Maximising open jaw companion voucher

[Stephr123]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice on open-jaw bookings using a companion voucher please as there are so many experts on here and we are confusing our little minds trying to figure out what to do for the best to maximise use of our (long earned) Avios. We have booked a BKK-LGW direct BA redemption flight using a companion voucher, but don’t want to return to Bangkok from London, so as part of the open jaw we’re looking for advice on where we can fly to using the ‘return’. I think we have 2 questions:
1) Can we book the ‘outbound’ from London to Doha as part of this open jaw booking? (We already have a flight from DOH-BKK sorted)
2) If thenfirst option isnt possible – What is the easiest way to work out where we can fly to from London and still use the other part of the companion voucher to not lose the benefit of using it on a second flight. (E.g London-Florida at a later date) We’ve read the HfP open jaw guide, but are still confused – sorry, newbies here!

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Here is the article and the comments within that link to a website that helps calculate the distances. Not sure what is confusing about it.

https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/03/21/booking-open-jaw-redemption-flight-using-avios-points-2/

You will certainly not be able to book to Florida due to the distance of the ‘jaw’ element.

[JDB]

@Stephr123 – you have made this slightly more complicated by not planning how to use the voucher from the outset because BA agents can often be difficult about dramatic amendments and many aren’t familiar with the rules so it’s easier to say no.

The basic rule for open jaws is incredibly simple – the open jaw/surface sector cannot be greater than either of the flights.

You may run into problems booking the LON-DOH because the flight pre-dates your return, so they might be funny.

You can continue your journey to Florida, but be clear that is not part of an open jaw trip, but the continuation of your journey eg BKK-LON-MIA and you could theoretically then use the voucher to return to BKK or elsewhere in that easterly direction that meets the above requirement.

[travelmonkey]

A few points:

1) Adding a return to a one-way a 241 booking is a consession when your return date wasn’t available at time of booking, not a generally available flexibility. (The Ts&Cs state the entire booking should be made at one time). So you may need to pick a flight date 355 days after the date you booked the ticket (but book it before you fly the BKK-LGW leg)

2) Trying to add a flight before your booked return simply won’t work; they’d need to cancel your booking and start again. (TBH this might be the way forwards for you anyhow, but comes with the risk that the exact BKK-LGW seats you booked don’t reappear, so make sure you can see some backup availability you’re happy with)

3) You still need to abide by pen jaw rules, which means you’ll be adding something going east. LON-DOH is too short to add, as BKK-DOH is a greater distance. However MAN-DOH is longer than BKK-DOH so would be ok.