Return from Brazil to Madrid using companion voucher – Suggestion please?

[shub]

Hi,

I’m planning a trip around Christmas 2025 for three weeks. We’re a family of 4. Outbound is already booked to Buenos Aires from Madrid on Iberia with two in Business and two in PE using 2 BA companion vouchers. Hoping to grab two more seats in Business if released.
I want to end the trip in Rio de Janeiro with New year eve there and a bit of relaxing beach break towards the end of the trip.
However, the flight from RIO to Madrid is on a A330-200 with no PE. That would mean booking two in business and two in economy which is the not ideal.
Alternate option could be flight from Sao Paulo (SAO) to Madrid which does have PE as well. But that would mean an extra flight to Sao Paulo from RIO and one extra day.
Another option is RIO to Madrid via LHR on British airways. Peak price I think would be around 132250 Avios + £ 46.66 for 2 on BA in J. Iberia pricing for RIO to MAD would be around 62500 Avios and £164.20. So, BA could mean guaranteed four seats in Business but extra Avios and extra connection at LHR.
Not able to decide which option to choose. Book directly from RIO on Iberia with two in Business and two in Economy and hope for two additional seats to open up in Business which could be tricky as peak timings around new year, Or an extra connection to Sao Paulo or travel on BA via LHR. Not sure if there’s any other alternative route or option possible?

[NorthernLass]

Do you need to end in Madrid, it’s not totally clear from your post?

[marks7389]

Sounds like you’re already on top of all the options for using a companion voucher.

I assume you’re planning to book the return separately and call for a 50% Avios rebate afterwards. Just be prepared that you may meet some resistance to that because of the reduced cash component ex-Brazil. Last time I booked an outbound with BA, return with Iberia they also quizzed me about that as well when I called for the rebate.

[shub]

NorthernLass wrote:

Do you need to end in Madrid, it’s not totally clear from your post?

Sorry, reported by mistake.
Yes, need to end in Madrid. Moving there next year most likely.

[NorthernLass]

Yes I also think you’ve covered all your options! As long as you follow BA policy, which is that they will only refund the 50% avios if your inbound flight wasn’t available when you booked the outbound, you should find an agent who will help. Also don’t leave it more than a few days before calling.

[shub]

Thanks, I understand that. Issue is for booking on Iberia I would have to call T-361 days as can’t book online. So not sure whether the agent will book as return ticket or one way with half the Avios.
For BA, I can book online and then ask for 50% back. However, not sure how to add connection to Madrid from LHR as that would open day after booking RIO to MAD. Moreover, my voucher is showing as used but OH voucher is still showing available for use. So looks like the agent has missed to use the voucher. Let’s see what complication that will add when booking return.

[NorthernLass]

How many avios were you charged?

You can have the MAD-LHR leg added afterwards, for the RFS price.

[shub]

NorthernLass wrote:

How many avios were you charged?

You can have the MAD-LHR leg added afterwards, for the RFS price.

51000 Avios for 2 in Business, which is correct using a companion voucher on off peak date.

[NorthernLass]

But you said the 2nd voucher wasn’t used, even though you booked 4 seats? Were you charged incorrectly for the 2nd booking?

[annabh]

We’re doing something similar next year but our journey ends in LHR I very much doubt you’ll get additional business on the one flight a day back to Madrid. I am hoping they may open up extra availability out to EZE as the day flights seem to do so.

Only thing to consider if transiting in LHR is likely to be a terminal 3 arrival in December as my return flight is and flights to MAD are from terminal 5 so you may want to factor in a longer transit.

[shub]

NorthernLass wrote:

But you said the 2nd voucher wasn’t used, even though you booked 4 seats? Were you charged incorrectly for the 2nd booking?

I’m charged correctly for 2 separate bookings. However, for 1 booking the voucher is showing used and for the other booking voucher is still showing in the account as available to use.

I think this might be an issue, as the return would be after the expiry date of unused voucher. So most likely it won’t allow to use as 1st booking. I can only book the inbound if the outbound is booked using the voucher. Does it make sense?

[shub]

annabh wrote:

We’re doing something similar next year but our journey ends in LHR I very much doubt you’ll get additional business on the one flight a day back to Madrid. I am hoping they may open up extra availability out to EZE as the day flights seem to do so.

Only thing to consider if transiting in LHR is likely to be a terminal 3 arrival in December as my return flight is and flights to MAD are from terminal 5 so you may want to factor in a longer transit.

Yes, I agree. I’m in a day flight out to EZE, so will keep an eye on extra availability.
Return extra availability is very rare from GIG as you mentioned. So most likely will have to travel in economy or an extra flight.

[zapato1060]

Two options. 1. If you have the Avios you can book 360 days out at IB without 241 voucher from midnight and choose up to 9 seats in J (note the glitch: do not revert back to the search or you will lose the 9 and it’ll go to normal 2 only). You have a 0-4 hour window IME to get from the 9 available. At say 5am it’ll revert to 2.

2. Call BA and they let you book IB 360 days out, might have to HUACA. I am not sure if they can pull up 9 seats previously mentioned or just the 2 J normally available. Pay full Avios. Next day call to apply 241.

[shub]

zapato1060 wrote:

Two options. 1. If you have the Avios you can book 360 days out at IB without 241 voucher from midnight and choose up to 9 seats in J (note the glitch: do not revert back to the search or you will lose the 9 and it’ll go to normal 2 only). You have a 0-4 hour window IME to get from the 9 available. At say 5am it’ll revert to 2.

2. Call BA and they let you book IB 360 days out, might have to HUACA. I am not sure if they can pull up 9 seats previously mentioned or just the 2 J normally available. Pay full Avios. Next day call to apply 241.

Interesting, do you’ve to search for the previous day before midnight and then move to next date after midnight to get 9 seats availability?
I’ve checked previously and could only find 1 seat in Business after midnight and after 4 or 5 am two seats become available.

[zapato1060]

@shub give it a test at midnight only on IB paying full Avios. If the flight has 1x or 2x seats it’s yesterdays. If it’s after midnight you could in theory book 9x seats. Go right to the end, if you get PNR error your too a day ahead, you know you’ve succeeded when it goes to payment stage. You cannot go back at this stage. Test on MEX/MAD that has 3x flights per day.

[shub]

zapato1060 wrote:

@shub give it a test at midnight only on IB paying full Avios. If the flight has 1x or 2x seats it’s yesterdays. If it’s after midnight you could in theory book 9x seats. Go right to the end, if you get PNR error your too a day ahead, you know you’ve succeeded when it goes to payment stage. You cannot go back at this stage. Test on MEX/MAD that has 3x flights per day.

Thanks a lot for the tip. I understand it now, I think. Decision time now, whether to spend the extra Avios or not. The companion voucher would go unused in that case.

@zapato1060 do you know what impact these extra availability have on the guaranteed 2 seats?

[zapato1060]

@shub It’s a glitchy glitch. As previously mentioned if you do 4x tix and go to payment stage. If you then think I want to go back and add another tix, your done for. It revert to 2 or even 1 IME to answer your q. Glad your able to understand 🙂 as it’s hard to explain but a great tip non the less.

[shub]

zapato1060 wrote:

@shub It’s a glitchy glitch. As previously mentioned if you do 4x tix and go to payment stage. If you then think I want to go back and add another tix, your done for. It revert to 2 or even 1 IME to answer your q. Glad your able to understand 🙂 as it’s hard to explain but a great tip non the less.

Absolutely, great tip. Thanks a lot. Few days to decide between booking better seats or saving Avios.

[zapato1060]

@shub good luck 👍

[shub]

Just to update, I booked 2 in Business and 2 in Economy on my preferred date from GIG to MAD.

@zapato1060 The Glitch on Iberia is now fixed I think, it doesn’t allow to book in advance and is actually now 1 day behind. So, if the calendar is open for 8th Jan, the tickets are only available till 7th Jan.

Thanks everyone for the help. Now that the flights are booked, onto planning the actual trip 🙂

[ffwd]

Iberia seat selection is glichy.

I had to keep re-selecting MAD-SCL in business using Avios boking last year and even then seats deselected with a week to depart.

Doing same this year so fingers crossed.