BA companion vouchers impossible to book business??

[FusionChefGeoff]

We’ve got enough Avios saved plus 2 x companion vouchers to go to Vancouver next year. But it’s impossible to book - by the time the return dates are available (currently selling 3rd August), the outbound flights (21st July) were snapped up 2 weeks ago!

You can’t book 2 one ways either as then you waste your companion vouchers on just half the journey.

What am I missing??

Or will we need to compromise and hopefully book Economy outbound (availability much better obviously) and try for Business on inbound only?

Buy the outward and return separately and rhen call ba and they merge them and you get the avios returned. Or biy the outward and call them on the day to book the return portion

I've used ours plenty of times but to get the big ticket routes . I always use it for one way only.
I actually thought it only applied for one flight ? I usually manipulate sending on the right credit card so I have two vouchers ready to use.
We've done Hong Kong, and Australia X2 like this.
On the phone one minute past midnight then day the seats are released to the BA executive club...it's only way to get seats

This.

Calling them does help. They always throw in our belfast to london flights too. The only one we've really struggled getting was japan, we had to do ot exactly 12 months before and ended up getting business out and premium economy back

As other people have said you need to book one way and then the other and get them merged. A year in advance and stay up until midnight for the release .

It is a faff and It used to be way easier than this

We use them regularly. DH always phones up to book.

We use ours to go to Barbados. I’ve found phoning is the only way. Don’t be worried about buying the outward flight when released and then phoning to get the return when they come out (at midnight). Staff are efficient and helpful in my experience. This years flights in March we ended up with premium on the way out (daytime flight) and Business on the return (night flight. It was perfect. Well next travel in November 2027 and will wait for the flights to be released in November 2026.

If you’re a FB user the groups on there are full of advice. I believe you book the outbound on release, then either book return on release and call BA to merge the bookings (they will then refund the extra Avios), or you call BA (American phone no) at 1am BST to book the return flights.

I’ve just made my first booking and tbh I just booked anywhere with good availability which ended up being USA, but a bit I do actually fancy going to.

if you use the Avios app you can look at where has good availability.

Calling them does help. They always throw in our belfast to london flights too. The only one we've really struggled getting was japan, we had to do ot exactly 12 months before and ended up getting business out and premium economy back

What happens if we don’t have enough Avios to make both bookings without the companion voucher?

So with the voucher it is going to be 440,000 for 4 flights return in Business.

If I book outbound with voucher it will be 220,000 then inbound needs another 440,000 - I guess phoning at midnight on day of release of return?? Why would using US number be better than UK one??

Cos the uk one isnt open overnight

Ah ok thanks - right I’m all set with alarms and reminders to secure the outbound leg online and then phone US line at midnight 2 weeks later for our return. Wish me luck!!

I e just booked LA and back from San Fran for next year. Rang up at 8am for the return and it was all fine.

The outbound leg you can book online using the voucher (at 1am this time of year)
The second you can book online without the voucher and call them and they will combine and refund the return portion Avios in respect of the seat covered by the CV
or - as people say - you can do any of this by phone which, provided you get through in time, can sometimes be better as they can hold the seats before they go online
i I have done some great trips with them but also had some stressful nights trying to book!

There is a good guide here head for points

Be aware that BA only guarantee to release 2 Premium Economy seats on any flight as it's the cabin with the least capacity so you will probably be out of luck with a family of 4 (very rarely do they release more than 4). They guarantee 4 business class seats on each flight.

Bear in mind that it's midnight GMT when seats are released, in the summer months that means it 0100.

@WHG1956ah dammit but that’s good to know about premium seats. Was pleased I had a plan so will now revisit that plan!

Some of the year they have multiple flights a day so if you were prepared to split over two flights that might work for you.