Snagging Avios flights - pro advice needed

[LondonMummer]

I am trying to book 4 exceptionally competitive Business Class flights using Avios and two companion vouchers. I need pro tips!

So the long version is I tried at midnight GMT - which is a pain anyway as it's 2am where I am at the moment.

I called the US call centre 20 minutes ahead of time but they said it was too early and I had to call back. When I did so I couldn't get through and was on hold for 15 minutes before being cut off when the clock hit the hour saying the office was now closed.

I had the dates loaded online anyway and in the background was refreshing from one minute beforehand. As the clock hit the hour the flights for that day loaded but the Bus Class seats (on two flights) were already gone. Only economy showing. No one could have completed the booking process in a second so what am I missing?

I will try again tonight and at least see if I can get economy seats but it feels like such a shame as we have been saving for years and finally have enough miles and companion vouchers for our dream trip.

I'm somewhat limited on dates due to school hols so I can't be much more flexible on dates (or routes)

I haven't used avios but have used points for upper class on virgin.

They only release a certain number of seats for points/rewards at a time and I have seen them randomly pop up for flight so spent many weeks watching them come and go on flights.

Could it be the same for yours? E.g. they haven't 'gone' but at the moment haven't released any for rewards?. However if it is a competitive flight time maybe they will just keep them for paying tickets?

Depending on the time of year they may only release 2 seats on each flight. It can be hard to get 4. Im not sure what you meant by the seats had gone - were 4 avios business class flights showing?

I think ba has cracked down on the 'call the US number' now and the last few times we've had to call the UK number when it opens first thing. Are you able to book through your executive account online?

Maybe not.... I found this online 'not sure if it's still accurate

on popular dates that you have a better chance calling the British Airways Executive Club call centre just before midnight 355 days out and being ready to go with booking the seats as soon as the clock strikes midnight so the agent can hold the seats for you rather than hoping you complete the transaction online faster than anyone else.
As the U.K. call centre is closed at midnight, you will need to call the U.S. call centre on +1 800 325 4504.

This is helpful too - https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/04/01/when-does-british-airways-release-avios-reward-flights-2/ good luck tonight!

I share your pain! But you're doing the right thing with your strategy.

I'm guessing people have booked online because they're not using CVs and done it very quickly.

One good thing is that the new CVs have access to better availability than the four per flight. But you have to tick that you're using them for the availability to open up. By the same token, if it's the return leg over the phone, you couldn't search this but presumably the agent can on the phone.

I booked four business class to the west coast of the US this summer with the better availability. The agent found the four seats on both legs but when she booked the outward leg, the returns disappeared. Not sure what she did but something clever to re-load them up.

I wish BA would let you book online with CVs for both legs at different times. Otherwise it's a nightmare trying to secure the return flight.

Depending on the time of year they may only release 2 seats on each flight. It can be hard to get 4. Im not sure what you meant by the seats had gone - were 4 avios business class flights showing?

They changed that policy in mid 2021 and it's now a minimum of four per flight.

"On all our British Airways flights to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick we guarantee a minimum number of reward seats. We offer at least 8 seats in economy (Euro Traveller and World Traveller), 2 seats in premium economy (World Traveller Plus) and 4 in business (Club Europe and Club World)."

Have you checked the terms on your companion vouchers, only the ones with points from premium plus Amex allow you to book business class.

Thanks all. Yes I have two Premium Plus companion vouchers 😬

I feel for you, it's a life's work. I've used them to fly business and first to the US numerous times, plus SA and a few other places.

But it can take hours and hours of research and the US call centre thing. It becomes quite stressful as you end up booking the outward leg without visibility of the return for the popular routes.

We've also ended up staying extra nights at airport hotels to get European flights nearer the time, which is more money and hassle.

I'm about to book flights for Barbados next Easter and I'm dreading it...

The other tip I have is that you can get two BA cards and two CVs per year (assuming you can hit the spending limits). So I'm a supplementary card holder on my husband's one and he is on mine. Although you have to pay two fees then.

Hmm. Maybe try a different call centre- although really you should be able to get online. I get all my tips here www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2031028-your-guide-spending-avios-2021-edition.html You can ask for help on the thread.

The issue is that you can't book the return leg separately online if you have a CV, only by phone. You can wait for both flights to be released but the outward legs for the most popular routes are long gone by then.

So you end up in the silly scenario of booking the outward leg online at midnight. Then calling an overseas call centre at midnight to book the return when it's released.

Even if BA can't upgrade their systems to allow separate booking of CV legs online, I don't know why they can't add the CV to the second leg manually after you book it as a normal Avios fight. You'd need the extra airmiles at the time of booking but at least it might help make it less stressful.

Exactly this. It is indeed a life's work. I haven't even got to the return leg yet but can't see that there will be any chance of snagging Bus Class on either leg which is so frustrating because we've got enough Avios but will then have used up our two Premium Plus companion vouchers which would take us another two years to do (though as you say my husband could have his own Amex with associated fees but still another year or more to get to the same CV situation having used half our air miles to fly economy)

Do you have a bit of wiggle with dates? If so just keep trying. It's stressful though. With the hugh fees avois are only great value with business class now. We are stuck with one old and one new CV and it's not all use as you can't mix - that's another story!!

Avios are bloody useless. DH and I collected them for years but could basically never get flights where we wanted to go when we wanted to travel.

Then he did a few long haul business class flights, got his silver card back and suddenly we were able to book all sorts of flights on points including business class long haul for 4 of us. Unless you have a silver or gold card, are willing to travel at obscure times and want economy, it is no reward at all.

I am guessing someone else has got through to the US call centre on a similar timeframe to you but their agent has allowed them to sit on the phone until the flights are released and the agent has reserved them immediately. I know this does happen as I’ve been the lucky recipient of it in the past.

So, only advice is to try again tonight, I wish you luck!

The other issue is when you each have a CV in your name. So you both have to log in at midnight to book two passengers each on two separate bookings. Making the odds of getting one but not the other higher. Aagh!

I know they're great but it's a very stressful procedure.

This is exactly my theory. I think there is some way for Silver or Gold members to snag them ahead of lowly Blue members though I still can't work out how.

We are silver- we are all in the same pot with the same midnight scramble believe me! It does mean we can book our seats straight away so get the best seats. The new avios is much better for business class availability so you can't compare to the availabily on the old scheme really.

BA do add extra seatsafter 355 days depending on loading - we find subscribing to rewardflightfinder worthwhile .

Interesting.

My friend's husband is on the elite tier (gold plus or something?) and I think he gets one set of Avios flights on any route per year, irrespective of availability. Ironically he hates flying but spends much of his life on a plane. So there must be a few with improved access but not enough to account for this issue?

I wonder if the flight release loads up more quickly on the app or the website or something like that. I recall pressing refresh constantly, tapping in the details as quickly as possible and someone else beat me to it (for at least three nights running!).

We save companion vouchers for more popular long haul routes. e.g. we used my companion voucher to go to Antigua. There were a fair few seats available when we were booking about six months in advance.

I can’t imagine going through the faff that’s been described above! I would just book with cash for those places it’s hard to get Avios seats for.

It’s an idea which may not suit you but does it have to be BA? You can use the new style companion vouchers with Aer Lingus and Iberia now. I understand you don’t want to reveal where you’re going as it’s hard enough finding seats.

If not - I booked LHR-DOH-MEL-SYD-DOH-BHX with Qatar Airways through Avios for DH & I. Qatar was 180,000 Avios return whereas BA was more like 300,000!
I waited up until midnight and managed to secure two seats both way. Qatar Airways also guarantees business class availability on every flight (at least two seats).
It required much fewer Avios and the fees were much cheaper than BA also much better onboard product and the ability to fly back to my local airport.

Sign up to SpySeat - it’ll tell you when availability becomes available on your selected dates/route. Have a look at Flyertalk and see what others recommend. Good luck.

Your strategy really is all you can do. It's also getting incredibly popular as more people try to book these seats. I've been organised and lucky in the past but not last time I tried.