The ‘How to book the return leg with 2-4-1 companion voucher’ thread

[Anna]

Slightly off topic but there’s real weirdness on the NAS/GCM route next year. No standard inbound availability from next March onwards, and seemingly none being released. I did a search with a new-style 241 and there were plenty of “extra” seats in J, even at T-355, though still none in Y or PE (I really don’t think there’s a massive one-way exodus taking place in the region next year!)

So I held my nerve and it paid off – SeatSpy is showing nothing for my travel dates next June, but I had no problem booking J seats both ways on one booking with the 241.

It’s showing the yin yang seats both ways but you can’t have it all!

[tblank19]

Slightly strange question but does anyone know whether it is possible to cancel only the outbound leg of a companion voucher booking but keep the return leg active? Note it was booked at T-355 and so have 2x seperate PNRs having called on release of the return to refund half of the avios

[davidn]

I am hoping to book 4x CW LHR-LAX-LHR in a couple of weeks, for the 2024 school summer holidays. We’re flexible on dates – don’t need or particularly want to fly out in the first few days – and while off-peak would be a bonus (thanks HfP for the calendar!) it’s not essential.

My wife and I each have one BAPP CV, and enough Avios in the household account to, if necessary (can’t get through before cut-off, or something) make two bookings online then ask for a refund – combine-but-not-combine! – later on.

This is my first attempt at the 1am dance, and (after reading through this thread and others) do my steps and prep sound good?

– added myself as a third party nominee to my wife’s account
– got Skype and the US number lined up for a 1am start, calling at around 12:40-45 am
– assuming I get through and have a willing agent, tell them at the outset that I’m a nominee and would like to make two bookings as above
– if it all works out, rinse and repeat for return-355, then be mindful of Rob’s turbulence story when choosing seats!

What’s the current anecdotal wait time to get through? I’ve recently seen a few minutes to being-cut-off, and also appreciate it might ramp up with eager parents in the coming days.

The consensus seems to be that the agent does indeed need to complete the first pair before booking the second? If so, I appreciate the gamble.

Again very anecdotal, and every year is different (especially recent years) but any general thoughts on summer holiday availability for that route? While there are a couple of flights (three back, I think) per day, and not the narrow, two week window of other holidays, that’s still not many CW seats… so I think the 1am call will be worth the effort?

Thank you so much for any advice. 🙂

[FH2]

davidn wrote:

I am hoping to book 4x CW LHR-LAX-LHR in a couple of weeks, for the 2024 school summer holidays. We’re flexible on dates – don’t need or particularly want to fly out in the first few days – and while off-peak would be a bonus (thanks HfP for the calendar!) it’s not essential.

My wife and I each have one BAPP CV, and enough Avios in the household account to, if necessary (can’t get through before cut-off, or something) make two bookings online then ask for a refund – combine-but-not-combine! – later on.

This is my first attempt at the 1am dance, and (after reading through this thread and others) do my steps and prep sound good?

– added myself as a third party nominee to my wife’s account
– got Skype and the US number lined up for a 1am start, calling at around 12:40-45 am
– assuming I get through and have a willing agent, tell them at the outset that I’m a nominee and would like to make two bookings as above
– if it all works out, rinse and repeat for return-355, then be mindful of Rob’s turbulence story when choosing seats!

What’s the current anecdotal wait time to get through? I’ve recently seen a few minutes to being-cut-off, and also appreciate it might ramp up with eager parents in the coming days.

The consensus seems to be that the agent does indeed need to complete the first pair before booking the second? If so, I appreciate the gamble.

Again very anecdotal, and every year is different (especially recent years) but any general thoughts on summer holiday availability for that route? While there are a couple of flights (three back, I think) per day, and not the narrow, two week window of other holidays, that’s still not many CW seats… so I think the 1am call will be worth the effort?

Thank you so much for any advice. 🙂

Hi – I called the US at 12.40am and they said that was too early and to call back as they would not stay on the line with me until 1am. I called back at 12.50am and got through straightaway. I was also booking 4 seats using 2 companion vouchers (mine and my husband’s) and they had to be processed as 2 separate bookings. Good luck!

[davidn]

Thanks, FH2, that’s very helpful info! Fingers crossed… the culmination of much advice from HfP. 🙂

[Kwab]

Hi, I think we are all familiar now I think with open-jaw routes but how about the inverse? So, flying say LHR-SIN but then the return leg booking SIN-EDI i.e rtn into a regional airport? Is that possible?

[Anna]

It’s fine, but you have to call to book it, or book LHR-SIN outbound and call to add SIN-LHR-EDI inbound.

[davidn]

As FH2 said, I also called the US number (+18004521201) at 12:50 and got straight through. The agent was very helpful, and the initial bookings were a success.

There was a little wobble when it was getting very close to 1:15am before the first pair was complete, but I managed to book the other pair ‘normally’ online.

However if there had been a scramble for the seats, I doubt two separate PNR bookings (due to one companion voucher on my account, and one with my wife) would have worked in time. Word of warning to anyone trying the same…

When I call back in a couple of weeks, I’ll probably ask the agent to book and refund one pair while I simultaneously book the other return pair ‘normally’ as a second one-way, then call back again in the morning to ‘combine’ it!

I also didn’t realise that as my wife’s CV is on her account, I had to pay for that booking on her Amex, rather than both on mine (apparently)?

[Jodytyper]

Hi all, first post but have been browsing for a few weeks.

We’ve managed to get 2a2c outbound to male next July and are now doing the waiting for the return flight dance.

It looks like the return flights go each Weds/Fri/sun so I was expecting the Friday 2nd August return to be available today and it wasn’t – is this due to 2024 being a leap year? I did check the general flight availability and couldn’t see a flight coming back that day.

So this means that the date I want, the Sunday 4th August would be out 1am Wednesday, does that sound right?

Thanks for any pointers, this is quite stressful 😂

[Jodytyper]

Apologies if this seems obvious but if someone could confirm that Sunday 3rd August 24 return leg would be available this Wednesday that would be super! I forgot 2024 was a leap year and was panicking somewhat.

Need to call the US at 1am, is that correct?

[Anna]

The leap year does an add extra day to when seats are released by BA. You can tell where they are up to by looking at a route which operates every day – so currently up to August 1st, the 2nd should be released at 1 am tomorrow, and so on.
Cash fares won’t be available yet which is why you’re not seeing those either.
Good luck!

[witty76]

Quick question I have booked a 2for 1 LHR – SIN on BA0015 on the return do I have to book the same flight i.e BA0016 or could it be on the BA0012?

cheers

[Princess]

Hi Everybody! As anybody managed to add the return leg after having flown the outbound leg?
I read all 13 pages, but it doesn’t seem to have ever been discussed. My ideal return is around 360 days after the outbound so it will only become available after the outbound…or I need to change a few things. Thanks for sharing!

[JDB]

Princess wrote:

Hi Everybody! As anybody managed to add the return leg after having flown the outbound leg?
I read all 13 pages, but it doesn’t seem to have ever been discussed. My ideal return is around 360 days after the outbound so it will only become available after the outbound…or I need to change a few things. Thanks for sharing!

No, the rules do not allow that. What you can do is to book a random return and then change it, subject to availability, to a date no later than one year after the outbound which is the limit of the ticket validity.

[Princess]

JDB wrote:

Princess wrote:

Hi Everybody! As anybody managed to add the return leg after having flown the outbound leg?
I read all 13 pages, but it doesn’t seem to have ever been discussed. My ideal return is around 360 days after the outbound so it will only become available after the outbound…or I need to change a few things. Thanks for sharing!

No, the rules do not allow that. What you can do is to book a random return and then change it, subject to availability, to a date no later than one year after the outbound which is the limit of the ticket validity.

Thank you JDB! This info is super helpful!

[Jodytyper]

Anna wrote:

The leap year does an add extra day to when seats are released by BA. You can tell where they are up to by looking at a route which operates every day – so currently up to August 1st, the 2nd should be released at 1 am tomorrow, and so on.
Cash fares won’t be available yet which is why you’re not seeing those either.
Good luck!

Thank you, when I saw the 2nd available today that made it much clearer! We’ve decided to try and add that date to our booking – currently on hold for 35 minutes 🙈

[polb]

Booked 4 club world flights lhr-jnb for next July. The return is released in a few days. I have enough avios to book online and call for refund of avois if necessary. It will require 2 bookings as using vouchers from 2 different people. Both people will be present when making the booking. Do you think it will be better to
A) book online and call up for refund.
B) one person call and book the seats in 2 different bookings (we are both nominated people on each others accounts)
C) both call separately and book.
Thanks.

[skybluesi]

Haven’t been able to find the answer to this in the thread.
Preparing to book flights for next sept BHD-CPT & JNB-BHD, understand the process with booking the legs separately and calling up to claim back the difference in avios.

My question is regarding the return leg – it seems when I try a dummy booking that I can’t book the return until the day after the first flight is released as the LHR-BHD for the following morning isn’t available yet.

Is an agent able to do this if I call up at release or is it a case of waiting until the following day and hoping it’s seems JNB – LHR in Sept isn’t crazy busy and so probably ok?

[Anna]

You can’t book the connecting flight until it’s been released, however you CAN book the long haul then call BA the next day and they will add it to the booking.

[DonLee]

Read through 13 pages, I think the answer is probably no, but I’ll ask anyway. Thanks in advance!

I have a LHR-PVG return ticket with voucher, just cancelled inbound leg as I decided to flight back with Virgin.
I also have an one way ticket HKG-LHR next year but paid less avios more cash option. Will I be able to link those two bookings and get some avios back?

[CombatClaret]

It it possible to do this trick without spare avios?
I have 200k avios plus a 241. The trip I want would cost exactly that (100k out, 100k in, then 241).

Can I book the outbound as a one way with 241 @100k then call to book the inbound, ask to apply the 241 and pay the second 100k.
Or does the return flight need to be booked as a one way too then half my avios refunded when it gets linked to the voucher?. So I’d need 300k?!

[Gary]

CombatClaret wrote:

Can I book the outbound as a one way with 241 @100k then call to book the inbound, ask to apply the 241 and pay the second 100k.

You can do this.

[essjay84]

Hi all,

Please can someone walk me through how to do this? I really hate to be the newbie coming and asking the same question that everyone else does but I’m struggling to understand the best way of going about this and have also read conflicting advice about making two bookings and not getting the avios refunded.

I want to fly Club World from London to Orlando MCO on 12th August 2024, returning 26th August 2024. I have a companion voucher. I’m a solo traveller. I have 125k Avios banked.

Currently the outbound segment is available, but not the return.

Do I need to book the outbound using the companion voucher now? And then what…?

At 1am on 26th August, book the return leg one way and call BA and ask them to refund me 50% of the avios? What if I don’t have enough Avios to book the return leg? Do I pay for it and then call for a refund?? (I think I have enough Avios to do them both on Avios).

Apologies in advance for what I’m sure is the most basic of questions.

[NorthernLass]

You don’t “need” to book the outbound first, but for MCO in August it would probably be advisable.

You can either book the inbound and contact BA for the avios refund (phone, chat or Twitter all work), or call and ask them to add it if you don’t have enough avios. Have a look at the rest of this thread for the best way of guaranteeing success with this, and/or check out Rob’s articles on using the 241.
Be aware you need to use the same ratio of avios and cash on both legs, so calculate how many avios you’ll need in advance of booking.

If you can’t get seats back from MCO, it’s not the end of the world as you can return from TPA or MIA, etc, using the voucher.

[annabh]

NorthernLass wrote:

You don’t “need” to book the outbound first, but for MCO in August it would probably be advisable.

You can either book the inbound and contact BA for the avios refund (phone, chat or Twitter all work), or call and ask them to add it if you don’t have enough avios. Have a look at the rest of this thread for the best way of guaranteeing success with this, and/or check out Rob’s articles on using the 241.
Be aware you need to use the same ratio of avios and cash on both legs, so calculate how many avios you’ll need in advance of booking.

If you can’t get seats back from MCO, it’s not the end of the world as you can return from TPA or MIA, etc, using the voucher.

Oops sorry may have hit report as opposed to reply! This is what I’m doing, waiting for the return now . . Although we want 27 August and happy to do Tampa if needed – not sure about Miami as is quite a drive. Luckily are two flights from MCO so at least 8 CW released per day. Aiming for later flight but will take whatever we can grab. Does an advantage of calling up may be they see extra availability on the 241?