Old style BA Amex 2 for 1 voucher for indirect flight

[Shazza12]

Hi – apologies for asking, I can’t find this covered in topics. I have an old style 241 voucher expiring November 2023 and would like to use it to go to Dubai in November. There are no direct business class flights and on some days no direct flights at all in any class. There does seem to be availability to Doha though. As I haven’t booked using open jaw or a connection before, I wanted to ask before I phone BA
1. Can they book it as one full ticket LHR-DOH-DXB returning DXB-LHR ?
2 If not and I just book an open jaw LHR-DOH and then book separately using Avios for DOH-DXB – is it better to book on BA using Avios or Qatar?
Thank you for any help or guidance.

[Anna]

1. No because BA doesn’t fly DXB-DOH. You could probably get a QR flight for this sector though.

2. Obviously any trip on QR couldn’t be part of the 241 booking.

Also remember that you’ll have to pay the highest avios option now with the 241.

[Shazza12]

@ Anna, thank you for replying. The cost is working out for LHR-DOH in Business and DXB-LHR in Premium Economy at 122500 Avios + £630 using the 241. Then booking a separate trip from DOH-DXB is 14000 + £118.80 (for 2) in economy.

The BA flight lands in Doha at 00.15 and the QR flight departs for Dubai at 01.30 – is it possible to make this connection on 2 separate bookings if we had hand baggage only (if the QR economy flight Hand Baggage allowance is sufficient)?

[meta]

That would be too tight for my liking if your flight is even 30 minutes late you’ll miss it as the minimum connection time is 45 minutes even with only hand luggage although that’s for QR to QR. BA to QR might be more. Especially if you are on separate tickets.

[Anna]

I don’t know as I have yet to fly this route! It looks a bit tight given that you’d (presumably) need to clear immigration and go through security again.

[Shazza12]

Thank you both for replying. I guess that plan is not going to work – need to work on a new plan.
If I waited, is it likely avios seats might become available for a direct flight LHR-DXB around first 3 weeks in November?
or find a new destination – any suggestions for some winter sun in business class for 4/5 nights and making use of Ambassador Free Weekend night certificate?

[Anna]

What about just going to DOH? There are 2 ICs, one is due to open soon.
Otherwise for such a short break I wouldn’t go any further than Canaries/Sharm but I don’t think either has an IC!
DXB is very popular but you could always set up an alert on SeatSpy in case anyone cancels.

[Shazza12]

DOH sounds like a plan – just looked at the IC Doha Beach and Spa – reviews are good. Any HFP community have stay experience – is lounge access worth the additional cost?

[ATP]

I did this routing in October last year, on separate tickets. But as others have mentioned, it all seemed too tight, so we went Doha for 3 days, then Dubai for 4 then Doha again for 2. If you’re just looking for winter sun, would also recommend sticking to just Doha. Cannot comment on IC I’m afraid.

Another bonus of just Doha – you can use the Al Mourjan lounge if flying BA business. Practically drank the value of my ‘taxes fees and charges’ cost which softened the blow somewhat.

[Aston100]

Woops, my bad.
Delete please.