-
Hi,
I hope this is ok to post here.
I am getting married in September. We would like to go to Tokyo for our honeymoon in 2024. As it’s a special occasion I am looking to do at least business class on the out route. Flying from London or at least UK.
I started with 54k Avios and I have done this so far;
Signed up for a Barclaycard AVIOS Plus. Hit the 10k spend. 72k AVIOS earned in Month 1. I need to keep this card for 12mths to earn a cabin upgrade voucher if I understand T&C’s which will be £20 a month.British Airways AMEX Plus. Just hit the 10k spend, waiting for the Avios and companion voucher to land in my Executive Club account.
My plan is to cancel this card so I can get a pro-rata refund of the £250 fee. Is this ok to do, I still have the free tier platinum everyday credit card which I believe I will need to book the flight to pay taxes as it has to be an AMEX.My plan was to use the 2-4-1 Companion voucher on the out route combined with my Avios to get two seats in business class.
Presuming I use my companion voucher outbound and have cancelled my BA Amex Plus card.
Is there value in keeping the Barclayscard and earning a cabin upgrade in 12 mths to use for the flight on the way home, is that even possible?
Alternatively is there another combination of things that are more efficient for what I want to do here.
Many thanks!
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.
With the Barclaycard, there is no requirement to keep the card after you hit your spend target. You do now, however, have to redeem the voucher in the app once you have hit the target, and they will issue it to you within 5 working days. They no longer issue to the voucher automatically, and my understanding is that if you choose nothing, then they issue the voucher at the end of the 12 months. You also have the choice of 7k avios instead. You may be able to downgrade to the free card in the app, if it allows you to. I would make sure the voucher is in your BAEC account before doing anything. I downgraded after earning my 2nd voucher, and there isn’t a requirement to pay with a Barclaycard either when redeeming, I used my BAPP to pay.
With the BAPP, the option to cancel with a pro-rata refund is being removed in October. Previously, the t&c’s stated that you must pay with the BAPP when redeeming (although it wasn’t actually enforced), but now says any Amex.
I don’t know about the Japan route, so hopefully someone else can provide insights into when you need to book, availability, etc.
You can only use the Barclaycard voucher for 1 person return, or two-people one way, but the flights must start from the UK, so you couldn’t use it to upgrade your return. But the BAPP gets you a 241 return, so you wouldn’t even need to use the BC voucher, as you use fewer avios with the BAPP alone.
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.
With the Barclaycard, there is no requirement to keep the card after you hit your spend target. You do now, however, have to redeem the voucher in the app once you have hit the target, and they will issue it to you within 5 working days. They no longer issue to the voucher automatically, and my understanding is that if you choose nothing, then they issue the voucher at the end of the 12 months. You also have the choice of 7k avios instead. You may be able to downgrade to the free card in the app, if it allows you to. I would make sure the voucher is in your BAEC account before doing anything. I downgraded after earning my 2nd voucher, and there isn’t a requirement to pay with a Barclaycard either when redeeming, I used my BAPP to pay.
With the BAPP, the option to cancel with a pro-rata refund is being removed in October. Previously, the t&c’s stated that you must pay with the BAPP when redeeming (although it wasn’t actually enforced), but now says any Amex.
I don’t know about the Japan route, so hopefully someone else can provide insights into when you need to book, availability, etc.
You can only use the Barclaycard voucher for 1 person return, or two-people one way, but the flights must start from the UK, so you couldn’t use it to upgrade your return. But the BAPP gets you a 241 return, so you wouldn’t even need to use the BC voucher, as you use fewer avios with the BAPP alone.
Thank you for the reply.
You are correct. I can indeed claim the voucher in the app. Thank you for clarifying I won’t be able to use it on the return leg of the trip I want to do. Do you think it is worthwhile to still claim the voucher rather than the 7k Avios, I guess I could use it for another trip in the future.
Yes I read about the pro rata rule changing October so definitely need to make sure I get my reward before then from the BAPP and then close that.
I didn’t realize the BAPP 241 gets a return. So I need to target earning enough Avios to pair with the 241 to get a business class return trip in the next 12-18mths.
Whilst the BC voucher isn’t as good as the Amex, I certainly value it more than 7k avios. I’m also a family of 3, so having the voucher is definitely useful to me, and I’ve used it one way for 2 people. I’m waiting to trigger my Amex voucher for when I need it. There are others on this forum that have chosen the 7k avios as they couldn’t get value out of it, so 7k is better than letting a voucher go to waste.
For example, I used it to upgrade two people one way when J (business) was 80k per person, and PE was 42.5k, so I paid 85k (therefore saving 75k avios with the voucher). If I had triggered my Amex voucher, it would have only cost 80k, and I’d have the 2nd half of the voucher to use, but we are returning open jaw using Virgin points on another airline, so the Amex voucher would have been slightly wasted for us, just to save 5k avios.
How many avios do you have in total? That might make things easier in deciding which cabin you can do on the return.
Whilst the BC voucher isn’t as good as the Amex, I certainly value it more than 7k avios. I’m also a family of 3, so having the voucher is definitely useful to me, and I’ve used it one way for 2 people. I’m waiting to trigger my Amex voucher for when I need it. There are others on this forum that have chosen the 7k avios as they couldn’t get value out of it, so 7k is better than letting a voucher go to waste.
For example, I used it to upgrade two people one way when J (business) was 80k per person, and PE was 42.5k, so I paid 85k (therefore saving 75k avios with the voucher). If I had triggered my Amex voucher, it would have only cost 80k, and I’d have the 2nd half of the voucher to use, but we are returning open jaw using Virgin points on another airline, so the Amex voucher would have been slightly wasted for us, just to save 5k avios.
How many avios do you have in total? That might make things easier in deciding which cabin you can do on the return.
I am with you, yes I think the voucher makes more sense than 7k avios. I will claim that today and then close my BC/downgrade the card once I have it in the BAExec account. I will have 24mths to use the BC voucher so I am sure I can find something for it.
At the minute I have 125,694 avios points. I haven’t received my welcome bonus or the points for the 10k spend from the BAPP yet. I hit the 10k spend over the weekend so should receive them soon hopefully.
If the alternative was around 20k avios, I might be tempted to choose the avios option, but to me, 7k is too low.
The points from the BAPP usually post into your BAEC account around 5 days before your statement date, they’ll show as waiting to be transferred in the app.
I had a quick look, and for Japan, off-peak per person one way is 100k avios in J, 50k in PE, and 35k in Y. There are options to use fewer avios if you don’t use the Barclaycard voucher (that requires max avios option), but you should have enough to at least do J out and PE back.
if you choose nothing, then they issue the voucher at the end of the 12 months. You also have the choice of 7k avios instead.
This is great for timing vouchers’ issue/expiry dates as the Barclay Avios is in the drawer £500 away fr 10k. Obviously unnecessary! Wish BAPP also has this feature to making life easier with various vouchers to coordinate.
If the alternative was around 20k avios, I might be tempted to choose the avios option, but to me, 7k is too low.
The points from the BAPP usually post into your BAEC account around 5 days before your statement date, they’ll show as waiting to be transferred in the app.
I had a quick look, and for Japan, off-peak per person one way is 100k avios in J, 50k in PE, and 35k in Y. There are options to use fewer avios if you don’t use the Barclaycard voucher (that requires max avios option), but you should have enough to at least do J out and PE back.
I agree, 7k doesn’t seem worthwhile.
Thanks for that info, will look out for them.
Is this what you suggest;
Apply 2-4-1 voucher, spend 100k avios to fly J one way from UK to Japan
100k avios for 2 x 1 way PE from Japan to UK.Or have I mis-understood you. Apologies if so.
If it is correct, I need to get to 200k avios before I book these flights.Then keep BC voucher in my account for later use?
No, the Amex 241 voucher is better than that.
You can do both outbound in J, and return in PE for 150k avios total (for both), or even fewer (see below).
100k for 1 person outbound in J, plus 50k in PE for the inbound), and then with the voucher, you get the 2nd person for 0 avios (outbound and inbound).
You could even do both legs in J (if you can find availability). The highest avios option is 200k for a return, but there are options to use fewer avios (but more taxes), such as 168k, 150k, 132k, etc.
I would suggest having a play around on your BAEC to see what the avios/taxes would be for mix of cabins (and then divide the avios by 2 after you have applied your voucher), and also a read on this website for the articles on how the vouchers work, etc.
Lastly, you might want to consider what options you might have to increase your points earning (such as referring your partner for a card, and them earning a bonus, if eligible).
No, the Amex 241 voucher is better than that.
You can do both outbound in J, and return in PE for 150k avios total (for both), or even fewer (see below).
100k for 1 person outbound in J, plus 50k in PE for the inbound), and then with the voucher, you get the 2nd person for 0 avios (outbound and inbound).
You could even do both legs in J (if you can find availability). The highest avios option is 200k for a return, but there are options to use fewer avios (but more taxes), such as 168k, 150k, 132k, etc.
I would suggest having a play around on your BAEC to see what the avios/taxes would be for mix of cabins (and then divide the avios by 2 after you have applied your voucher), and also a read on this website for the articles on how the vouchers work, etc.
Lastly, you might want to consider what options you might have to increase your points earning (such as referring your partner for a card, and them earning a bonus, if eligible).
Thank you for that breakdown, that makes a lot more sense now, Even better than I thought!
On BAEC, I can use the flight finder but I can’t mix and match cabins. Do I just book a one way J then book a one way JE separately and the voucher can be applied both times?
I think there’s a problem with the BA reward flight finder, but you can find availability for each leg as a one way using ‘check reward flight availability’ (it won’t work if you try searching for a return) For example, search Lon-Tok in J, and then also search Tok-Lon in PE separately, and you’ll find availability.
Then do a dummy booking using the dates you’ve found under ‘book with avios’. You should be able to book it all online if the availability is there for both legs when you book. For example, if you did outbound on 26th June and return on 28th June (obviously wouldn’t) but there’s J out and PE return availability, so you can see the avios/tax breakdown.
I think there’s a problem with the BA reward flight finder, but you can find availability for each leg as a one way using ‘check reward flight availability’ (it won’t work if you try searching for a return) For example, search Lon-Tok in J, and then also search Tok-Lon in PE separately, and you’ll find availability.
Then do a dummy booking using the dates you’ve found under ‘book with avios’. You should be able to book it all online if the availability is there for both legs when you book. For example, if you did outbound on 26th June and return on 28th June (obviously wouldn’t) but there’s J out and PE return availability, so you can see the avios/tax breakdown.
Thank you for that. I took a look and picked two random days in June. Both have J availability. The total is 220k Avios + £1100 taxes, 187500 Avios and £930 for J out and PE in.
I have the option to use less Avios and pay more taxes etc.
My companion voucher is now showing my on my BAEC so just waiting for the Avios then will close this down.
My cabin upgrade voucher is also here and Barclays have already transferred the Avios so I think I am good to downgrade/cancel?I think there’s a problem with the BA reward flight finder, but you can find availability for each leg as a one way using ‘check reward flight availability’ (it won’t work if you try searching for a return) For example, search Lon-Tok in J, and then also search Tok-Lon in PE separately, and you’ll find availability.
Then do a dummy booking using the dates you’ve found under ‘book with avios’. You should be able to book it all online if the availability is there for both legs when you book. For example, if you did outbound on 26th June and return on 28th June (obviously wouldn’t) but there’s J out and PE return availability, so you can see the avios/tax breakdown.
Not sure if this will appear as a double post because I did reply but I can’t see it above!
Thank you for this help. I managed to find two dates with J availability and it is 220k Avios + taxes and I can adjust that to save some Avios if required. That was like a 3 day holiday though!
I can find a J outbound on 19th for example but nothing after that. I have read about the 355 day release policy so do I just book my outbound now. Then wait and try to find a inbound in a few weeks as they become available?
I plan to holiday for 3 weeks.You may have found peak dates, as I think it’s usually an extra 10k avios each way for that (220k vs 200k).
Yes, you can book the outbound now, and then call to book the inbound when they become available. Just make sure you use the same combination of avios/taxes on each leg, so if you choose the 3rd highest option for the outbound, then you need to do the same for the inbound.
I am to Japan in January offpeak using a BAEC 241 voucher
If it helps my breakdown is
150,000 avios & £1540 for Business ClassDont forget that there is no guarantee for rewards being available, so if you have specific dates planned like cherry blossom in March, you may be out of luck since they have been released for a while.
I did the above post – booked outbound on release & then called to book the inbound & sort everything else out – that was in Feb & only today did the return leg get ticketed correctly!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
