Avios to SFO and LAX

Back to Forum
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 22 total)

  • Anonymous
    Guest

    Binman62
    Participant

    Am I missing something or doing something wrong?

    I know BA premium long haul redemptions are notoriously difficult but a search for SFO and LAX in First suggest that there is not a single seat to either destination until mid November.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    For the umpteenth time, Binman, the worst possible time to get avios availability, particularly in premium cabins, is when there is a sale on. There really is no helping some people!

    Despite that, briefly checking LAX I can see at least one day in peak August season when there is a direct flight in F, and many days on which partner award availability exists. Try SAN (in J), SFO and both LAS flights (only LHR has F) as alternatives. SEA as an outrider and PHX as a last resort (though often quite challenging on that route).

    As it can’t have missed your notice, there is currently a sale on which ends this evening:

    http://www.britishairways.com/travel/low-price-finder/public/en_gb?region=NA&cabin=J&refevent=FEB12PLOFLTFIRST

    Helped a colleague use his 2for1 to Sydney over Christmas just prior to the sale – managed to get them booked out and back in Club World. Result!


    jayjay007
    Participant

    VINTAGE KRUG -i really can not understand your manners on replying to Binman -not that he needs any defence,though –

    up until avios showed up,we could get seats in premuium classes AS LONG AS THEY EXISTED IN FACT”!

    NOW, you “managed to find ONE F in mid august” -we are at the end of march!!! -5 months in advance and only one F in august!!!

    EXCUSE ME (US IGNORANT) you may defend BA ,but i don’t understand the tone of your response

    so far,i thought some of the comments they made about you were quite unreasonable and that you were an asset to all of us with the loads of info provided

    but this reply!!!

    probably we all have our bad days…

    yes,i know a sale is on,but this happens all the time!!!
    what is the point of reaching gold level and upwards when,whenever we try a booking in a premium class,the resul is ALWAYS ECONOMY ???

    i ,and most of us PAID BIG BUCKS for commercial premium travel,and,as a consequence ,we got more miles than anyone on a low coach fare ,OK

    will you pls enlighten me/ us :why on earth am i supposed to fly “cattle class” for a long 7 or 9 hour flight when i / we always fly premium ?

    as far as i know,this does not happen on any other airline!


    TravelEnthusiast
    Participant

    I agree, the tone of VK’s response is too patronising and aggressive. It is true, as VK says, that there are often ways to find award availability with some creativity and flexibility but I agree with Binman that the availability on BA is often unacceptably scarce. I generally find much better availability, as a Miles & More Senator member, in for example Lufthansa or Swiss F class than I do on BA F with Avios.


    BeckyBoop
    Participant

    Binman do you have any speciifc dates of when you would like to travel and for how long? At least by giving use your criteria we can add it to out watch lists and let you know through here if something comes up.

    jayjay007 has it ever occured to you that BA flights are in very high demand and the fact that availability is low is a good thing. Binman last August made a redemtion of 4 F tickets during peak summer holidays and the Olympics. Forbid the days if BA ever return to low density seating. Seats would probably be booked years in advance.


    Senator
    Participant

    I’ve started to use AA.com to look for award seats even for BA flights. It provides more options right off the bat, and includes connecting options example LHR-JFK via BOS. After scanning for what I want, I call BA to book.


    IanFromHKG
    Participant

    Binman, maybe AA will have introduced their new B777s on those route by then, and you could do a review for us! As oneworld partners I assume you can burn your Avios with AA


    Bullfrog
    Participant

    I have been watching Miami for New Year’s Day and there was no availability until 2 seats appeared yesterday. I took the available seast & had the option of sitting in any of the 14 seats except 1A & 1B.

    This told me that no other person had booked for the flight.

    ‘Job done’


    SILENTSCOUSER
    Participant

    Hi
    Vintage Krug

    i have been trying to use my 140,000 avios for a family trip 3xadults and 1 child
    i have been trying to get on BA prem to upgrade — 18th – 26th Oct to Maldives — thry are asking me for £14k !!!! as no rewards ……..any ideas im even open just to get some help for the children

    thanks in advance


    Binman62
    Participant

    Ian_from_HKG.

    AA will indeed have introduced their new products however whilst you can use Avios when sitting on 4 Amex 241 vouchers it is galling to have to pay double for the pleasure. The vouchers can only be used on BA metal.

    I will keep a look out…meanwhile first available First seat to SFO is the 25th November.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Perhaps a truer statement would be “the first empty seat that BA are willing to release is…..”

    Clearly there are plenty of spare seats, but revenue will not release.


    Binman62
    Participant

    How very true.


    IanFromHKG
    Participant

    Yet another reason to love CX (at least as a Diamond member). Whenever we try to bag redemption seats and none are available, I call up the Marco Polo Club, who nearly always say they “will speak to the controller”. About half the time a seat is released straight away. The rest of the time we sit tight, and 9 times out of ten we get it in the end.


    BeckyBoop
    Participant

    Ian, how many seats on average do you bag on redemption? Bearing in mind Binman needs at least 4 in F.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 22 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls