LHR – HKG, new redemption seats on reinstated flights?

[bomba]

Hi,

As BA has doubled the number of planes flying from LHR to HKG, I was wondering has anyone seen redemption flights yet? The past few days I haven’t seen any from when the news was published. Am I too late? Or do I have to wait a bit longer for it to be able to be redeemed?

Thank you

[Rob]

What seems to have happened (and the recent Tokyo upgrade was the same) is that these flights were once on sale and then the service was cancelled, and now brought back. The guaranteed seats seem to have been taken at the original launch. This is just a guess.

[zapato1060]

Have HKG covid entry changed recently? I think it was still heavy handed not too far back.

[Iranicus]

So what you think happened is this? Passengers booked avios flights to HKG. Those flights were cancelled, so they were moved on to the non-cancelled flights. Now that BA has reinstated the cancelled flights, they don’t need to release avios seats as they had technically already done so. Call me a cynic, but it all sounds very convenient for BA.

[Aston100]

The FCDO site states that testing is still required 24 or 48 hours prior to departure.

[John]

The only thing you need to go to Hong Kong is to possess a photo of a negative antigen test. You do not need proof that you, or anybody, took the test, or when the test was done (as the timestamp in the metadata can be edited).

Many airlines do not bother asking for the photo and nobody in Hong Kong will ask for it. Some BA agents may ask.

In Hong Kong, there is no more testing or self-isolation or masks (actually the law from 2019 that makes it illegal to wear masks – which was targeting anti-government/anti-communist protestors – is still in force), but depending on where you are, 50-90% of people still voluntarily wear masks, even when they go hiking alone.

[SamG]

Iranicus wrote:

So what you think happened is this? Passengers booked avios flights to HKG. Those flights were cancelled, so they were moved on to the non-cancelled flights. Now that BA has reinstated the cancelled flights, they don’t need to release avios seats as they had technically already done so. Call me a cynic, but it all sounds very convenient for BA.

The correct number of Avios passengers will have travelled though, just all on the other flight. Seems fair enough….

[bomba]

Rob Burgess wrote:

What seems to have happened (and the recent Tokyo upgrade was the same) is that these flights were once on sale and then the service was cancelled, and now brought back. The guaranteed seats seem to have been taken at the original launch. This is just a guess.

Thank you, do you think theres any point of asking BA support or they won’t know? Was hoping with that news I could have booked some flights, but I guess not 🙁

[ZW]

I’ve been checking for a few days as well.
The new flights are A350 with new seats. Does this mean BA won’t release avios tickets when they reinstall additional flights on the same route?

[Chabuddy Geezy]

I managed to snap up some HKG tickets for May and June using the new Amex voucher by starting my journey in Glasgow. Booked last week.

[Rob]

ZW wrote:

I’ve been checking for a few days as well.
The new flights are A350 with new seats. Does this mean BA won’t release avios tickets when they reinstall additional flights on the same route?

When BA adds a brand new flight it opens up seats immediately for the full year ahead. These do not seem to be ‘new’ flights though, just reinstated ones.

[Rob]

Chabuddy Geezy wrote:

I managed to snap up some HKG tickets for May and June using the new Amex voucher by starting my journey in Glasgow. Booked last week.

You can do virtually any route, any date, with a new style BAPP voucher if you start outside London. Just need to book at the right time when cash prices are at their lowest so probably 3-4 months out.

[RK228]

Rob Burgess wrote:

You can do virtually any route, any date, with a new style BAPP voucher if you start outside London. Just need to book at the right time when cash prices are at their lowest so probably 3-4 months out.

Does this still apply if you are booking for three people with one voucher?

[Aston100]

Rob Burgess wrote:

Chabuddy Geezy wrote:

I managed to snap up some HKG tickets for May and June using the new Amex voucher by starting my journey in Glasgow. Booked last week.

You can do virtually any route, any date, with a new style BAPP voucher if you start outside London. Just need to book at the right time when cash prices are at their lowest so probably 3-4 months out.

Can you remind me how this works please?

[NorthernLass]

@RK228 – you can’t use the voucher to book for more than 2 people when you’re accessing the “extra” award inventory.

[RK228]

NorthernLass wrote:

@RK228 – you can’t use the voucher to book for more than 2 people when you’re accessing the “extra” award inventory.

This is disappointing. I do feel like families of three are not well catered for with the BA card and voucher at the moment. I have had a BAPP in the past, but currently have the free card and despite moving closer to the £10,000 spend, I’m struggling to see a reason to justify an upgrade.