Mission Impossible

[sinc1000]

Hi Guys

I have 1 companion voucher for the premium Amex card

I also have a barclays upgrade voucher and I have 285k avios

I have until April 26 to use them

I have a Thai wife so we are going to Thailand over Xmas

The only dates I can fly is from 19th to 23rd December 25 outbound

Looking to come back from 6th to 8th January 26

I know it is a big ask

I have checked

Singapore

Kuala Lumper

Doha

Dubai

For these dates

And all Indian airports via BA

I have alerts set up for these cities with seat spy but I assume this is for using avios only

And only way to check ba for using companion voucher would be checking these routes every day ?

Business out is fine and back via economy

I found one to bahrain from lhr business return

But decided against it with needing a visa on arrival and the political unrest there

I am comfortable looking via ba.com on ba flights

But I have no idea how to use ba companion voucher with partner airlines or even how to look

I see plenty virgin reward flight to Indian cities but not sure if there is value and I read it is messy converting avios to a hotel chain 1st then to virgin

It would be 2 adults and 1 x 8 yer old kid

Also

Should can I check from major European cities

Any help is much appreciated

If I cannot use the vouchers for the Xmas trip

I will try use avios for a business class if it pops up

Or just pay economy flights and have a week in the states in April 26 with the companion voucher

[John]

Bahrain visa on arrival is not an issue, it’s the same as going through immigration in any country except that you have to pay the immigration officer (by card). I didn’t think there had been any recent unrest in Bahrain? The reason it’s not a good transit point to BKK is that your only option is the once daily Gulf Air.

Transiting India on separate tickets is a pain.

You can’t use a BA companion voucher on other airlines.

Converting avios to hotel points to virgin points will see you lose 75% of the value

[sinc1000]

John wrote:

Bahrain visa on arrival is not an issue, it’s the same as going through immigration in any country except that you have to pay the immigration officer (by card). I didn’t think there had been any recent unrest in Bahrain? The reason it’s not a good transit point to BKK is that your only option is the once daily Gulf Air.

Transiting India on separate tickets is a pain.

You can’t use a BA companion voucher on other airlines.

Converting avios to hotel points to virgin points will see you lose 75% of the value

Hi John

Thanks for your reply

I just read that you had to exercise a high degree of caution in Bahrain due to the threat of terrorism and risk of civil unrest

Do you or anyone now what time the BA UK number opens in the mornings ?

[masaccio]

John wrote:

Transiting India on separate tickets is a pain.

More painful than staying airside and having bags checked through, yes. But having done this to MLE twice now, I’d hardly call it painful. I’ll update my Maldives via India thread when I am done, but BOM immigration and recheck with Indigo took around 45 minutes from leaving the BA plane to clearing security and immigration (twice). That’s faster than a LHR/MAD transfer and yet nobody blinks an eye at that.

[sinc1000]

John wrote:

Bahrain visa on arrival is not an issue, it’s the same as going through immigration in any country except that you have to pay the immigration officer (by card). I didn’t think there had been any recent unrest in Bahrain? The reason it’s not a good transit point to BKK is that your only option is the once daily Gulf Air.

Transiting India on separate tickets is a pain.

You can’t use a BA companion voucher on other airlines.

Converting avios to hotel points to virgin points will see you lose 75% of the value

Guys

Question for you

I see Gulf Air is the only direct flight from Bahrain to Bangkok

However Eithad have a flight with a short stopever in Abu Dhabi and it is much cheaper

Here is the Itinary

Arrive BAH 00.05

Eithad Flight from BAH to BKK

Departs 04.25

4 hours and 20 minutes later

Do you think this is doable ?

Ie

arrive

Clear immigration ( do I still need a visa for a short 4 hour stopover ?)

pick up bags

check in

go thru security