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Can someone please confirm if I’m being stupid or if there is an alternative to this scenario.
Our son turns 2 this year so our annual Clubworld Dubai trip in January 2025 is up in the air from a companion voucher/Avios point of view.
I thought we were going to slum it in the rear on Emirates from MAN but it seems there maybe an alternative.The flights we’d like to book only have 4 Avios seats available though.
We have 1 companion voucher in grandparents name (Expires in April 2025)
That’s the grandparents covered at £700 plus 160k AviosMy wife has 1 companion voucher (Expires July 2025)
That’s me and her at £700 plus 160k AviosI have spoken to BA and they are happy to book my son as a cash booking on the same flight as us at a cost of £2,615
The same adult cash booking is £2,880.31
Is it safer booking my son on the companion voucher with my wife as if something happens with the booking, eg in the past they have changed flight times and we have had to change both bookings to new flights. With this new to us scenario we have 3 separate bookings and if for some reason the cash booking cant move then it would be me taking a separate flight on my own.
The questions I have:
Do we book my son as a cash booking pocketing the difference of £265.31 and hope BA wont screw it up and leave my son without us?
or
Do we not book the adult cash booking yet in hope there is Avios availability between now and then and book my adult seat as a cash and Avios booking instead?
2025 could be our last chance for awhile as our son will start school in the September.
I don’t understand why BA has said this as it’s normally not possible to make a standalone booking for a child under 14, and you also can’t normally mix cash and avios bookings. Are you sure they didn’t think you were asking to add him to another cash booking? Double check before you make a final decision, anyway.
Consider using vouchers for 3 adults plus the child, and booking a BA Holiday for the 4th adult. You can add in enough accommodation for all of you if required and still get the benefits such as deferred payment.
Will a Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher help us in the scenario?
My current one expires in Sept 2024 so cant use that one.
but I can start spending towards a new one from 4th April.
I don’t understand why BA has said this as it’s normally not possible to make a standalone booking for a child under 14, and you also can’t normally mix cash and avios bookings. Are you sure they didn’t think you were asking to add him to another cash booking? Double check before you make a final decision, anyway.
Consider using vouchers for 3 adults plus the child, and booking a BA Holiday for the 4th adult. You can add in enough accommodation for all of you if required and still get the benefits such as deferred payment.
I said the exact same thing as I thought it was 16 the age for booking a child on a flight alone but he said no it is fine when booking over the phone with the commercial department.
You could in theory use an upgrade voucher for the 5th passenger, however that will mean you need 5 avios seats left in CW on your travel dates. Your 241s may open up extra availability of course, if the standard inventory has gone.
Interesting about the child booking!
This may help future planning – https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/08/16/family-of-three-british-airways-american-express-voucher/
We’re a family of five. I did the same to Mauritius(2 adults 2 kids with 2 x vouchers) but booked my daughter who was just turning 16 with cash. One point to consider – she’s now got BA status though due to the cash flight and I haven’t!
I decided to book the grandparents, my wife and son using the vouchers and I will sit tight for either more Avios seats being released and paying cash/Avios or using a Barclaycard upgrade if its after April and I have hit my spend target.
Worse case I’m on cash a booking and I get status which I wont benefit as we only ever fly with BA using companion vouchers living in the North West.
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