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Hi. I was looking to book 5 return business tickets to Mauritius in Easter 2026, using 2 companion vouchers (one in my name, other in my wife’s name).
We would be looking to leave on 28/3/26 (start of Easter holidays) and stay for 7 nights. I had a few questions:
1) Using the 355 day rule, would this mean I could book from 7/4/25 (at 1am)? If so would you recommend calling BA directly or trying to book online.
2) Do they only release 4 tickets per date or is there a possibility for 5 tickets (we need 2 adults, 3 children)?
3) Anyone been to Mauritius Easter time, and if so would you recommend travel that time of year?Thanks in advance.
Very unlikely that 5 CW seats would be released at peak time – have you been tracking how many BA have been releasing historically, just wondering if you have seen more than 4 at any point? Your companion vouchers may trigger extra availability at some point, but probably not at T-355, so you’d have to keep checking regularly if you wanted to wait and see. Again, some speculative searches might show if this seems to happen, and how long before the departure date.
It’s a but hit and miss at the moment whether online or by phone at 1 am is quicker just now, you’re probably best trying both simultaneously. Have a look at the long “How to book the return with the 241” thread which contains lots of helpful info on securing both outbound and inbound seats – and also Rob’s articles on the companion voucher.
You can do a dummy booking to see the latest date where seats are available and work from there.
You could always book a cash ticket separately if you managed to get 4 avios seats, or book the 5th person into PE if you can get one of those. They’ll be separate bookings, however, so you’d have at least 2 (for the 241 bookings), or possibly 3 if you add a cash or PE seat. it would have to be one of the kids on the separate booking, so it also depends how old they are – it might take an extra call to BA.
As vouchers in two names two accounts , both of you will have to online at same time may get done not another
Not necessarily – the quickest way to do this is to have one person nominated on the other’s account, then ask to book all the seats when they get through on the phone. There’s still going to be an issue with the 5th seat, however, if only 4 CW seats are released; this is going to have to be on a separate booking.
Looking at SeatSpy, however, many seats are being snapped up at T-355, plus there are only 3 departures per week, so this is going to be a tough assignment.
Thanks for all the replies.
I tried booking and called at 0050 but didn’t connect to the agent until 0059. Unfortunately the agent was unable to secure the tickets. He kept saying however that he would have struggled to book 4 tickets as the companion vouchers are under two different accounts, so he would have to make 2 bookings and he could not do so simultaneously. I explained I was nominated on my wife’s account but he said regardless he would need to book 2 tickets with one voucher, and then once secured he would book the second batch of 2 (by which point they would go).I think I may have just been unlucky with the agent I got but how do people secure 4 tickets using 2 separate companion vouchers (as I am assuming it is a common scenario)?
Thanks for all the replies.
I tried booking and called at 0050 but didn’t connect to the agent until 0059. Unfortunately the agent was unable to secure the tickets. He kept saying however that he would have struggled to book 4 tickets as the companion vouchers are under two different accounts, so he would have to make 2 bookings and he could not do so simultaneously. I explained I was nominated on my wife’s account but he said regardless he would need to book 2 tickets with one voucher, and then once secured he would book the second batch of 2 (by which point they would go).I think I may have just been unlucky with the agent I got but how do people secure 4 tickets using 2 separate companion vouchers (as I am assuming it is a common scenario)?
Which number did you call in the end, pls?
I think I may have just been unlucky with the agent I got but how do people secure 4 tickets using 2 separate companion vouchers (as I am assuming it is a common scenario)?
They both call up to use the avios and voucher in their own accounts.
Being a nominee on someone else’s account doesn’t make it your account or your voucher.
It’s very agent-dependent, people have posted that agents have been able to “grab” 4 seats at once when using 2 people’s vouchers, but it does require 2 bookings when the vouchers are in 2 different names.
With availability on this route being so poor, I would seriously consider using the 241’s to (e.g.) DXB connecting from there. Even though it’s Easter hols, SeatSpy currently shows 4 x CW and 2 x PE available on March 28th.
@Cat posted in the chat thread that she flew NBO-MRU with Kenya Airways – this might be another option.
But I always think Mauritius is a really long flight/lots of avios for an island/beach holiday. I was so disappointed when BA canned the SEZ route – there is no way of using a 241 direct now.
If you’re Avios rich then one technique is to nab all four seats at 0000 / 0100 (which in itself is not easy, this route is very competative) using one account. Then cancel them later that day FOC. Then you can rebook them yourself using the the two vouchers in two seperate bookings. The seats always return to inventory at this point.
On this run I’d say very very small chance of a 5th seat ever opening up though and I can’t imagine it would be cheap to pay cash!
I think I may have just been unlucky with the agent I got but how do people secure 4 tickets using 2 separate companion vouchers (as I am assuming it is a common scenario)?
I had to train my wife on the fastest finger game for our upcoming trip to Toyko. Using 2 vouchers we nabbed all four CW’s outbound but weren’t so lucky on the inbound and only secured two. I had to stump up cash for the other two which did cause a bit of bottom lip wobble but c’est la vie.
Good luck but it’s a heck of mission you’ve set yourself.
It’s very agent-dependent, people have posted that agents have been able to “grab” 4 seats at once when using 2 people’s vouchers, but it does require 2 bookings when the vouchers are in 2 different names.
With availability on this route being so poor, I would seriously consider using the 241’s to (e.g.) DXB connecting from there. Even though it’s Easter hols, SeatSpy currently shows 4 x CW and 2 x PE available on March 28th.
Decided to do something yesterday. Saw they had availability for Doha so booked 4 x business to there. Added benefit they had 5th seat in premium economy – was able to book 4 x business online and then called up for 5h seat as it was for my child. I will probably end up staying in Doha (not quite Mauritius but we have been before and it is pleasant enough) – added benefit is less avios points used and lower taxes.
I think I may have just been unlucky with the agent I got but how do people secure 4 tickets using 2 separate companion vouchers (as I am assuming it is a common scenario)?
I had to train my wife on the fastest finger game for our upcoming trip to Toyko. Using 2 vouchers we nabbed all four CW’s outbound but weren’t so lucky on the inbound and only secured two. I had to stump up cash for the other two which did cause a bit of bottom lip wobble but c’est la vie.
Good luck but it’s a heck of mission you’ve set yourself.
I agree with you. I think it would have been tall order to even secure the 4 x business class tickets, let alone the 5th. I asked for the cost of 5h in business and as you mentioned cost can be mouth watering lol. Hopefully should be able to secure similar tickets for my return journey from Doha, and at some point hope the 5h business ticket becomes available.
If a further business ticket becomes available I am assuming I would call to change the PE to Club and pay the £35 admin fee?
DOH is one of the easiest destinations to get award seats to for now, I think you’ve a good chance of another CW seat coming up. Probably worth setting up an alert because they’re not always grabbed as soon as they appear. Yes call to rebook, in this this case.
It’s a shame that QR don’t fly to MRU as it would be convenient to connect from DOH!
@Cat posted in the chat thread that she flew NBO-MRU with Kenya Airways – this might be another option.
But I always think Mauritius is a really long flight/lots of avios for an island/beach holiday. I was so disappointed when BA canned the SEZ route – there is no way of using a 241 direct now.
Kenya Airways is good especially if you add a safari, but safari is not cheap. Unfortunately August (migration time) is slightly cool in Mauritius, but still very pleasant.
Mauritius might be a long way , but the top resorts the service beats Seychelles and in my opinion Caribbean. Mauritius is our number 1 beach holiday. But a long way unless you are spending at least 2 weeks , preferably more.
Apologies to the OP for jumping in, but thought it best to keep info in the same place.
I know it’s anathema to people who HfP’s but has anyone on here ever flown Economy to Mauritius ? Or maybe out one class and back another ? I will never get my act together enough to be on a phone at midnight, so I know that I would be looking at the leftovers. Is there an area that people prefer, Flic en Flac seems to be popular?
@Misty, there does sometimes seem to be PE availability if you avoid peak times. It’s not a bad cabin, small so it doesn’t feel busy or crowded, and with the foot rest extended the seats are quite comfortable. Not the best for sleeping, but I find these days I can’t sleep in any cabin!
@NorthernLass I’m like yourself in that I can’t sleep on flights, whereas my OH seems to be able to drop off either night or day so it probably wouldn’t be a problem for us, we would both do what we normally do. I’m sure my friend who has been twice with TUI in economy said it was manageable, although I don’t know what planes/airlines they use. Apparently there is no jet lag, which is always a bonus.
@NorthernLass I’m like yourself in that I can’t sleep on flights, whereas my OH seems to be able to drop off either night or day so it probably wouldn’t be a problem for us, we would both do what we normally do. I’m sure my friend who has been twice with TUI in economy said it was manageable, although I don’t know what planes/airlines they use. Apparently there is no jet lag, which is always a bonus.
So we have OH (never sleeps well), my good self (don’t really want to sleep: movies and drinks? Yes, please!) and the youngster who sleeps absolutely anywhere, so we’ve done a fewer longer economy no problem. I do admit I’d far far rather a day flight: upstairs on an A380 or daytime returns from Asia have worked really well.
Same here! The last 2 overnights PLUS having to transit LHR have been verily Dante’s levels of hell.
@Misty – Yes, I’ve flown economy to Mauritius (with Air Mauritius) but that was 20 odd years ago when the budget would never stretch to anything more. 10-odd hours somewhat cramped was the price to be paid in order to spend out on the hotel for 2 weeks.
@Misty – Yes, I’ve flown economy to Mauritius (with Air Mauritius) but that was 20 odd years ago when the budget would never stretch to anything more. 10-odd hours somewhat cramped was the price to be paid in order to spend out on the hotel for 2 weeks.
Thank you @MrWhite I’m quite encouraged by that and I checked with my friend who said it was OK, she didn’t go on Air Mauritius though, she was on Emirates which she rated highly. She said the big decision you need to make if you fly economy is if to fly direct or change in Dubai. Unfortunately there is a really negative thread on trip adviser about Air Mauritius which is a bit off putting, so I guess I would go on BA from Gatwick, or Emirates if I go with TUI. Will probably do the former as I have plenty of AVIOS sitting around doing nothing.
@Misty – why not PE then? Much better experience than economy, if you have the avios.
The dates I am looking at even using OH’s account that has a voucher all seem be showing as Economy, yes I would be happy with PE. But I don’t have a subscription with seatspy, I guess that would make it easier to search.. I was thinking of either this November or February next year, but can be very flexible on actual dates.
The 241 doesn’t give extra availability in PE, just CW, but SeatSpy is showing a handful of dates, so I guess it’s how flexible you are. PE doesn’t usually get snapped up as fast as CW on release unless it’s peak season.
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