Using Avios to part pay question

[rolo55]

Hi all

Need to fly from NCL to DUB next month and have the option to mostly pay with Avios (not a reward flight but part payment).

Questions:
* will the four flights (NCL-LHR-DUB return) count towards sectors for status maintenance(currently silver)?
* if I book direct flights from NCL-DUB with BA but operated by Emerald Airlines do I get normal silver benefits (fast track, lounge etc.)?

BA website is not totally clear. Previous experience flying regional EI flights from UK to IRL (booked direct with EI) was no status, but flights did get credited on Avios as sectors flown.

Thanks!

[freckles]

Can’t answer the second question for you, but as regards the first one, there is no longer a minimum number of flights needed for status – it’s purely on TP’s now.

[AndrewT]

But you can get status based purely on flights completed (50?), which may be the relevance of the question.

[rolo55]

Thanks for replying. On my account it says I can retain sliver with 50 flights before year end (31/03/26)? Unlikely to make 7,500 tps but 50 flights is do-able. Have I misunderstood the rules?

[rolo55]

AndrewT wrote:

But you can get status based purely on flights completed (50?), which may be the relevance of the question.

Thanks, that’s what I thought! Most of my flights involve 3 sectors each way as I’m usually travelling from a regional airport to another regional airport via LHR. Managed to keep silver for a second year that way.

Do you know if I’ll get the sectors credited if I part pay with Avios?

[AndrewT]

A cash fare part paid with Avios is still a cash fare so no problem. I can’t comment on Emerald Airlines which is why I didn’t say anything.

[freckles]

AndrewT wrote:

But you can get status based purely on flights completed (50?), which may be the relevance of the question.

That’s passed me by as I will never achieve status that way.

[rolo55]

AndrewT wrote:

A cash fare part paid with Avios is still a cash fare so no problem. I can’t comment on Emerald Airlines which is why I didn’t say anything.

Very helpful, thanks

[NorthernLass]

Very limited benefits with Aer Lingus/Emerald – you get nothing at MAN so that possibly applies to NCL as well. There’s an article on here somewhere with the details!

Edit –

https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/11/22/british-airways-elite-benefits-flying-aer-lingus/

I haven’t read the article recently so can’t recall if it mentions Emerald. Note that it says you get priority check in on all routes, but there wasn’t even a priority queue when we flew MAN-DUB last year! Definitely no lounge access.

2nd edit – check your cabin bag allowance. There were people getting caught out who were flying on Emerald and then discovered that they only had 7 kg allowance instead of the 10 kg Aer Lingus gives you.