Forums › Frequent flyer programs › British Airways Executive Club › The ‘How to book the return leg with 2-4-1 companion voucher’ thread
-
I had no joy on the US number (phone line got disconnected / hung up) after I told them what I wanted. Was then closed when I called back. Weekend too, but rang UK 8AM and thankfully seats still there.
It seems like the UK “change an existing flight” number opens at 6AM daily – whereas standard opens at 8AM.
Did you call the standard, as opposed to the change line? Or is that other one not possible?
I’m trying to sort Tokyo so waiting til the morning might not always work!
I’m trying to sort Tokyo so waiting til the morning might not always work!
Possibly, but I’ve booked Tokyo three times for three people and have never phoned at release to get those (they were just sitting there available at normal UK daytime hours). I also monitored seats very closely over the past year because I was looking to upgrade to First and saw lots of availability in PE and CW come and go around our dates (and a few seats in F as well).
That said, I’ve probably never tried to go at the most popular or in-demand times (e.g., cherry blossom season), so experiences may vary.
For next year’s trip, I did phone to book the return from HKG only because I was less flexible than usual regarding dates and destinations and was using two different voucher types.
I’m trying to sort Tokyo so waiting til the morning might not always work!
Possibly, but I’ve booked Tokyo three times for three people and have never phoned at release to get those (they were just sitting there available at normal UK daytime hours). I also monitored seats very closely over the past year because I was looking to upgrade to First and saw lots of availability in PE and CW come and go around our dates (and a few seats in F as well).
That said, I’ve probably never tried to go at the most popular or in-demand times (e.g., cherry blossom season), so experiences may vary.
For next year’s trip, I did phone to book the return from HKG only because I was less flexible than usual regarding dates and destinations and was using two different voucher types.
We’re looking for Sep / Oct of next year for about 3 weeks. See the issue is that I could book a return no problem, but I can’t grab an outbound 21 days before my desired return. So it’s impossible to do it in one transaction on my own..
I had no joy on the US number (phone line got disconnected / hung up) after I told them what I wanted. Was then closed when I called back. Weekend too, but rang UK 8AM and thankfully seats still there.
It seems like the UK “change an existing flight” number opens at 6AM daily – whereas standard opens at 8AM.
Did you call the standard, as opposed to the change line? Or is that other one not possible?
I’m trying to sort Tokyo so waiting til the morning might not always work!
Didn’t know there was a change your booking. I rang BAEC Blue which was 8am. It was a Sunday so not sure if that makes a difference. Tokyo could be a challenge, yes. Have you also looked at Iberia?
Hmm, not sure why my messages are not getting through..
I typed everything out and nothing happened.
Anyways – to reply. There seems to be 2 Options on the BA call centre number, 1 being a change and 1 being a new booking. One seems to show open from 8, other from 6. Not sure if anyone tested this!
And yes, I did look at Iberia but that would mean I’d need to drive / train / bus down to Dublin from Belfast, get a flight across to Madrid, get a hotel at Madrid airport and would also have to do that on the way back. The taxes are much lower, and I’d save about 25-30K Avios but if I could, I’d much rather secure the BHD – LHR – HND routing.
My first option is to book outbound on release so that I can call up and ask for assistance quoting that I could not book return as it was not available at the time. Then let the agent use my voucher for the return too.
I had no joy on the US number (phone line got disconnected / hung up) after I told them what I wanted. Was then closed when I called back. Weekend too, but rang UK 8AM and thankfully seats still there.
It seems like the UK “change an existing flight” number opens at 6AM daily – whereas standard opens at 8AM.
Did you call the standard, as opposed to the change line? Or is that other one not possible?
I’m trying to sort Tokyo so waiting til the morning might not always work!
Didn’t know there was a change your booking. I rang BAEC Blue which was 8am. It was a Sunday so not sure if that makes a difference. Tokyo could be a challenge, yes. Have you also looked at Iberia?
Some people mentioned that using the “Change existing booking” is better than the “Make new booking” – both the same number, but website indicates that Option 1 for Change is open 6AM onwards, as opposed the Option 2 for New Booking at 8AM. Just checked here – could be wrong. There is no explicit tab that would say “Avios” related calls, so assuming the number is always the same.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/help-and-contacts/contact-usRegarding Iberia, yep.I’ve looked and could do that too. It does seem like the “book outbound myself at 1AM then call back in 21 days to the US number” is how most people handle this. So unless I really get unlucky and cannot get anything on the phone even around the 21 day mark, I’ll just have to cancel the outbound and re-try or something.. but hopefully not!
Yes, I think you definitively book outcound yourself and then chance it. If you’re really stuck, you could consider flying back from China I suppose. Always a bit of a lottery!
If you were to use the Avios/ voucher from Madrid, you don’t have to return to Madrid… you could go all the way back to Ireland
Yes, I think you definitively book outcound yourself and then chance it. If you’re really stuck, you could consider flying back from China I suppose. Always a bit of a lottery!
Indeed – but once I book the outbound, the voucher is used on my end, so that’s where I was confused initially – but this is when you have to call again so an agent can attach a return to it and still factor in the voucher.
If you were to use the Avios/ voucher from Madrid, you don’t have to return to Madrid… you could go all the way back to Ireland
Yes – that’s correct, but I’ll still have to call as I’m getting an error when selecting a DUB – MAD – NRT outbound and either the same back, or BA back to LHR then to DUB. It’s not giving me a final figure. And at that point I’d book it as LHR-BHD instead. So the “complexity” means that the system is unable to do it sadly. I don’t think it is complex at all, but hey!
If Skype needs some money loaded onto it, would someone who used it to call Australia or Japan let me know how much it was? I don’t want to run out of credit and be disconnected mid-way through a booking!
Oh.. and if the US is cracking down on assisting.. is there a preference to which location (Aus / Japan) people try next?
Don’t use Skype unless you’re already a user. We use Viber Out for all our overseas calls. We add €5.99 and it lasts more than a year.
I called the Australian number (+611300767177) in May and it cost €0.26 for 10 mins.
If Skype needs some money loaded onto it, would someone who used it to call Australia or Japan let me know how much it was? I don’t want to run out of credit and be disconnected mid-way through a booking!
Oh.. and if the US is cracking down on assisting.. is there a preference to which location (Aus / Japan) people try next?
Don’t use Skype unless you’re already a user. We use Viber Out for all our overseas calls. We add €5.99 and it lasts more than a year.
I called the Australian number (+611300767177) in May and it cost €0.26 for 10 mins.
That’s good to know – I suppose an VOIP tool like that would work but thanks for including pricing!
Yes, I think you definitively book outcound yourself and then chance it. If you’re really stuck, you could consider flying back from China I suppose. Always a bit of a lottery!
Indeed – but once I book the outbound, the voucher is used on my end, so that’s where I was confused initially – but this is when you have to call again so an agent can attach a return to it and still factor in the voucher.
If you were to use the Avios/ voucher from Madrid, you don’t have to return to Madrid… you could go all the way back to Ireland
Yes – that’s correct, but I’ll still have to call as I’m getting an error when selecting a DUB – MAD – NRT outbound and either the same back, or BA back to LHR then to DUB. It’s not giving me a final figure. And at that point I’d book it as LHR-BHD instead. So the “complexity” means that the system is unable to do it sadly. I don’t think it is complex at all, but hey!
The 2-4-1 voucher can be used on IB so I don’t see why DUB-MAD-HND doesn’t work. Maybe call BA to see if you can book it direct with them.
Not sure why my comments don’t go through 50% of the time.. anyone knows? Like, I replied to the above comment and it’s not showing. But this one is. Odd.
Yes, I think you definitively book outcound yourself and then chance it. If you’re really stuck, you could consider flying back from China I suppose. Always a bit of a lottery!
Indeed – but once I book the outbound, the voucher is used on my end, so that’s where I was confused initially – but this is when you have to call again so an agent can attach a return to it and still factor in the voucher.
If you were to use the Avios/ voucher from Madrid, you don’t have to return to Madrid… you could go all the way back to Ireland
Yes – that’s correct, but I’ll still have to call as I’m getting an error when selecting a DUB – MAD – NRT outbound and either the same back, or BA back to LHR then to DUB. It’s not giving me a final figure. And at that point I’d book it as LHR-BHD instead. So the “complexity” means that the system is unable to do it sadly. I don’t think it is complex at all, but hey!
The 2-4-1 voucher can be used on IB so I don’t see why DUB-MAD-HND doesn’t work. Maybe call BA to see if you can book it direct with them.
Yes – that’s right. When I select as a dummy option what I want to price check, all I get is “Please see a call agent about booking this trip”. It might not like mixing Aer Lingus and IB for the segments or something. Basically, whatever option I take will involve speaking to someone somewhere 😀
Good afternoon. I’ve had a good read of this thread and may have missed the answer to my question so I apologise for that.
Question is. I know you can book outbound online when available and wait for inbound to become available however what do you actually do? Do you just book it as a one way flight for both of us and just pay the avios and fee for the date of flying? Does this not negate you trying to get the return later? Hope this makes sense.@pavlov please read Rob’s detailed articles on using a 241 and then check this thread again.
The thread is literally entitled “How to book the return leg” 😂. But yes, this article and related ones offer a shorter read:
https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/03/11/how-to-use-ba-amex-241-voucher/
Good afternoon. I’ve had a good read of this thread and may have missed the answer to my question so I apologise for that.
Question is. I know you can book outbound online when available and wait for inbound to become available however what do you actually do? Do you just book it as a one way flight for both of us and just pay the avios and fee for the date of flying? Does this not negate you trying to get the return later? Hope this makes sense.I realise it’s all confusing if you haven’t done it before. It’s exactly as you say – book the outbound when it becomes available and the then you can do one of two things a)ring BA to add the return or b)if you have enough Avios to book the return online do so and ring BA to combine the bookings have the excess Avios returned to you.
If you only have one 2-4-1 voucher you may have to ask on here to see if there are flights on the day you want or take a chance and ring BA at 1am on the day you expect the flights to be released. I rang the Sydney office for my return from Sydney.
Except that they don’t combine the bookings if you do option b), hence the importance of reading everything you can on a topic!
I tried the Australian number last night (01.00 BST) and the number on the BA website (+61 1300 767 177) took me through to a business bookings line (twice). The number I was then given just rang out (+61 1300 676 177). But when I spoke again to the original number, they looked up my clubcard number and said very clearly that I could only book through the call centre in the country where my card is registered.
I KNOW this is the system and I’m happy to play the game, but it strikes me as being particularly stupid/unfair that your ability to book reward flights with BRITISH airways is much better if you live anywhere other than the UK.
I don’t have enough points to book my return CV flight, so hoping that I can booking using points+cash, and then chance calling at 0600 to see if they can fix it.
As i’d be phoning within 24hours, surely they can cancel my Avios flight and then instantly rebook it on my outbound leg? Or is that wishful thinking?
That should work in theory, at that far out, the likelihood is that the seats would go back into the inventory.
Did you try the US number – another reader posted that they had success with this within the past couple of weeks? It’s a lot to keep up with, I know!
When you say book with points plus cash, do you mean taking one of the fewer avios/more cash options on a redemption booking? DON’T make the mistake of using avios to reduce the price of a cash ticket, because that’s not a reward booking, and will be very expensive and probably non-refundable. Also if someone else bags the actual reward seats, they will then be gone.
Thank you, Northern Lass. I do mean searching and booking a reward flight, then reducing the number of points I use by paying part cash (rather searching for a cash flight and using points to reduce the cash price). So that should save the reward flight and allow me the 24hour cooling off period. (If someone can confirm the 24h cooling off period is a real thing rather than a discretionary thing, that will help me sleep for the next two weeks!)
It’s not a popular route, but its the height of holidays, and there is only one off-peak day a week. So I’m hoping that calling at 6am means I’d have to be quite unlucky for there to be someone else trying to get them in those exact few minutes that the reward seats are released! And we do have a back up plan (travelling on peak day) but it’ll use a lot more points as husband is using the “upgrade” voucher rather than a CV.
Yes you can definitely cancel for free within 24 hours – and even outside that it’s £35pp so not as bad as if you were to lose all the cash and avios.
So was your call last night a practice run?
Hi, I thought the UK office opens at 8am not 6am?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
New to Head for Points?
Welcome! We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.
SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10,000 Avios with the free Barclaycard until 26th September 2024!
NEW: Sign-up bonuses boosted to 3,000 and 18,000 points
Latest Forum Posts
-
stankpa on Chat thread – Monday 9th September
-
-
davedent on Chat thread – Monday 9th September
-
-
Phil H on Chat thread – Monday 9th September
-
NorthernLass on Chat thread – Monday 9th September
-
TGLoyalty on Avios 40% Bonus
-
supergraeme on 2 private Upper Class seats
-
-
Sandydoc on Avios 40% Bonus
Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card
Check reward flight availability instantly for free!
Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card
Booking a luxury hotel?
Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.
SME? GET POINTS WORTH 10,500 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP
Get 20,000 bonus points (converts to 20,000 Avios) with 'first year free' American Express Gold
