Upgrade voucher help please

[Dawn]

I had a long chat with a BA agent who appears to have told me incorrect information.
He said I should use my Ugrade voucher to book my flights for my husband and I, LHR – Miami which I did. As my return leg is not available until March 24, he said I could use my other Upgrade voucher to book us on the inbound when flights become available.

Having seen a post on Flyertalk where someone also had the same issue, does any one have any advice? I have a 2-4-1 voucher that I could use instead. Alternatively, as I now have 2 x upgrade vouchers, could I cancel the one I have booked to Miami and instead use the two vouchers to get return LHR to Miami when the flights become available. (Obviously not able to do this until March).

Finally with an upgrade voucher, can I fly LHR – MIAMI and then return from Grenada in the Caribbean or do we have to return from the same location that we flew to on the outbound leg?

Any help or advice is really appreciated.

[zio]

The key thread to read through is here: https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/cabin-upgrade-voucher/page/1/
On pages 5-6 there is discussion of a similar scenario, but the whole thread should be useful.
With the vouchers at your disposal you have options, but you do need to decide if you want to do the open jaw return from Grenada. Open jaws are possible using the BUV, but not by starting, as you have, by using a voucher for two outbound.

[zio]

Actually, on rereading, the first pages of that thread don’t add much clarity and reflect initial general confusion around the voucher, though there is the useful discussion on pages 5-6.
This thread contains my experience and also links to others: https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/barclay-cabin-upgrade-voucher-on-return-flight-only/
It could be that BA training has changed/improved but it seems to me that some agents have refused to help in the situation you (with an agent’s guidance) have lined up. If anyone with recent experience could chime in it would be helpful.
It seems safer to book one person per voucher, now you have two. From personal experience adding returns later is then definitely possible.

[NorthernLass]

I agree there are likely to be fewer problems with 2 separate bookings. But have you got a backup plan as I think Grenada is only 3 x per week and the CW seats go fast?

[Dawn]

UPDATE:
Thank you all for your comments.
yes, I have a back up plan of flying back to Miami and flying home from there.

I decided to change my booking and after checking that reward seats were still available on the Miami flight, I booked using my 2-4-1 voucher. I will book the return leg (Grenada or Miami) as they become available.
I then cancelled my booking with the Upgrade voucher and although I lost the £70, I had 135,000 Avios returned.
The 2-4-1 booking was only 100,000 Avios, so I consider that I got the better deal out of this.

I have decided that with my lifestyle of being away for months at a time, the Upgrade vouchers don’t really suit me (as I travel with my husband), plus they want a huge amount of Avios to go long haul.
I am going to use the 2 vouchers that I have for short haul flights (probably Dalaman as I have a home there), and concentrate just on the 2-4-1 which seems to have more flexibility.

I will downgrade my Barclaycard now, I see no point in paying £240 per year when I have already triggered the Upgrade vouchers and won’t really use them so much in the future.

[zio]

It is possible to find value on short haul with the BUV (I’m not sure how expensive peak BA cash fares to Dalaman get…) but annoyingly you are limited to the maximum avios RFS pricing which isn’t usually good value.
It sounds like the 2-4-1 works well for your trip; in general it is more flexible. Good luck for getting Granada returns.