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Forums Frequent flyer programs The British Airways Club Adding return leg to outbound reward flight

  • 59 posts

    Is there any specific reason to have both flights on the same booking, or is 2 individual bookings ok?

    This is a normal redemption booking (not with any voucher).

    This is a flight for my parents, and they are worried about having the 2 flights on separate tickets. They called BA who said the return leg can be added on BA website for £35 fee, or over the phone for £35 fee plus £15 fee. Does that sound right?

    Many thanks

    59 posts

    Just to add, it’s a flight from Heathrow to Sydney. My parents are mainly worried about implications of being at immigration in Sydney with the two separate tickets, and also any implications with when booking travel insurance..

    11,980 posts

    Has the outbound been booked? You’ve got the whole availability issue to navigate with award bookings to SYD!

    If you can get the seats, there shouldn’t be any issue with 2 bookings (except 2 lots of cancellation fees if plans change). They will still have return tickets if asked about that.

    59 posts

    It’s a reward flight booking.

    Outbound already booked. Inbound (non business) booking now as it’s 355 days out.

    11,980 posts

    Just added to my post!

    59 posts

    Has the outbound been booked? You’ve got the whole availability issue to navigate with award bookings to SYD!

    If you can get the seats, there shouldn’t be any issue with 2 bookings (except 2 lots of cancellation fees if plans change). They will still have return tickets if asked about that.

    So no reason for immigration or travel insurance reasons?

    Also shouldn’t they be able to combine these free of charge over the phone as the return leg wasn’t available at the time of booking outbound?

    11,980 posts

    No immigration/insurance issues – even if they get asked about it, they can easily show that they have a date to leave the country. People travel on separate bookings (and airlines!) all the time.

    BA can add the return leg if they want to call at midnight, but if they book it online themselves they will remain with 2 separate PNRs.

    59 posts

    No immigration issues – even if they get asked about it, they can easily show that they have a date to leave the country.

    BA can add the return leg if they want to call at midnight, but if they book it online themselves they will remain with 2 separate PNRs.

    The flight is available right now. So they could call up to book it to the same ticket, and not be charged?

    11,980 posts

    Yes, if it’s only just been released.

    However, check whether the surcharges would be lower booking separately, if this would be important to them!

    59 posts

    Yes, if it’s only just been released.

    However, check whether the surcharges would be lower booking separately, if this would be important to them!

    This is the taxes/fees? Is there a way to check without having to call? Thanks for your help

    59 posts

    I should add that the outbound is club world and inbound they want premium economy

    8 posts

    here shouldn’t be any issue with 2 bookings (except 2 lots of cancellation fees if plans change). They will still have return tickets if asked about that.

    I am no expert in immigration matters, but it should be fine having two one ways. I think the confusion for people, is that some VISA’s or rules of entry say you must have ‘A return ticket’.What they actually mean is ‘A ticket to return’.

    11,980 posts

    Cabin class shouldn’t make any difference to any of this.

    To check surcharges, do a dummy booking for the inbound alone, then for the return journey, look at what they paid for the outbound then calculate whether there’s a significant difference.

    Someone saved well over £200 doing this from Shanghai the other day, though that was in CW.

    11,980 posts

    @PaulR – exactly, they just need to know you have an onward ticket.

    696 posts

    Well it matters if one of you were to get bumped 🤔 Otherwise immigration/insurance will have zero issues.

    Just don’t do what my DW did and take her gluten-free crackers off the plane 😁 😁 😁

    11,980 posts

    OP means separate out and inbound bookings, not travelling on separate individual bookings, so being bumped is no more likely to occur than normal.

    We were transiting SYD-WLG years ago and they confiscated my OH’s newly-purchased and sealed (at SYD) deodorant, which cost about £8!

    11,980 posts

    Anyway, I just tried to check the pricing, but am getting the dreaded message that BA are experiencing high demand.

    Your parents should probably book those seats asap, though, if they have no flexibility with the return date.

    59 posts

    Anyway, I just tried to check the pricing, but am getting the dreaded message that BA are experiencing high demand.

    Your parents should probably book those seats asap, though, if they have no flexibility with the return date.

    They’ve booked them, so now have 2 club world lhr-syd on 1 ticket, and 2 prem economy syd-lhr on another ticket.

    Phew, the main thing is they got the tickets!!! Is there much point in calling up BA in the coming weeks to ask them to merge the two tickets into one? I’m inclined to get them to leave things as they are, otherwise just more stress for them!

    11,980 posts

    As I said before (and is highlighted many times on this site!), they won’t merge the 2 bookings now they’ve been made. Your parents will have 2 PNRs, but that shouldn’t cause any issues, other than cancellation/change fees should the need arise.

    Well done them on getting those seats! They may well have saved some cash on the surcharges as well.

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