Booking and adding voucher later

[phil-lavin]

Hi folks,

Per the other thread, looks like Barclays have some issues issuing upgrade vouchers currently. I’m getting a bit paranoid about the route I want not having reward availability.

I want to book return flights in CW for 4 people. I plan to use 1x Amex voucher and 2x Barclays vouchers for this. As it stands, I have 1x Amex voucher and 1x Barclays voucher.

What can I do currently? Can I call BA to have them book 2x CW returns (using companion voucher), 2x CW outbound (using Barclays voucher) and 2x premium economy inbound (with no voucher)… with the intention of upgrading the PE returns to CW when the voucher comes through (assuming seats still available)? Is this possible or will it confuse BA?

Thanks

[NorthernLass]

The received wisdom is that BA won’t apply 241 or upgrade vouchers to existing bookings, but there’s clearly an issue with the vouchers not appearing in people’s accounts at the moment, so I don’t know if there would be any leeway because of that. I suspect BA will say it’s not their problem though!

Also – you can’t use a voucher on a trip starting outside the UK, so your outbound and inbound legs would need to be on the same booking, it’s not clear if this is what you’re suggesting in your post!

As you say, you need the availability in the higher cabins, so I don’t see that booking lower ones now is going to help unless you’re ultimately happy to travel in those.

[phil-lavin]

Thanks @NorthernLass. In the worst case, I’d be “happy” for 2 people to travel back in PE rather than miss out on the CW reward flights all together.

So I think you’re saying I can book 2x CW returns, 2x CW singles outbound and 2x PE inbound now… but won’t be able to add the voucher later unless BA take pity on me due to the Barclays issues. Assuming they won’t, what’s the required action? I presume I need to cancel some of the bookings? Which one(s) and what is the fee?

[NorthernLass]

Fee currently is £35 per person, per booking, to cancel (so implications for both return and one-way bookings). I guess you’d cancel the ones you wanted to use the Barclays vouchers on, and re-book, if you’re happy with whatever seats are available at that point.

You could always book the CW seats you want then hope they come back into the inventory when you cancel, but this isn’t guaranteed.

If it starts looking as though it’s going to take some time for the Barclays issue to be resolved, I would just go ahead and book the seats you want, if you have enough avios. The new voucher should have the full 2 year validity when it eventually posts, so you can use it for a future trip.

[phil-lavin]

Thank you ^^ Somebody in the other thread said it should be sorted this week. If not, I’ll book on Monday

[NorthernLass]

Mmm, I would not count on that!