Do I see the same BA Avios reward flight availability when using a FTV?

[dot.cloud]

Summary: do all FTV with 241 redemption have equal reward flight availability? There appears different availability depending on 241 voucher type (old v new with more seat availability) but if ‘old’ voucher converted to FTV would that improve reward flight availability?

Longer version:

My old style 241 expires Feb 2022. We had USA flights booked start of Feb with the voucher but have decided to postpone travel to the spring instead.

I checked the BA Avios redemption flight finder using a new style (post Sep 21) generated 241 voucher. It showed some availability in April. I called BAEC (got through in 20 mins – a one off obviously!) and explained request to rebook later dates but due to 241 being expired by new departure date could I take a FTV and then use this to book. Agent was great and said they could rebook the original reward flight without faffing with FTV (suspect reason being more flexibility here as BA had already cancelled and rebooked one leg of the original booking). Availability according to the agent was much more restricted than had appeared to me on the BA website. I assume this was because my search was with one of the ‘new’ 241 vouchers selected. If I was to have instead taken a FTV and then used this to rebook would that improve the availability of reward flights?

• This topic was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .

[NorthernLass]

Award flights could have been snapped up between you checking and the agent looking for the same. There would be no reason for more availability with a FTV. The agent was rebooking because this was your entitlement under UK261 due to BA cancelling one leg of your flight, so there didn’t need to be any avios seats available.

• This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .

[tiriavpo]

As I understand it, you have previously accepted a re-booking for a cancelled flight, which you are now voluntarily postponing? If that is the case, you will need availability to re-book. The FTV retains the original limitations – it is just the original booking, held in credit, so the new booking has to comply with the limitations of the original, including the 241 voucher – so old-style availability.

However, if BA cancel a flight in your current booking, you will have the option to move the flights without the need for reward availability. So maybe don’t do anything yet and see if there is a flight cancellation. If not, you can get an FTV online via this form: https://www.britishairways.com/travel/webforms/public/en_gb?eId=120001&wfpId=covidn right up until the day of departure – but maybe don’t leave it that late.

Mind you, if you see availability before that, on the dates you want, you might want to jump on it ASAP – well, within the limitations of getting through on the phone. I have been able to effectively FTV a trip and re-book it, all in the same call, which I think is what you are describing. It did actually go through the FTV process but we did the re-booking there and then. During that process, the ‘Here is your FTV’ email arrived closely followed by one saying my FTV had been used. All a bit unnecessary but I think it is an automated process.

[NorthernLass]

OP says that it was BA who cancelled and re-booked (which is what they commonly do if there’s a BA alternative), so is still entitled to re-routing under these circs. No award availability needed.

• This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .

[dot.cloud]

Thanks so much all!

I had already made the change last night (to April dates when reward availability allowed that were ok but not quite what we wanted) so given your comments I rang again now and quoted UK261 which they agreed they would honour and booked exact dates and times we were after – looking forward to California in the spring!

With regard the original question – thanks for clarifying that any FTV would need availability relating to the original voucher contained within.