Cash and upgrade with Avios

[Indy500]

‘morning folks

We’re looking to go to Singapore in May ’24. WT+ cash and upgrade to Club with points. This seems to be a really hard route to get reward availability. I will set up SeatSpy to keep an eye on the dates but my query is that although I can ‘pounce for the outbound on day 355, the inbound won’t be available at that time. If I wait [2 weeks] for the inbound surely the outbound availability will be gone? Is there a workaround for this? Am I talking out of my hat? 😉
Thanks
Indy

[nectar collector]

https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/08/28/how-to-use-a-british-airways-american-express-241-companion-voucher-2/

Start here….same t-355 principles apply whether or not you have a companion voucher

[Indy500]

nectar collector wrote:

https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/08/28/how-to-use-a-british-airways-american-express-241-companion-voucher-2/

Start here….same t-355 principles apply whether or not you have a companion voucher

Thank you. So using the 2nd option [as we are Avios ‘rich’] I’m going to book one-way fares and then 2 weeks later I’m adding the return flights and they will be combined to reflect a return trip price? Or am I missing the point here?
Thanks

[nectar collector]

For Singapore, I don’t think there is much/any difference between the Avios +fees/taxes on a return vs two one ways – as the article notes, when travelling to/from the US it can be an issue as there are material differences.

[SamG]

Impossible to do UuA to Club on a busy route – by the time you’d got the cash ticket the Avios seat would be gone + it’s usually not good to buy a cash ticket at T-355 price wise either

[Indy500]

SamG wrote:

Impossible to do UuA to Club on a busy route – by the time you’d got the cash ticket the Avios seat would be gone + it’s usually not good to buy a cash ticket at T-355 price wise either

Thanks. So you think this is a waste of time using the method from nectar Collector as above? Any other way that you would suggest? I can probably do full Avios redemption if I have to.

[NorthernLass]

As per what other readers have been doing, you need to call at midnight (or slightly before) to try and secure your seats when each leg is released. There are quite a few threads here which will help with the process. Unless you’re using a 241, you can just leave it as 2 separate bookings which won’t cause any issues (and can even be helpful if you need to change one leg but not the other).

[marks7389]

nectar collector wrote:

For Singapore, I don’t think there is much/any difference between the Avios +fees/taxes on a return vs two one ways – as the article notes, when travelling to/from the US it can be an issue as there are material differences.

No difference now on most routes since the RFS changes were implemented – limited exceptions include Brazil and China (especially Hong Kong) where it is cheaper to book two one-ways.

However in the case of upgrading a cash WT+ fare, the base still likely to be considerably more expensive booked as one-ways.

[marks7389]

Indy500 wrote:

SamG wrote:

Impossible to do UuA to Club on a busy route – by the time you’d got the cash ticket the Avios seat would be gone + it’s usually not good to buy a cash ticket at T-355 price wise either

Thanks. So you think this is a waste of time using the method from nectar Collector as above? Any other way that you would suggest? I can probably do full Avios redemption if I have to.

Exactly this, but more to the point unless you’re going to book one-way WT+ cash fares to upgrade (for which there would be a significant premium) you’re not going to be able to book anything until the return flights are released, by which time upgrade availability for the outbound will be non-existent.

You can try to earn a BA Premium Amex 2for1 and/or Barclaycard Upgrade vouchers between now and when the seats are released, but these require a minimum of £10K credit card spend in the interim if you don’t already have one of the cards.

Otherwise if you’re paying full Avios, I’d look to Qatar as an alternative here. Indirect flights, but fewer Avios required (150K per seat return) and less in taxes and fees as well.

If you managed to get one Barclaycard upgrade voucher you can use that for two on the outbound, and return with Qatar which is pretty much exactly what we have planned later this year.

[NorthernLass]

Yes, one-way cash fares are disproportionately expensive, UUA will be a non-starter on this route for the foreseeable due to demand being so high.

[Indy500]

Thanks for all the tips and info.