and back on AA, if you can find the seats.

Also, certain connections on AA would only boost the number of Avios required from 12,500 to 17,000 for a Coach MileSAAver one-way. Examples: JFK-DCA-LAX; JFK-BOS-LAX; JFK-SFO-LAX; JFK-SAN-LAX; JFK-LAS-LAX; JFK-RDU-LAX; and LGA-RDU-LAX.

the aa mi won't work?.....you have enough for an anytime award....

orbitz is showing under $500 for sna on your dates....550ish for aa to lax....