Iberia indirect reward flight booking

[DebbieMcM]

Hi

I am looking into destinations for a trip next year using either my companion voucher or Barclaycard upgrade voucher. One of the places I wanted to look into was Bogotá but it’s an indirect flight on Iberia. Is it possible to use the vouchers for this and if so how would I do it as I don’t see any way to search for it on BA.com?

Thanks!

[Richie]

If you are not time poor, consider one night in Madrid before your flight to BOG with the flights on separate bookings.

[NorthernLass]

You can use the BA voucher for this, but not the Barclays.

There are articles and threads on here about using the 241 on IB, it seems rewarding but not quite as straightforward as using them on BA!

E.g.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/01/08/where-does-iberia-fly-long-haul/

[marks7389]

Iberia is generally a good choice for South America redemptions.

Picking up on Richie’s point, separating the UK-Madrid leg saves in UK APD (tax) though that is partially offset by the fact that you don’t then benefit from the companion voucher on that leg.

I did some calculations recently for Buenos Aires where, using a companion voucher on an off-peak date, it saves between £130 and £155 pp on a business class round trip booking but much less (between £45 and £65) on an economy booking. That’s assuming you book UK-Madrid as a separate redemption and value Avios at 1p each.

Bear in mind that means you have to clear immigration and customs in Madrid on the way out and check in again, and it removes the missed connection protection so don’t do it on a shorter connection! That said, morning departures from Madrid will usually require an overnight stay anyway.

Going back to the same calculations, Buenos Aires with a companion voucher can be done in business class for the equivalent of as little as £1K pp (applying a 1p/Avios valuation), whereas the BA alternative is at least £1670 on the same basis. I’d say BA really is no better (and arguably worse in some respects), and Iberia also doesn’t charge for business class seats selection.

[DebbieMcM]

Thanks all, this is very helpful, will have a proper look and see what the options are!

[NorthernLass]

You can do the return all on one PNR and not be penalised with the charges like you would be on the outbound. If you have OW status, IB economy fares can be amazing value, I’ve got a few MAN/MAD trips booked for next year, which have been costing £30-£40 each way.

[annabh]

We’re thinking of doing the same next October half term and my son has two weeks off. We may fly MAD to Buenos Aires, more likely spend one night in MAD just in case of delays. I did notice there are more flights from MAD three a day plus is shorter as BA stops in Rio there and back.

Plan is also to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio as would likely get the BA flight back from Rio on an open jaw which I think would be allowed? Bonus returning from Rio is lower taxes.

One question can you use a BA compensation voucher on one way tickets to MAD? I’ve a £100 with not much use at the moment but seems a good way to buy for two tickets to MAD?

[marks7389]

NorthernLass wrote:

You can do the return all on one PNR and not be penalised with the charges like you would be on the outbound. If you have OW status, IB economy fares can be amazing value, I’ve got a few MAN/MAD trips booked for next year, which have been costing £30-£40 each way.

Yes, exactly that. If you go down that route, the easiest way (assuming that you’re not booking the outbound before the inbound seats are released) is to book Madrid-Bogota-Madrid on ba.com with the voucher, call BA to add the Madrid-UK leg to the redemption booking and then book the UK-Madrid leg separately at your leisure (either as a redemption or cash fare).

If Heathrow is your start/end point, the connecting flights to/from Madrid can be booked with either BA or Iberia. The latter is generally a bit cheaper (probably particularly so for the added redemption leg as a mixed booking tends to prevent RFS being applied on the BA legs). On the plus side, there’s a daily evening LHR-MAD flight that operates with long haul seating (IB721/722 I think on Iberia’s new flight numbering) which can be good if that works for your schedule.

[marks7389]

annabh wrote:

We’re thinking of doing the same next October half term and my son has two weeks off. We may fly MAD to Buenos Aires, more likely spend one night in MAD just in case of delays. I did notice there are more flights from MAD three a day plus is shorter as BA stops in Rio there and back.

Depends on your start point. If London then, realistically, by the time you’ve flown to Madrid and connected the BA flight is still quicker (particularly, of course, if staying overnight in Madrid). But, as you say, you have a much wider choice of flights.

If connecting from elsewhere in the UK, then a flight to Madrid connecting to the midnight departure may well be quicker than flying via Heathrow, and it gets into Buenos Aires earlier.

Plan is also to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio as would likely get the BA flight back from Rio on an open jaw which I think would be allowed? Bonus returning from Rio is lower taxes.

Yes, that would work as an open jaw. However, if you’re planning to book as a redemption….

You may fall into the trap of a mixed booking blocking the application of Reward Flight Saver on the BA leg, which will make it a lot more expensive than it should be. You can get around that by booking one-ways; one possible way around it if using a companion voucher (assuming it still works) is to book the outbound with the voucher as soon as it becomes available, and then book the inbound at full Avios and call for a 50% Avios refund.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

annabh wrote:

One question can you use a BA compensation voucher on one way tickets to MAD? I’ve a £100 with not much use at the moment but seems a good way to buy for two tickets to MAD?

Yes you can.

Just in case it’s not already covered you can start the long haul trip in MAD but still end it in LHR via MAD

[annabh]

marks7389 wrote:

annabh wrote:

We’re thinking of doing the same next October half term and my son has two weeks off. We may fly MAD to Buenos Aires, more likely spend one night in MAD just in case of delays. I did notice there are more flights from MAD three a day plus is shorter as BA stops in Rio there and back.

Depends on your start point. If London then, realistically, by the time you’ve flown to Madrid and connected the BA flight is still quicker (particularly, of course, if staying overnight in Madrid). But, as you say, you have a much wider choice of flights.

If connecting from elsewhere in the UK, then a flight to Madrid connecting to the midnight departure may well be quicker than flying via Heathrow, and it gets into Buenos Aires earlier.

Plan is also to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio as would likely get the BA flight back from Rio on an open jaw which I think would be allowed? Bonus returning from Rio is lower taxes.

Yes, that would work as an open jaw. However, if you’re planning to book as a redemption….

You may fall into the trap of a mixed booking blocking the application of Reward Flight Saver on the BA leg, which will make it a lot more expensive than it should be. You can get around that by booking one-ways; one possible way around it if using a companion voucher (assuming it still works) is to book the outbound with the voucher as soon as it becomes available, and then book the inbound at full Avios and call for a 50% Avios refund.

Sorry wrong button pressed as always when replying lol! Yes I need to book the outbound very soon is available on iberia now, another reason for me is the outbound from Madrid is a daytime flight whereas the London flight is overnight there at least. I’m not a great plane sleeper so is better option. Yes will do as two singles and get the avios refunded.

[NorthernLass]

It’s discussed in the dedicated thread, but you’ll need to call BA to book with the 241 as there’s a delay on IB award seats appearing on ba.com.

[marks7389]

annabh wrote:

Yes will do as two singles and get the avios refunded.

Forgot to add before, one-ways are the only way to benefit from the reduced ex-Brazil charges. The problem you may hit is resistance in claiming back the 50% Avios as you are benefitting from taking that approach beyond just not having to call at midnight to be sure of getting the seats.

[annabh]

marks7389 wrote:

annabh wrote:

Yes will do as two singles and get the avios refunded.

Forgot to add before, one-ways are the only way to benefit from the reduced ex-Brazil charges. The problem you may hit is resistance in claiming back the 50% Avios as you are benefitting from taking that approach beyond just not having to call at midnight to be sure of getting the seats.

I’ll probably book them online and call up in the morning which they seem fine with. Let’s see what happens and I’ll call up BA tomorrow to sort the outbound from Madrid if I can and then ask regarding the return from Rio.

[annabh]

Called up BA to book the outbound MAD – EZE slightly complicated by it being on my husbands account, when I finally got through the password hoops I got two tickets with 51000 avios plus £191 taxes was about to buy and then had to get husbands card but phone network is sketchy so of course cut me off! Rang back and for some reason next attempt they can only tell me the avios but not the tax so has to go to back office? Anyway reserved two spaces on ideal flight but if that comes up too pricey they is the early flight I’ll move to as they seem not to sell out.

Asked the second person re the return and he advised book online and claim back the avios so that’s what I’ll do.

[annabh]

Finally ticketed MAD – EZE as had to wait for it to be ticketed with taxes, so it can be a bit of a backwards and forwards process.

I’m flying premium economy as only two business seats per flight, anyone know whether will be any option to upgrade? Not paying a fortune as I can cope with a daytime flight.

Just wait now for the return from Rio with BA as more chance of us all getting business return. Good thing about avios and vouchers going places never really think we would.

[CJD]

marks7389 wrote:

annabh wrote:

We’re thinking of doing the same next October half term and my son has two weeks off. We may fly MAD to Buenos Aires, more likely spend one night in MAD just in case of delays. I did notice there are more flights from MAD three a day plus is shorter as BA stops in Rio there and back.

Depends on your start point. If London then, realistically, by the time you’ve flown to Madrid and connected the BA flight is still quicker (particularly, of course, if staying overnight in Madrid). But, as you say, you have a much wider choice of flights.

If connecting from elsewhere in the UK, then a flight to Madrid connecting to the midnight departure may well be quicker than flying via Heathrow, and it gets into Buenos Aires earlier.

Plan is also to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio as would likely get the BA flight back from Rio on an open jaw which I think would be allowed? Bonus returning from Rio is lower taxes.

Yes, that would work as an open jaw. However, if you’re planning to book as a redemption….

You may fall into the trap of a mixed booking blocking the application of Reward Flight Saver on the BA leg, which will make it a lot more expensive than it should be. You can get around that by booking one-ways; one possible way around it if using a companion voucher (assuming it still works) is to book the outbound with the voucher as soon as it becomes available, and then book the inbound at full Avios and call for a 50% Avios refund.

marks7389 wrote:

annabh wrote:

We’re thinking of doing the same next October half term and my son has two weeks off. We may fly MAD to Buenos Aires, more likely spend one night in MAD just in case of delays. I did notice there are more flights from MAD three a day plus is shorter as BA stops in Rio there and back.

Depends on your start point. If London then, realistically, by the time you’ve flown to Madrid and connected the BA flight is still quicker (particularly, of course, if staying overnight in Madrid). But, as you say, you have a much wider choice of flights.

If connecting from elsewhere in the UK, then a flight to Madrid connecting to the midnight departure may well be quicker than flying via Heathrow, and it gets into Buenos Aires earlier.

Plan is also to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio as would likely get the BA flight back from Rio on an open jaw which I think would be allowed? Bonus returning from Rio is lower taxes.

Yes, that would work as an open jaw. However, if you’re planning to book as a redemption….

You may fall into the trap of a mixed booking blocking the application of Reward Flight Saver on the BA leg, which will make it a lot more expensive than it should be. You can get around that by booking one-ways; one possible way around it if using a companion voucher (assuming it still works) is to book the outbound with the voucher as soon as it becomes available, and then book the inbound at full Avios and call for a 50% Avios refund.

In terms of mixed bookings, what’s the best way of going about a GLA-MEX journey?

My plan is to get to Madrid the day before – options are BA GLA-LHR-MAD, KLM GLA-AMS-MAD or easyJet EDI-MAD, depending on what’s cheapest.

Redemption would then be MAD-MEX return; I gather I can call to add a MAD-LHR leg onto the booking (which potentially works out ok because the IB flight which is on long haul aircraft would be the next flight), am I then just better off on a separate booking booking LHR-GLA either cash or Avios?

[annabh]

I think on return is best to get a linked booking just in case the return to MAD is delayed then at least iberia or ba can get you on the next flight as so many per day.

[marks7389]

CJD wrote:

Redemption would then be MAD-MEX return; I gather I can call to add a MAD-LHR leg onto the booking (which potentially works out ok because the IB flight which is on long haul aircraft would be the next flight), am I then just better off on a separate booking booking LHR-GLA either cash or Avios?

I would consider adding that on as well so that the connection is protected with luggage checked through, with the additional upside being it should also qualify for the 50% Avios reduction if using a 2for1.

Downside is that it likely won’t qualify for RFS mixed with the Iberia flights, and you’ll be stuck with the same cash/Avios combination level as the Iberia legs so you may find it works out more expensive than booking it separately.

[marks7389]

Actually you may be OK. A dummy mixed IB/BA MAD-LHR-EDI booking shows it coming slightly cheaper than separate bookings, so doesn’t seem to suffer from the same issue as affects long haul sectors.

That being the case, I’d definitely add it on – you should be able to do both the short haul sectors at the same time.

[Scott]

I’d advise thinking if you really want to come back via LHR, particularly if it’s after (I presume) an overnight flight from MEX?

I’ve done both and prefer the direct Easyjet MAD-EDI

[JDB]

Scott wrote:

I’d advise thinking if you really want to come back via LHR, particularly if it’s after (I presume) an overnight flight from MEX?

I’ve done both and prefer the direct Easyjet MAD-EDI

Definitely! BA to/from MEX is old Club for the foreseeable future and on Iberia you will get a choice of flight times, a proper business seat, far better service, food and wine.

[NorthernLass]

I am booked into old CW MEX-LHR-MAN next month and never thought about returning on IB! I imagine there’s no availability now though …

[marks7389]

We did MEX-MAD-LHR earlier this year, in preference to the direct BA flight on the basis that it was cheaper and better than old CW. I think my wife would have chosen the direct flight if I’d given her the choice, but in the event the BA flight was several hours delayed and we got back to Heathrow first. 🙂

Downside was that one of our two checked cases somehow missed the two hour connection in Madrid (during which time we’d had a shower and a drink), which would have been fine had the ground staff not lead us down the garden path advising us to stick around as it was with customs when, in fact, it was still in Madrid <sigh>.

[NorthernLass]

Air tags!

We have to connect anyway, though the MAD-MAN IB flight is around 9 am which would probably be too early to do the same day.