[Cecilia]

@dutchyankee: AA is not even offered as a partner and, to be honest, I couldn’t even consider a transit via USA (only immigration will take ages to deal with!). Iberia has some availability but only economy. Moral of the story will be, I will pay for the flights!

[TiredOldHack]

@dutchyankee – I fly to EZE and then on to SCL from the UK two or three times a year, on BA, CW. I can’t find availability for Avos at any time, but there’s plenty if you pay.

The CW prices to EZE vary wildly – they seem to pull them up and down more often than a pair of whore’s drawers. I tend to book via a specialist agent who only does First and Business bookings – he usually gets me a decent deal for about £2k return.

I wouldn’t fly AA unless there was no alternative.

[dutchyankee]

@TiredOldHack, I would love details of your specialist agent if he/she handles flights exit BRU or AMS. You are so right about the fares, absolutely incredible! As for AA, fully agree with you there too, and as I mentioned in a previous thread, the AA lounge in EZE is an absolute disgrace much like their on-board experience!

[Cecilia]

@TiredOldHack does your agent handle flights from GVA? (S)he might be getting a new customer soon!

[Cwyfan]

Now the new availability page is up and running at last, I have found much more availability to the US than previously, but the new system is a real pain to use if you want to do more than a very specific search.

I always find the AA method so much more user friendly, and even the old BA system was better than the new.

Has anybody found a way of using their companion voucher for outbound and inbound in different classes?

[VintageKrug]

You need to call up to vary tarvelling classes; remember you can also use the voucher on open jaw flights within the same zone e.g into JFK, return from BOS.

[TiredOldHack]

I think their new availability finder utterly impossible to use. The old one was much more user-friendly.

[Swindoneric]

I think that the BA redemption rates are a real bargain, especially with the Amex voucher and provided of course that you can actually get a seat. I have to say that this is the first time that I have ever experienced a problem in doing so.

[TiredOldHack]

@dutchyankee – the outfit’s called SkyClub. http://www.skyclub.com Ask for Neil Crosbie. Tel +44 207 387 3999 Fax +44 207 387 4233 <a href="mailto:[email protected]“>[email protected]

Tell him the journalist bloke who keeps going to Santiago (and who got volcano’d out this year) recommended him.

Yeah, the Admirals Club lounge in EZE is a bit of a joke. I have a card for another one as well – used that earlier this year. Ummmm… not Servisair. Anyway, it was just as good and less crowded.

He can certainly route via AMS or BRU because he routes me via AMS.

@cece@gva – no idea about GVA, but ask the nice Mr Crosbie.

[Cwyfan]

My point is “why is it beyond the wit of BA to allow us to do it online, as with AA?”

[dutchyankee]

@TiredOldHack, Many thanks, i will be in touch with Neil. Much appreciated.

[VintageKrug]

…and even Virgin matched.

Please, let’s never refer to “Virgina Atlantic” again. I’ve just been a little bit sick in my mouth.

[Cecilia]

@TiredOldHack, thanks so much for sharing! I’ll make sure to do some name dropping to convince the nice Mr. Crosbie 😉

[TiredOldHack]

@VintageKrug – reminds of of Branson’s first attempt to cross the Atlantic in his balloon, when he ditched off Ireland, and some wag remarked that you wouldn’t expect a virgin to go all the way, would you?

[dutchyankee]

Can anyone enlighten me as a continental Europe member of BAEC, what the UK school holiday periods are in 2012 as there seems very little redemption availability in February, March and April (Easter I understand). Or am I trying to redeem miles too late and need to plan more months in advance? Thank you in advance for info.

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