Would you pay for someone to book your reward flight?

[GibFlyer]

Hey guys,

I’m very new to rewards flight bookings, I’ve only done Orlando successfully where I rang (I think) the Australian number at 00:00 GMT. The time zone in Vegas helped as it was around 4pm there IIRC.

My next booking is a bit more of a challenge, it’s a route which sells out very quickly by the looks. I’ve managed to get outbound seats, and I have got a week or so before I need to do the return. The excellent “How to book the return leg” thread has given me some great tips, but I’m still very anxious that I’m going to miss it.

It made me think… if somebody offered the service to book these for you, would you pay?
Would you trust a third party with your BA login?
Would you risk that they might screw it up?
If you’d use such a service, what fee would you say was reasonable?

Interested to hear everyone’s thoughts. 🙂

[Richie]

Nope. It is something that you need to do yourself because if you don’t get the flights you want you can book the best alternatives.

[GibFlyer]

Richie wrote:

Nope.

LOL, take time to think, Rich! 🙂

[redethernet1]

They can book with their points and you can pay them, simples.
I think the risk is just £35 so if its someone you know then great

[GibFlyer]

redethernet1 wrote:

They can book with their points and you can pay them, simples.
I think the risk is just £35 so if its someone you know then great

How do you mean? They book it and you pay for a name change? Not sure if that will work with companion voucher?

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

You can’t change the name on a booking!

This really is the sort of thing you need to do yourself.

Giving a random business / person access to your BA account isn’t a good idea.

[Super Secret Stuff]

Simple answer: nope

[redethernet1]

you can book a reward flight on any name

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

redethernet1 wrote:

you can book a reward flight on any name

What would the point be for me to book a flight for @GibFlyer from my account using MY avios when they want to use THEIR avios (and possibly 2-4-1) ?

[NorthernLass]

No! The thrill of the chase is all part of the fun. And not many people can do it as well as I can now, lol. You just need practice.

[GibFlyer]

NorthernLass wrote:

No! The thrill of the chase is all part of the fun. And not many people can do it as well as I can now, lol. You just need practice.

Can I book you for next Wednesday at midnight please. 🙂

[NorthernLass]

I’ve never been asked that before 😂

[Jill Kinkell]

NorthernLass wrote:

No! The thrill of the chase is all part of the fun. And not many people can do it as well as I can now, lol. You just need practice.

The ‘ thrill of the chase’ has me stressed out! However, in all the years of booking ( 16) have always been able to get o/b and I/b seats on all the routes we’ve wanted. Just can’t sleep after doing the midnight call!

[omicron]

I’m in an SAS Eurobonus Facebook group where it seems like a lot of people tend to pay a handful of providers to help them find and book reward flights. Up to £200 per booking last I checked!

I think one of the drivers is that SAS Amex’ 241 voucher can be used across the entire Star Alliance network, but many partner flights are not visible on the SAS website so you need to look up specific fare classes on other airlines’ websites before calling, making the majority of bookings more complicated than with BA’s vouchers.

[NorthernLass]

Lol, I think that might just be my dream job 🤣

@Jill, I make sure there’s nothing in my diary for the morning of T-354! It’s like a hangover day (in the days when I could actually contemplate dealing with one).

[GibFlyer]

omicron wrote:

I’m in an SAS Eurobonus Facebook group where it seems like a lot of people tend to pay a handful of providers to help them find and book reward flights. Up to £200 per booking last I checked!

I think £200 is fair to not have the hassle. 🙂

[NigelHamilton]

As an independent travel agent(i.e. someone you can speak to), I’ve had a few clients book reward flights as part of a holiday. They’ve done it themselves but with my guidance (and sometimes a shared screen on zoom/teams). I don’t charge either, because I’ll get the accommodation/car/activity booking which does pay.

[GibFlyer]

Jill Kinkell wrote:

NorthernLass wrote:

No! The thrill of the chase is all part of the fun. And not many people can do it as well as I can now, lol. You just need practice.

The ‘ thrill of the chase’ has me stressed out! However, in all the years of booking ( 16) have always been able to get o/b and I/b seats on all the routes we’ve wanted. Just can’t sleep after doing the midnight call!

That’s pretty impressive stats. Always on the phone or do you book online too? Which call center works best for you?

[VinZ]

I do it all the time for my boss. I’m his assistant! 😀

[NorthernLass]

I haven’t always got my first choice, especially travelling as 3 in the school holidays (when BA only guaranteed 2 x J seats), but our alternative trips have been so amazing that I’m quite chilled now about going where the availability takes me. If the 241 could be used on open jaws online I’d probably be less fixated on booking at T-355, but as I have to faff around calling anyway, I reckon I may as well get the best shot at my first choice!

[PeteM]

I have booked flights for friends for who I am a nominee on their accounts and vice versa. BA staff on the Gold line normally assume I am their PA, which leads to more camaraderie, I find!

I would consider doing it for others for £200, but suspect that’s more than people would be willing to actually pay. Plus, you need to give that person basically unfettered access to your account, which is pretty risky unless you really trust them.

[Jill Kinkell]

@GibFlyer book o/b on line when booking opens , then phone up for I/b. Have used USA, India and Japan. India can be very good or pretty clueless. I always have to phone BA again a day later when the domestic return opens. If only BAs IT allowed us to do this for ourselves.

[GibFlyer]

Jill Kinkell wrote:

@GibFlyer book o/b on line when booking opens , then phone up for I/b. Have used USA, India and Japan. India can be very good or pretty clueless. I always have to phone BA again a day later when the domestic return opens. If only BAs IT allowed us to do this for ourselves.

Thanks! I’ve got o/b booked online I just need to get the inbound leg sorted. I’m torn between the “book the return and then ask for the refund later” option or asking them to apply the CV at the point of booking? I’m guessing my first question to the agent is “can you first reserve 3x seats from x to y” and then faff around with the payment and vouchers etc?

I’m also based outside of the UK and need to get the UK to GIB part of the trip booked. Can that be added on to the same booking or do I do that separate later?

[NorthernLass]

What’s the plan to get to GIB? If your return flight is overnight (so lands the next day), LHR-GIB won’t have been released at that point and you’ll need to call again to get it added. Did you book GIB-LHR-PUJ as the outbound? I am assuming the system will treat it as any other non-UK departure and charge the standard avios plus cash for it. Also I think PUJ is from LGW so you need to build in the transfer – I don’t think I’d fancy doing it the same day after a long-haul overnight flight though.

[GibFlyer]

NorthernLass wrote:

What’s the plan to get to GIB? If your return flight is overnight (so lands the next day), LHR-GIB won’t have been released at that point and you’ll need to call again to get it added. Did you book GIB-LHR-PUJ as the outbound? I am assuming the system will treat it as any other non-UK departure and charge the standard avios plus cash for it. Also I think PUJ is from LGW so you need to build in the transfer – I don’t think I’d fancy doing it the same day after a long-haul overnight flight though.

On the outbound we haven’t booked that yet. The plan was flying into LHR, doing the transfer and staying overnight in LGW. I held off doing this at the same time as the LGW-PUJ as I’m not fussed about economy on the short haul given the seat setup in BA, plus the flight was only £50 cash so hardly worth using the Avios for. We’re getting used to the inconvenience of doing the overnights given the timing of the flights back.

On the return, haven’t fully decided yet but favourite so far is doing LGW-AGP/SVQ and getting a cab! Again we’ve done that a few times and also doing AGP when we visit Orlando in August.

I’ve also been looking at your kind advice of looking at a backup option in case I don’t get the return leg from PUJ. Most likely route for that at the moment is via MIA. I can’t seem to book the PUJ-MIA on BA though (I thought AA flights were codeshare, or is that only international?). That said, the 2hr hop is only around £600 for the 3 of us, depending on dates.