Using Avios points for the first time

PaulSkyWalker

Hi All,

We're planning a family break next Christmas to Australia from a London airport on 14th December 2019 to roughly 4th January 2020. For four of us, two adults and two kids (10 and 7 by then).

First question is: should we buy each leg of the trip separately (as in not returns), so we don't risk the outbound options going by the time the return flights are released?

We've accrued nearly 300,000 avios points, so think these will take a fair chunk out of the travel cost

The next question is the companion voucher they award me each year expires in May. Will this nullify us being able to use it?

Final question is: Is there a set amount of days each year that BA flights are released? I recall being told that they're always around 350 into the future... But I'm not entirely sure of this.

Any help will be appreciated

Thanks,
Paul

silvercar

General rule is flights released 355 days in advance.

For Australia, a very very popular route, people stay up till midnight to get the flights as they are released.

If you want the returns to be on the companion voucher too, you need to phone up and get them added to your outward booking on the day they are released.

I recommend the BA board on the flyertalk forum, where the Avios experts hang out.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club-446/

sandsy

With a companion voucher, the outward journey of a return has to be taken by the expiry date.

If you're not using a voucher, take a look at availability on Oneworld partners too. But this is often not available as soon as BA's own availability which, as above, is 355 days. Look at less common stopover points too, Eg Tokyo rather than Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok etc. But Flyertalk and Headforpoints are your friends.

richardw

BA operate old aircraft on this route, which could seriously impact enjoying the journey. The taxes fees and charges could be high.

Caz3121

first important question...what class of travel?
if economy, you may find the 'saving' from using Avios is not that great as the taxes and fees will make up a large chunk of the fare (and are payable for all passengers) - it does however give you flexibility for changes and cancellations that a cash fare wouldn't

phatbear

Given that you will be travelling in peak period the miles you need, per adult to sydney are.


Economy
100000 miles return per adult and £535.45 “taxes” each

Premium
200000 miles return per adult and £686.52 “taxes” each

Business

300000 miles return per adult Nd £918.29 “taxes” each.

As other posters have said australia gets booked up quick looking at the next 355 days there is only 1 day where there are 4 seats available in pe, quite a few in economy and none in business.

silvercar

As other posters have said australia gets booked up quick looking at the next 355 days there is only 1 day where there are 4 seats available in pe, quite a few in economy and none in business.

Wrong way round, It is a guaranteed 4 seats in business on every flight.

Caz3121

silvercar wrote: »

Wrong way round, It is a guaranteed 4 seats in business on every flight.

It is 4 economy seats and 2 business seats that are guaranteed on each flight (there may be more) there is no F or PE seats guaranteed to be released

phatbear

silvercar wrote: »

Wrong way round, It is a guaranteed 4 seats in business on every flight.

You misread my post.

I stated that


"looking at the next 355 days there is only 1 day where there are 4 seats available in pe, quite a few in economy and none in business"

Therefore as things stood last night there was no availbility in business for the next 355 days regardless of how many ba release on a day by day basis my post made no reference to the amount of seats released daily.

blindman

PaulSkyWalker wrote: »

Hi All,


Any help will be appreciated

Thanks,
Paul

THBO as a newbie to this game and looking for 4 tickets to Australia during XMAS period, you have no chance:(

With BA the amount of "airline service charge££££££" it's usually worth buying actual tickets from an Ex UK destination and earning the AVIOS.

If you still want to do the impossible then research at Flyertalk as advised by others.

Good Luck.

budgetflyer

The way to browse what is available is to go to https://www.Baredemptionfinder.com you can see a whole years availability.
BTW ,peak dates cash fares in Economy may be that high that a Amex 2 4 1 and Aviios could be a good use of points