upgrading BA flights booked in a package

budgetflyer

most people arent interested in points collecting.

pleasedelete

budgetflyer wrote: »

most people arent interested in points collecting.

Not my experience- most people are. We fly 4 x 1st class with BA a year and up to 8 UC returns with Virgin a year- all for less than the cost each of an economy fight- with full no cost cancellation. Plus have over a month for free hotel nights a year- all on various points.

Almost every penny of my spend goes on a points earning credit card.

Headforpoints is the best UK site.

dickydonkin

budgetflyer wrote: »

most people arent interested in points collecting.

But if you are flying anyway, you may as well join the relevant FF scheme(s) as it doesn't cost anything.

I have three upcoming trips on BA (HKG, BOS, MIA) and got great prices EX eu and managed to upgrade to First on all of them with Avios.

It's a no brainer.

stoneman

dickydonkin wrote: »

But if you are flying anyway, you may as well join the relevant FF scheme(s) as it doesn't cost anything.

I have three upcoming trips on BA (HKG, BOS, MIA) and got great prices EX eu and managed to upgrade to First on all of them with Avios.

It's a no brainer.

I wouldn't bother using my Avios on an upgrade from CW to F on BA for the East Coast trips. BA F isn't anything that special. CW would suffice for a 7-9 hour trip IMO.
I've found better use for them booking hotels now.

We do all our jaunts starting in DUB with AA, their Business seats on the A330 are far better than BA J.

dougzz

pleasedelete wrote: »

Not my experience- most people are. We fly 4 x 1st class with BA a year and up to 8 UC returns with Virgin a year- all for less than the cost each of an economy fight- with full no cost cancellation. Plus have over a month for free hotel nights a year- all on various points.

Almost every penny of my spend goes on a points earning credit card.

Headforpoints is the best UK site.

Surely you'd have to spend hundreds of thousands of GBP to earn enough points for 12 first class flights per year?

marsman802

I can see a route to 2x BA F rtns spending £18k. That would involve two people using both BA AMEX and AMEX GOLD, referring each other, hitting the intro offers, spending enough to qualify for a 241 voucher on BA and then the taxes to book the flights.

Would require a big effort to do it to the tune of 12 flights

malkie76

dougzz wrote: »

Surely you'd have to spend hundreds of thousands of GBP to earn enough points for 12 first class flights per year?

Indeed. Even going the short distance to NYC 4 times in F on BA would cost 1.28million avois and £5374.88 in taxes/fees. This is the equivalent of a spend of £853k on a credit card, assuming 1.5 avois per £.

(Cost would be marginally lower if use a 2-4-1 voucher)

dougzz

I'm probably taking two friends to Washington DC next year, maybe NYC too. I'm used to travelling alone and rather enjoy WT+, I'd enjoy Club more but cost is always a factor. I was going to apply for the BA Amex, and get the 25,000 avios by booking the WT+ flights with it, which with some other spending would easily take me to the £3K necessary. I'd earn close to another 9,000 avios booking the flights. I'd obviously have to pay the £195 fee for the first year, cancelling it within that first year. Good deal or could I do better? I would use the Avios, mostly on European flights for city breaks. I don't want to originate in DUB or AMS, it's supposed to be a present, not a money saving obstacle course. I'm thinking about whether to get it now and try to have the 241 voucher as a result of spending £10K in the year. But I'm slight concerned I'd focus on spending the money to achieve the voucher. Also, how restrictive is the use of the 241 voucher, and does BA/Amex award it when you hit the £10K spend, or on the 1st year anniversary of getting the card. Would you have to keep the card a 2nd year to get the voucher if it's awarded as the 1st year completes.
Thank you all and any that can offer advice.

jpsartre

You get the voucher when you hit the required spend. You need to keep the card to keep the voucher but you can downgrade the card to a regular blue card which is free of charge.

dickydonkin

stoneman wrote: »

I wouldn't bother using my Avios on an upgrade from CW to F on BA for the East Coast trips. BA F isn't anything that special. CW would suffice for a 7-9 hour trip IMO.

Each to their own - but if you have a bank of avios doing nothing and redemption upgrades become available, then why not?

I wouldn't burn avios for an overnight TATL flight as CW generally would suffice, and yes, BA First is a moderate product, but factoring in access to the Concorde Room which has better F&B than the BA First lounge, plus other little add ons, then 20,000 avios to upgrade to F is worthwhile.

As for BA Club World, this is indeed a mediocre product with very average food and condensed cabins, however, it is reasonable value if you can purchase EX eu flights, and certainly doesn't justify the hefty ticket prices from the UK, however, some sales do represent value.

Most of my tier points and avios are earned on QR J anyway which is a far superior product to BA.