Booking With Avios Tonight/Tomorrow Morning
Apr 19, 2019, 3:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 214
Booking With Avios Tonight/Tomorrow Morning
I'm booking flights tonight/tomorrow as it will be 355 days to departure tomorrow. Is it still the case that the system will tick over sometime after midnight and I can book them then?
In previous years it's been about 1am when I could make the booking but I'm not sure if it's still the same. We fly a couple of days before Easter 2020 and I want to make sure we get what we want!
Thanks.
In previous years it's been about 1am when I could make the booking but I'm not sure if it's still the same. We fly a couple of days before Easter 2020 and I want to make sure we get what we want!
Thanks.
Apr 19, 2019, 3:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
I'm booking flights tonight/tomorrow as it will be 355 days to departure tomorrow. Is it still the case that the system will tick over sometime after midnight and I can book them then?
In previous years it's been about 1am when I could make the booking but I'm not sure if it's still the same. We fly a couple of days before Easter 2020 and I want to make sure we get what we want!
Thanks.
In previous years it's been about 1am when I could make the booking but I'm not sure if it's still the same. We fly a couple of days before Easter 2020 and I want to make sure we get what we want!
Thanks.
Im sure someone with a far better understanding will come along but AFAIK that’s correct. Someone will know the best way to book but I’m not sure. I seem to recall if you ring another centre to speak to someone (UK office will be shut) just before the time so by the time you are connected you can book and if you have to wait 1 minute it’s not a problem.
Apr 19, 2019, 3:59 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 214
Ok, thanks. Any idea if the flights are available at 1am, or is it any time from then onwards?
I don't mind staying up to make sure we get what we want, but if it's going to be really late I might just go to bed and get up early!
I don't mind staying up to make sure we get what we want, but if it's going to be really late I might just go to bed and get up early!
Apr 19, 2019, 4:02 pm
#4
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,967
Between March and October it’s definitely 0100 current Uk time (BST) when rewards get released.
Worth staying up if you want specific dates especially on popular routes.
Worth staying up if you want specific dates especially on popular routes.
Apr 19, 2019, 4:02 pm
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,809
It's usually within a minute or two. Obviously BA's cranking IT needs to be up for it, but you probably have a better chance at that hour on the whole. If it's not one of the key routes it will probably still be there in the morning however.
Apr 19, 2019, 4:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,387
AFAIK: The guaranteed 4Y and 2J on each flight are made available at exactly midnight GMT (1am BST) 355 days in advance. Other availability can appear at any time but often also at midnight GMT T-355. Seats which are held, not paid for and then released can disappear and reappear seemingly at random, so often it seems that seats are made available some minutes after midnight GMT.
Apr 20, 2019, 3:39 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 214
I have another question about this booking if anyone can help. I used an Amex 2 for 1 voucher last night to book our outbound flights. The voucher expires on 21st April 2020 and our return flights, when I book them in a few weeks time, will be on 3rd May 2020.
Will I be able to add the return flights to the same booking, using the 2 for 1 voucher, or will I have to use the normal amount of miles for this half of the booking?
Thanks.
Will I be able to add the return flights to the same booking, using the 2 for 1 voucher, or will I have to use the normal amount of miles for this half of the booking?
Thanks.
Apr 20, 2019, 5:48 am
#10
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,967
I have another question about this booking if anyone can help. I used an Amex 2 for 1 voucher last night to book our outbound flights. The voucher expires on 21st April 2020 and our return flights, when I book them in a few weeks time, will be on 3rd May 2020.
Will I be able to add the return flights to the same booking, using the 2 for 1 voucher, or will I have to use the normal amount of miles for this half of the booking?
Thanks.
Will I be able to add the return flights to the same booking, using the 2 for 1 voucher, or will I have to use the normal amount of miles for this half of the booking?
Thanks.
Last edited by KARFA; Apr 20, 2019 at 5:54 am
Apr 20, 2019, 7:15 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Home Counties, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 539
I did this a couple of months back when it was midnight exactly. I got the flights I wanted but when I got to the payment which appeared to go through, at the very end of the process I got a message that said “unable to process this transaction” or something to that effect. I referred to this forum who said it was probably that someone had just managed to pay before me for those same flights. The payment sat in my PayPal account for a couple of days before dropping off. I remember double checking those flights before proceeding which probably lost me them. The moral here is don’t dilly dally, be careful but speedy!