Using a BA/Amex companion voucher on an "open jaw" flight?

AdamBrunt

Hi all,

Has anyone got experience of doing the above?

We are well acquainted with how the Amex voucher works on standard one-way/return flights but we're looking into using the next one (when we get it) with an "open jaw" / multi city flight i.e fly out of LHR to one city but fly back to LHR, at later date, from another city.

We are aware of the rules (in terms of the distance limit between the 2 cities, etc) but we are not sure how you go about actually booking the flights.

With a normal return you can't use the companion voucher until the inbound flight is available but AI suggests for an open jaw flight … you book a one way flight (with the voucher) as soon as the outbound flight is listed and then x weeks later call BA Executive Clubs services to book the inbound flight and get them to add the voucher to the flight. Does that seem correct? Has anyone done it before?

Also, we are a bit confused with flight release dates … AI says reward flights are released 355 days before departure but we have always thought it was only 11 months?

TIA for any help.

Glad

BA definitely release reward flights 355 days in advance, so AI has got that bit right!

I'm not so sure about the booking procedure though. I've seen suggestion somewhere about booking the outbound with the voucher and then phoning BA when the return becomes available, but BA's published terms seem to say the return should be booked at the same time.

I'd be inclined to ring the BA Executive Club before booking anything, particularly as you're looking at an open-jaw journey.

I'll also have a search as I'm sure I've seen this asked previously

jimi_man

355 days is correct. The way to do it is to book the outbound when released, then book the return when released. You’ll need to call BA to book it both times.

AdamBrunt

Thanks both.

The underlying issue - even if you wait till the inbound flight is listed … is that the BA website doesn't let you book a complete open jaw flight using a companion voucher online