Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
#976
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
High fees also charged when redeeming AA on routes BA also fly.
#977
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Update on BA class action suit. DH and I received 50k points, between the two of us, from excess fuel surcharges between 2006 and 2013. These were flights we took using points, but paid the fuel charges. Shocked to find 50k points in our accounts. Then later in the day we received e-mails confirming it. Suit is called Dover vs British Airways.
#978
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Ah, so it's not that I chose a route through LHR vs not LHR, it's that I chose a flight that was 'operated by BA'. Is this typical of how 'partner airlines' treat partners, or is this something unique to BA?
#979
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
If you use BA Avios points to fly on BA you will be charged high fees. If you use BA Avios points to fly on AA you will pay high fees. If you use AA points you will not be charged high fees. It's whose points you use.
#980
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
So BA sucks, then, basically! (their mileage program, that is!)
#981
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Well basically, I just think of it as getting a ticket for half price. It's not great! I think you can still use Avios for airport hotels, which is nice.
You can also buy a ticket full price, and then use the points to upgrade to business.
You can also buy a ticket full price, and then use the points to upgrade to business.
Last edited by Mallory; Dec 18th 2018 at 12:22 pm.
#982
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Not completely true. If you use AA miles on BA routes you’ll also get fleeced.
#983
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Nope. All programs have their sweet (and shitty) spots. BA’s sweet spots are mainly short flights (e.g. direct domestic US flights where the number of miles required can be much less than AA) or upgrades. They continue to serve me very well in these circumstances. No-one should redeem BA miles for long haul (or hotels) unless they’re certain they can’t get value via the ways I’ve described.
#984
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Nope. All programs have their sweet (and shitty) spots. BA’s sweet spots are mainly short flights (e.g. direct domestic US flights where the number of miles required can be much less than AA) or upgrades. They continue to serve me very well in these circumstances. No-one should redeem BA miles for long haul (or hotels) unless they’re certain they can’t get value via the ways I’ve described.
#985
#986
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
We have used BA miles to fly London Heathrow to Paris and to Frankfurt. Quite a good deal.
#987
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Nope. All programs have their sweet (and shitty) spots. BA’s sweet spots are mainly short flights (e.g. direct domestic US flights where the number of miles required can be much less than AA) or upgrades. They continue to serve me very well in these circumstances. No-one should redeem BA miles for long haul (or hotels) unless they’re certain they can’t get value via the ways I’ve described.
#988
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
TonRob: Question. Yesterday we received new BA/Chase contactless credit cards. Do you know if we can actually use these in the UK like others do? Or do we still have to sign for it? Anyone know.
#989
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Basic Economy vs Main Cabin fares on AA -
Not sure how long they've been doing this, but when you book a domestic (US) flight on AA nowadays, they 'tease' you with a 'basic economy' fare, which is generally a good bit lower in price than the 'main cabin' fare (EG, $150 RT PHX-SFO vs $250, or $340 RT PHX-BNA vs $420). If you choose the 'basic economy' option, they throw warnings at you as follows, trying to get you to pay the higher fee:
Not sure how long they've been doing this, but when you book a domestic (US) flight on AA nowadays, they 'tease' you with a 'basic economy' fare, which is generally a good bit lower in price than the 'main cabin' fare (EG, $150 RT PHX-SFO vs $250, or $340 RT PHX-BNA vs $420). If you choose the 'basic economy' option, they throw warnings at you as follows, trying to get you to pay the higher fee:
- seats assigned at check-in
- not eligible for upgrades
- no flight changes or refunds
- board in last group (group 9).
#990
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/maxim...s-award-chart/