Forget the Avios changes for now – just get booking!

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• Chelseafi says:

  1 Feb1 February 19:53

  Thank you for your help on here. I’m still learning lots. I started saving avios a few years ago via Tesco clubcard, then three years ago now got the BA amex card with the 241 after 10k spend. We are a family of four school hols only and visit US, florida every other year and Atlanta the other year, so BA works for us. After two years on amex spend I had the two 141 vouchers and lots of Tesco club cards vouchers and managed to get four 1st class return flights to Atlanta over the Easter holidays in April 14, loved it as only ever flown economy before. I am off to Orlando this summer flying out end July returning mid Aug, Last Sept I had booked 4 return flights via avios redemption to miami as orlando wasn’t available, but didn’t want to use too many Avios points on economy returns, so paid part cash £2460 & 60,000 points for the four tickets, I was happy with this as two years ago , I couldn’t get any flights, so paid £4,000 for 4 ecom returns to Orlando (usual BA cost for time of year). Since booking I now have two 241 vouchers, as husband got amex card too, after all the goings on Thurs, with BA I checked availability and was surprised how many flights were available. This is where I messed up and wished I knew what I should have done. I had 150,000 in my household account and £600 tesco points to convert if needed, I had the booking to miami, which if canceled retuned my 60,000. Availability was four ecomony return flights to Orlando (which was better then Miami for me) and four club world return flights too for my dates I wanted, I was very excited, as I wanted these…. I rang BA and told them I wanted the four club returns, use my 2 241 and cost 200,000 avios. But because I still had the miami booking that used 60,000 I didn’t have enough to book, I asked BA for advice what should I do. I was advised to change my miami econ to Orlando econ and then add the 50,000 into my account so that I could book the club returns using the 2 241 and then cancel the econ bookings, that was 3pm 29th Jan, by 7.30 am 30th Jan, I had the 200,000 in my account ready they still had the outgoing club for four but returns had gone. I rang BA ready at 7.30 but the agent couldn’t get the four club, he said the best he could do was two on one flight and two on the flight 2 hours later, we didn’t want that, I am annoyed, I missed out, think I got bad advise from BA, as thinking about it, I would have been better off booking the outgoing club flights the previous day and then changing to the return club (if and had) they still been available as I had 150,000 in my account, but I don’t know enough about changing or cancelling, as I didn’t want to end up with neither. Think I’m right that I messed up, I keep looking but think I’ll be lucky to see 4 club on the exact dates we need, as we have accom booked, they still have the 2 club on each flight, should I just keep checking and is it worth nearer the travel date, if they release more? Sorry it’s a bit long but wanted to give all details. Thanks for any help or comments.

  • Jason says:

    1 Feb1 February 20:18

    I’m sure Raffles will know for sure, but you should have cancelled the Miami flights, got your 60k back into your account and booked the CW tickets there and then, there was every chance someone would snap them up, especially over school holidays. The advice doesnt sound great, that you were given.
    Although I’m not sure you get a refund on the part cash part Avios element, which is why they may have advised a change rather than refund. It it was all Avios you definitely get the points back.

    • Rob says:

      1 Feb1 February 20:29

      Agreed. They should have (and can do this) have cancelled the first tickets and rebooked them in the same transaction on the phone so you were guaranteed not to lose them. You must have got an inexperienced agent.

      More seats may open up but it would be a little surprising given it is school holidays, unfortunately. Tampa, Miami etc may open up.

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