Can anyone help explain if I have this right?

[Jane]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone more experienced with the BA companion voucher can help check my understanding of using it is sound!

I have 50,000 Avios and 2x 241 BA companion vouchers.

I was hoping to use these vouchers before they expire and so was investigating buying some additional Avios to allow me to use the companion vouchers. I need 70,000 Avios per seat to fly London – LA return in august peak time. So 70,000 points would allow two out of three of us to travel on one companion voucher.

For my child I understand we could use the second companion voucher to allow for a free return – if we had 35,000 Avios points to pay for the one way ticket.

Therefore I would need to purchase 60,000 Avios which costs £1075. So I assume it would be this plus £450 tax/charges making the total cost £1525 for three return flights compared to £2574 if buying regular tickets.

Can anyone confirm if I have missed anything obvious in regards to using the companion voucher?

Thanks for any help offered in advance!

[Super Secret Stuff]

Three pieces of advice here:
1) the companion voucher can be used on Iberia and Aer Lingus too with lower taxes and potentially lower avios, plus at or via Dublin you pre clear immigration and arrive as a domestic passenger (Ryanair, Aer Lingus and BA can get you to both very cheap for cash)
2) there are other pricing options for the flights on BA, click show more. They might be cheaper than buying the avios
3) Iberia and Aer Lingus peak and off peak dates can be different to BAs, worth checking

[nectar collector]

I think you need to read this article, which explains why you can’t use 2 x 2-4-1s for a family of 3 if both 2-4-1s are owned by the same person, which is I think what you’re saying is your situation?

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/2-x-241s-for-3-people/

[Jane]

Super Secret Stuff wrote:

Three pieces of advice here:
1) the companion voucher can be used on Iberia and Aer Lingus too with lower taxes and potentially lower avios, plus at or via Dublin you pre clear immigration and arrive as a domestic passenger (Ryanair, Aer Lingus and BA can get you to both very cheap for cash)
2) there are other pricing options for the flights on BA, click show more. They might be cheaper than buying the avios
3) Iberia and Aer Lingus peak and off peak dates can be different to BAs, worth checking

Thank you, I’ll look into this! 🙂

[Jane]

nectar collector wrote:

I think you need to read this article, which explains why you can’t use 2 x 2-4-1s for a family of 3 if both 2-4-1s are owned by the same person, which is I think what you’re saying is your situation?

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/2-x-241s-for-3-people/

Ah okay thank you, not quite as I anticipated then! Thank you

[ekposh]

You wouldn’t be able to use the 2 vouchers if they are both in your name.

Also your calcs seems off. £450 tax/fees for all 3? Maybe that is right, but seems low to me? Don’t forget with the 241, you still need to pay taxes/fees x2.

You might also want to consider how to get the additional 60k Avios? Worth signing up for a credit card if you have a big expense coming up?

I guess it all depends but your biggest issue is #1 as another poster also pointed out.

[AJA]

The question of using the 2nd voucher for the child is wrong. You cannot do that.

The vouchers are 2nd person travels for zero Avios but pays Taxes, fees and airline charges. But they must accompany the voucher holder.

You can use the voucher as a solo traveller for 50% of the Avios or
2 passengers travel together paying one set of Avios + TFCs or
4 passengers travel for the cost of Avios for 2 passengers +TFCs for all 4 (assuming they are vouchers earned from the BAPP card.

You cannot use 2 vouchers in your name for 3 passengers.

The only way to do that is if you and your OH each have a voucher in your own names and then you and child travel on one voucher and OH uses their one as a solo traveller.

[NorthernLass]

I think OP is looking at booking economy RFS seats, hence the surcharges look low (£150 pp), and probably wouldn’t be replicated on another Oneworld airline.

[zapato1060]

@Jane, you are still early in the game as 50k is a good start but would need a bit more. have you checked out the other CC sign up bonuses? Another thing is its best to save Avios for business class. 75k would cover 2x of you to LA and back using the 241 with Iberia but from Madrid. The other ticket you could do cash/avios and save the other 241 for future use.

I would suggest if flying economy then its best to buy tickets to LA with cash, save the Avios and use them for a future, more ‘lucrative’ use. good luck.

[BJ]

@Jane, to add to the advice already received please be wary of purchasing avios unless you are certain the reward seats you need are available. Ideally both will coincide with a buy avios promotion.