MSE News: Avios and BA to slash points earned on cheap economy flights

jasper2176

I booked a flight with American Airlines for a flight from Manchester to Washington via Philadelphia and having enough Avios miles for an upgrade I tried to redeem them but the BA Executive Club cannot process this even though the web site states that Avios can be used on partner airlines which this is. I have an AA flight number and code locator number and a BA flight number but no equivalent BA code locator so BA have just washed their hands of it.If BA are booking passengers onto code share flights then why can they or AA not "see" my equivalent BA locator code.I never had any problems with BMI as a member of Star Alliance but since BA took over BMI and did not give me the option of transferring my miles to a Star Alliance airline I have been stuck with them.This is especially galling now that BA is charging extra , both in money or Avios points to fly via London and that they do not have any long haul flying out of Manchester and rely on code shares.
Maybe BA should be renamed London Only Airways.

SW17

jasper2176 wrote: »

I booked a flight with American Airlines for a flight from Manchester to Washington via Philadelphia and having enough Avios miles for an upgrade I tried to redeem them but the BA Executive Club cannot process this even though the web site states that Avios can be used on partner airlines which this is. I have an AA flight number and code locator number and a BA flight number but no equivalent BA code locator so BA have just washed their hands of it.If BA are booking passengers onto code share flights then why can they or AA not "see" my equivalent BA locator code.I never had any problems with BMI as a member of Star Alliance but since BA took over BMI and did not give me the option of transferring my miles to a Star Alliance airline I have been stuck with them.This is especially galling now that BA is charging extra , both in money or Avios points to fly via London and that they do not have any long haul flying out of Manchester and rely on code shares.
Maybe BA should be renamed London Only Airways.

OK, there are some restrictions around upgrading with Avios, both on BA flights and flights with partner airlines. Dependencies include who you booked with, how you booked, the cabin of travel and the fare class within that cabin. So...

How did you book (e.g. online with BA.com, online with AA.com, by phone with either, through a travel agent)?

What cabin have you booked and what are you trying to upgrade to?

You mention that you have an AA flight number and a BA flight number. Please clarify - did you book a BA flight number which is being operated by AA/US?

Did you put a BA frequent flyer number into the booking at time of booking?