Booking American Airlines seats with Avios

[Iainm]

I’m looking to book a couple of flights from MIA to BGI for next May using my Avios.

The BA site is giving me the option of economy but not business. I’ve checked on the AA site and there is definitely business seats available. Are BA not able to book those? Or is it a requirement that I phone BA to book those?

Thanks for any tips.

[davefl]

You can only book what used to appear on the AA site as AASaver awards. (lowest bucket)

The only date in May there apppears to be seats at that level are the 19th Outbound. 15 & 22nd inbound. Use the calendar and search business/1st only for the ones highlighted in green.

However since AA moved to variable and sale pricing you may not be able to book a sale fare that’s lower than the saver one

[Iainm]

Thanks for that Davefl…appreciated

[NorthernLass]

Is it worth booking business class for such a short flight? Unless you’re drowning in avios or desperate for the free checked bags, economy would be fine. You don’t get lounge access for short haul AA flights so there aren’t really that many benefits (unless I’m wrong there and it’s only domestic flights where they don’t allow you in the lounge?)

[ChrisC]

It’s only US domestic where you don’t get lounge access (absent the flahship roues like JFK-LAX/SFO) with a business class ticket.

If @Iainm has BA silver / gold (or one world equivalent but not if it’s from Aa) then they would get lounge access

[Iainm]

I don’t have status, but I do have a platinum amex which I believe gets me into the AA lounge I believe.

As for the Avios, it’s 22k for 2 for a one way economy or 44k for business, when you look at the cash price, the business is great value.
Maybe should have said I already have a BA reward flight booked out of BGI

[davefl]

Iainm wrote:

I don’t have status, but I do have a platinum amex which I believe gets me into the AA lounge I believe.

As for the Avios, it’s 22k for 2 for a one way economy or 44k for business, when you look at the cash price, the business is great value.
Maybe should have said I already have a BA reward flight booked out of BGI

Amex Plat gets you into Delta lounges on a skyteam alliance ticket, not AA ones. It’ll get you into the Amex Centurion lounge at MIA though.

Agree on the value when the luggage costs $30-40 per bag on economy and you get booze/food as well as priority checkin, boarding etc with biz.