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

[NorthernLass]

Definitely try again – and use Twitter or online chat, they will only ask for certain details and may not even look at when each booking was made.

[sm]

Has anyone managed to get BA to refund 50% Avios on return flights booking of open jaw trip via Twitter please? 🙏Thanks

[NorthernLass]

Yes, I’ve done it. e.g. outbound to IAD, inbound from MIA. You need to make sure you’ve made both bookings within the 241 rules, e.g. picked the same avios/cash option on both sectors. I got some pushback over the example I gave as there were 2 of us on the outbound and 3 on the inbound but I pointed out that it was within the rules and they relented and refunded the avios.

[yorkshireRich]

From a very quick glance Northern lass seems to be the expert here so will quickly post what I may plan to do in November 2024.

Going to use my 2-4-1 so could book the first class flight to Mexico City. Only an idea at present, but may book a return from Cancun to LGW two weeks later (attempting to get business seats). What be the best way of doing it?

[tmessenger]

First time poster but wanted to update everybody on my experience of this earlier this week. The invaluable advice in this thread was incredibly helpful.

My partner and I were looking to book Business reward flights from London to Mauritius on 10 September 2024. We phoned the US number (+18004521201) at 00:40 on T-355 to book and all seemed to go fine until we got cut off at 00:55 by a message telling us the lines were closed. Gah! We quickly phoned back, went through the options, and were told again that the lines were closed. By this time it was 01:00 so we were afraid that our chosen flights would have been snapped up.

In a panic, my partner found another number on Google (+18002479297) which got us through almost immediately. I have no idea what this number is supposed to be used for. After going through security and being told that the flights were (amazingly) still available, the call handler told us that she wouldn’t be able to help as she doesn’t normally work with Companion Vouchers. I think she sensed our slight desperation at this point as after a bit of back and forth she promised to ‘give it a go’.

Amazingly it all worked. She managed to reserve two Business seats on the flight we wanted with our Companion Voucher. We’re now planning on phoning back up and doing it all again for the return flights in 10 days time.

It really shouldn’t be this difficult to sort this but BA is BA after all. Thanks again to everyone in this thread!

[NorthernLass]

@yorkshirerich – thank you, I’m not sure about that but happy to share suggestions!

What I would do with this itinerary is firstly use the 241 to book DUB-LHR-MEX to save a shedload of cash on the surcharges and APD (especially important for Yorkshire folk 😂). Maybe have a mini break in Dublin with the savings. You’ll need a positioning flight to DUB, of course, but these can be had very cheaply from MAN/LPL and possibly LDS also.

However, if this is too much faff, just book MAN-LHR-MEX, or LHR-MEX if you don’t want the domestic connection – but the cash element will be much higher.

Then when your return flight is released, book CUN-LGW, either by calling BA and asking them to add it to your outbound leg, or booking online for full avios and requesting 50% back. If you book online, remember that you need to select the same avios/cash option you used for the outbound, or you won’t get the refund.

Hope this makes sense!

[NorthernLass]

@tmessenger – why didn’t you just book it online instead of waiting for someone to answer the phone?!

[DJP31]

A quick question, do I need to use the same Amex card when booking the return leg?

[NorthernLass]

Previously yes, however I’m not sure how important this is now that BA has changed the Ts and Cs so you don’t have to hold the BAPP to use the voucher any more. It might be the safest option, though, in case you get an agent who starts being picky about it.

[sm]

NorthernLass wrote:

Previously yes, however I’m not sure how important this is now that BA has changed the Ts and Cs so you don’t have to hold the BAPP to use the voucher any more. It might be the safest option, though, in case you get an agent who starts being picky about it.

Thank you! Can you recall if a response from twitter took long? Thanks again

[sm]

NorthernLass wrote:

Yes, I’ve done it. e.g. outbound to IAD, inbound from MIA. You need to make sure you’ve made both bookings within the 241 rules, e.g. picked the same avios/cash option on both sectors. I got some pushback over the example I gave as there were 2 of us on the outbound and 3 on the inbound but I pointed out that it was within the rules and they relented and refunded the avios.

Thank you so much. I think I replied on the wrong one! So nothing from Twitter (not sure how long this normally takes!) so I went on live chat just now and they said they wouldn’t help me as it contravenes the t and cs of the companion ticket. They said I should not have created two separate bookings and that I would have to cancel and get BA add the return to the original booking. It’s a real shame as I have lost out since taxes/fees from Hong Kong to London are only £36 each! Is it worth calling again in the morning or waiting for Twitter? 😫 thanks in advance.

[Anna]

@sm, they talk rubbish, try again until you get someone who will do it!
Twitter can take a couple of days to get back to you. They are more cooperative than the chat people IME.

[JDB]

Anna wrote:

@sm, they talk rubbish, try again until you get someone who will do it!
Twitter can take a couple of days to get back to you. They are more cooperative than the chat people IME.

They aren’t talking rubbish as the rule is that you must book the outbound and the return at the same time. It is only by unwritten concession that they allow ex post facto adjustment and not every agent is either aware that this arrangement exists or is willing to do it. Unfortunately, these calls and the T-355 calls to overseas offices are incredibly time consumptive so the more they are made, the more likely they will be stopped.

That said, if they OP calls again they may come across a more helpful agent.

[DJP31]

JDB wrote:

Anna wrote:

@sm, they talk rubbish, try again until you get someone who will do it!
Twitter can take a couple of days to get back to you. They are more cooperative than the chat people IME.

They aren’t talking rubbish as the rule is that you must book the outbound and the return at the same time. It is only by unwritten concession that they allow ex post facto adjustment and not every agent is either aware that this arrangement exists or is willing to do it. Unfortunately, these calls and the T-355 calls to overseas offices are incredibly time consumptive so the more they are made, the more likely they will be stopped.

That said, if they OP calls again they may come across a more helpful agent.

I’m not doubting the accuracy of you reply for a second but that must be one of the most used concessions of all time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an inbound flight club seat to one of the more popular destinations be available a week never mind a fortnight after the outbound is released.

[sm]

Thank you both. I will call them in the morning 🙏 live chat said the agent would then be able to add the return journey to existing companion ticket booking and then go onto cancel the booking I made today. I said they’d all been taken on both flights from HKG but somehow they could ‘see’ business class Avios seats even though I couldn’t. 🧐

They said I only had 48hours from 1am today ( special manager extension ) to cancel the return booking I made for free otherwise I’d be charged £35pp.

[sm]

Good news – Twitter sorted everything out! Took under 24hours for a response. I can confirm this is best route to get the 50% Avios refund after booking return journey online for full Avios. Avios hit account immediately. Thanks for all your help.

[R]

sm wrote:

Good news – Twitter sorted everything out! Took under 24hours for a response. I can confirm this is best route to get the 50% Avios refund after booking return journey online for full Avios. Avios hit account immediately. Thanks for all your help.

What wording did you ask them for on Twitter? I’ve tried chat support twice with the following and just get confused agents who tell me the voucher cannot be applied retroactively.

Hi there, I’ve used an AMEX 2-4-1 voucher for an open jaw booking and so need to request the 2 PNR’s to be linked and a refund of 50% of the Avios for the inbound

Outbound: XXXXX
Inbound: XXXXX

[NorthernLass]

Twitter agents are much better than chat. Don’t ask for the PNRs to be linked as they don’t actually do this so it just adds confusion. Otherwise what you’ve asked for is fine. Maybe clarify that it’s the BAPP companion voucher. They will ask for various security details so it can take a while but you should get it sorted.

[sm]

R wrote:

sm wrote:

Good news – Twitter sorted everything out! Took under 24hours for a response. I can confirm this is best route to get the 50% Avios refund after booking return journey online for full Avios. Avios hit account immediately. Thanks for all your help.

What wording did you ask them for on Twitter? I’ve tried chat support twice with the following and just get confused agents who tell me the voucher cannot be applied retroactively.

Hi there, I’ve used an AMEX 2-4-1 voucher for an open jaw booking and so need to request the 2 PNR’s to be linked and a refund of 50% of the Avios for the inbound

Outbound: XXXXX
Inbound: XXXXX

I wrote something like this! Hope it helps. I also gave them the original booking ref of outbound flights.

Just booked on http://BA.COM, my inbound avios flight XXX-XXX that became open for booking at 1am 23/9/23 for 11/9/24.
Please can you refund me half the Avios on this booking as this is the return journey of my open jaw flights using the other half of the BA companion voucher. I understand the taxes and fees element will remain the same.

[Spaghetti Town]

Is it still the rule the 241 can be booked/used with any amex card and not the BAPP the voucher was used on? Thanks.

[NorthernLass]

Well it wasn’t a rule previously, more of an IT glitch, but it actually changed recently so it doesn’t have to be the card which earned the voucher, so effectively yes!

[bellasmummy]

Still waiting for 241 flights booked 12/09 to be ticketed. I did call after a week but it still hasn’t been done.

How long would you wait before contacting again?

I can see the flights on MMB and seats are booked, but no payment taken and not ticketed.

[Spaghetti Town]

Another Newbie 241 question from me:

Can I book on RFS LHR-NYC and BOS-LHR without experiencing a jump in taxes as its open jaw?

[NorthernLass]

There’s no jump in taxes as RFS has set fees both ways. You need to book the same avios/cash combination on both legs though, or BA is likely to refuse to refund the 50% avios if you intend to do it that way.

Remember no RFS in F so you’ll still have to stump up a fair bit of cash if that’s your plan.

[Amy C]

You know there’s a contributor who always says to call using Skype because it’s free? Can’t find him now but I’ve seen it regularly said in ref to calling the American call centre. How is it free? I have a Skype account (not sure I’ve ever used it) but I cannot see a way that it’s free to use?