Award seats on BA using QFF points

[RooFlyer]

Haven't tried this for a while, so way out practice.

I was looking for a Business Award seat using QFF points on BA LGW-ACE and return LPA-LGW in June (destination is the Canary Islands).

Using my BAEC log-on, it shows 4 biz seats on outbound, and 2 on the inbound (unfortunately my avios balance is low). The Qantas web site errors out (again), so I called. I think I got Hobart and they said no seats for those dates +/- at least a week.

@Mattg or @JessicaTam , if BA shows availability, would you usually expect that availability to show up for Qantas FF as well?

Should I call again?

Do you know if the call centre can tell the difference between no seats being made available to Qantas, and 'available seats all gone'?

On a slightly related note, do you know if Alaskan awards are going to be expanded across OneWorld anytime soon? I have heaps of Alaskan miles, but it currently wants to put me on Air Lingus and quite expensively.

 

[Mattg]

No, those seats won't be available to book as QFF awards. This is why:

British Airways Limits Partner Access to Reward Seats

British Airways is now only releasing a small subset of award availability on its own flights to members of partner airlines.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Mattg]

On a slightly related note, do you know if Alaskan awards are going to be expanded across OneWorld anytime soon? I have heaps of Alaskan miles, but it currently wants to put me on Air Lingus and quite expensively.

On this question - Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has expanded its award seat offering to all Oneworld airlines. It's quite possible there's just no availability on the routes you're looking at for the same reason that QFF doesn't have access to the seats.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Haven't tried this for a while, so way out practice.

I was looking for a Business Award seat using QFF points on BA LGW-ACE and return LPA-LGW in June (destination is the Canary Islands).

Using my BAEC log-on, it shows 4 biz seats on outbound, and 2 on the inbound (unfortunately my avios balance is low). The Qantas web site errors out (again), so I called. I think I got Hobart and they said no seats for those dates +/- at least a week.

@Mattg or @JessicaTam , if BA shows availability, would you usually expect that availability to show up for Qantas FF as well?

Should I call again?

Do you know if the call centre can tell the difference between no seats being made available to Qantas, and 'available seats all gone'?

On a slightly related note, do you know if Alaskan awards are going to be expanded across OneWorld anytime soon? I have heaps of Alaskan miles, but it currently wants to put me on Air Lingus and quite expensively.

In my experience BA restricts some Awards to their own FF program.
As an example I redeemed Avios for CE flights at a brilliant redemption rate 20.8 cents per Avios.
These awards weren’t available to book on either QF or AA

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks both.

Arrrgh. Must get my avios balance up - I was going to take a subscription earlier this year but chickened out.

As an idle exercise, I compared the cost of buying avios (with no bonus) Vs buying the fares.

LGW-ACE, LPA-LGW
Business fare GBP670
Avios fare 51,500

To buy 50K avios - GBP899.

Wow. I didn't appreciate just how bad the value buying avios from BA without a bonus is. Even though they say 'top up', offering up to 200,000 avios is hardly a top-up.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks both.

Arrrgh. Must get my avios balance up - I was going to take a subscription earlier this year but chickened out.

As an idle exercise, I compared the cost of buying avios (with no bonus) Vs buying the fares.

LGW-ACE, LPA-LGW
Business fare GBP670
Avios fare 51,500

To buy 50K avios - GBP899.

Wow. I didn't appreciate just how bad the value buying avios from BA without a bonus is. Even though they say 'top up', offering up to 200,000 avios is hardly a top-up.

Have you considered crediting to BA instead of QF ? (Edited )
I send all my low earners for QFF to BAEC instead eg DOH to Europe .

 

[aaa99]

Finnair is currently having an avios sale. And I am pretty sure you can transfer the Avios then to BA avios at 1:1.

Buy Finnair Plus Avios For 50% Off (1.14 Cents Each)

The Finnair Plus program is offering a 50% discount on purchased Avios. Is this a promotion that's worth it? Here's the math.

onemileatatime.com

 

[RooFlyer]

Finnair is currently having an avios sale. And I am pretty sure you can transfer the Avios then to BA avios at 1:1.

Buy Finnair Plus Avios For 50% Off (1.14 Cents Each)

The Finnair Plus program is offering a 50% discount on purchased Avios. Is this a promotion that's worth it? Here's the math.

onemileatatime.com

Thanks! That's good value and now cheaper than cash fare.

Have you considered crediting to BA instead of QF ? (Edited )
I send all my low earners for QFF to BAEC instead eg DOH to Europe .

No, but I must!

 

[jase05]

No, but I must!

Or just abandon QFF completely as I have. Mrs Jase still uses her QFF account but mine is dormant. I just credit everything to BAEC and happy with it

 

[RooFlyer]

Or just abandon QFF completely as I have. Mrs Jase still uses her QFF account but mine is dormant. I just credit everything to BAEC and happy with it

Yes, I should look at doing that too (BAEC). Will do the sums for travel after my end-of Feb QFF anniversary, but its looking grim for any Plat-or-equivalent status. At the moment for 2025 March-Dec, I only have one OW trip booked - SIN-CDG-SIN on QR, rest are QFF & SQKF Awards and Star Alliance $ (short haul only).

 

[andye]

Yes, I should look at doing that too (BAEC). Will do the sums for travel after my end-of Feb QFF anniversary, but its looking grim for any Plat-or-equivalent status. At the moment for 2025 March-Dec, I only have one OW trip booked - SIN-CDG-SIN on QR, rest are QFF & SQKF Awards and Star Alliance $ (short haul only).

IB is another consideration if you are after OW status (OWS is about the same as BAEC though OWE is a bit harder) and avios but can't do the 4xBA sectors

 

[drron]

I have been sending all my OW flights to BAEC. however I will not requalify gold next year as I now need to redem my points and will not be travelling as much. So at the moment iy is back to AA as good award availability on routes we fly for less points and less money than BA or QFF.
And I am LTP on AA.

 

[SYD]

IB is another consideration if you are after OW status (OWS is about the same as BAEC though OWE is a bit harder) and avios but can't do the 4xBA sectors

Speaking of IB, there’s usually pretty good QFF CR availability on IB (and BA) around Europe. But I had a quick Look yesterday and there seemed to be zip availability on either to/from the Canary Islands. So maybe they’ve just blocked those sectors OR they’re really popular!

 

[RooFlyer]

Speaking of IB, there’s usually pretty good QFF CR availability on IB (and BA) around Europe. But I had a quick Look yesterday and there seemed to be zip availability on either to/from the Canary Islands. So maybe they’ve just blocked those sectors OR they’re really popular!

Oh! I'm actually departing from CDG for the Canaries & returning to CDG and other than getting a BA/QFF award from LGW, my next best alternative is CDG-xMAD-Canaries & return. It wouldn't let me check for any Award on IB as I don't have any IB avios (I have joined IB Plus). I looked at IB's milage chart and it looks like about 45K IB avios total.

Would you mind checking for me CGD-xMAD-ACE on 23 and 24 June in J and then LPA-xMAD- CDG on 28 June?

Buying Finnair avios on current discount, moving to IB and redeeming there saves a few A$00's over the paid fare (and yes, its only a Euro-biz J, so probably not worth it, but habits die hard.

 

[SYD]

Oh! I'm actually departing from CDG for the Canaries & returning to CDG and other than getting a BA/QFF award from LGW, my next best alternative is CDG-xMAD-Canaries & return. It wouldn't let me check for any Award on IB as I don't have any IB avios (I have joined IB Plus). I looked at IB's milage chart and it looks like about 45L IB avios total.

Would you mind checking for me CGD-xMAD-ACE on 23 and 24 June in J and then LPA-xMAD- CDG on 28 June?

Buying Finnair avios on current discount, moving to IB and redeeming there saves a few A$00's over the paid fare (and yes, its only a Euro-biz J, so probably not worth it, but habits die hard.

QFF points can get you from ORY to MAD and easily but 14k pts and €38 in whY, it’s probably better to buy a ticket.

But there’s still the air gap onwards to ACE and/or LPA.

If you end up just buying flights, check return or open jaw, Europe still can charge more for one ways v return flights.

 

[VPS]

Oh! I'm actually departing from CDG for the Canaries & returning to CDG and other than getting a BA/QFF award from LGW, my next best alternative is CDG-xMAD-Canaries & return. It wouldn't let me check for any Award on IB as I don't have any IB avios (I have joined IB Plus). I looked at IB's milage chart and it looks like about 45L IB avios total.

Would you mind checking for me CGD-xMAD-ACE on 23 and 24 June in J and then LPA-xMAD- CDG on 28 June?

Buying Finnair avios on current discount, moving to IB and redeeming there saves a few A$00's over the paid fare (and yes, its only a Euro-biz J, so probably not worth it, but habits die hard.

You should be able to search on the BA website even if you don't have enough Avios - just had a quick look for CDG to MAD and there are some economy but no J

 

[Princess Fiona]

Oh! I'm actually departing from CDG for the Canaries & returning to CDG and other than getting a BA/QFF award from LGW, my next best alternative is CDG-xMAD-Canaries & return. It wouldn't let me check for any Award on IB as I don't have any IB avios (I have joined IB Plus). I looked at IB's milage chart and it looks like about 45L IB avios total.

Would you mind checking for me CGD-xMAD-ACE on 23 and 24 June in J and then LPA-xMAD- CDG on 28 June?

Buying Finnair avios on current discount, moving to IB and redeeming there saves a few A$00's over the paid fare (and yes, its only a Euro-biz J, so probably not worth it, but habits die hard.

There is J available on LGW-ACE on 24th June
Avios plus cash is actually decent value

There is also availability on the return on 28th LPA-LGW in J

EDIT: Just realized you already found these @RooFlyer

 

[andye]

I'm sure you are all very capable of doing the sums but for the less experienced, the middle option usually represents the best value for Avios and cash with BA awards

 

[madrooster]

I'm sure you are all very capable of doing the sums but for the less experienced, the middle option usually represents the best value for Avios and cash with BA awards

This depends on whether your source of avios is buying them or earning them.

For example, if you bought the avios, in many cases using the lowest avios amount and maximum cash can be the best value depending on what the value is that you assign to the avios, because you stretch your bought lot of avios further, especially if you redeem avios on long haul as well.

 

[RooFlyer]

You should be able to search on the BA website even if you don't have enough Avios - just had a quick look for CDG to MAD and there are some economy but no J

Yes, but maybe IB releases better seats to its own members? I might just have to bite the bullet and buy some discounted AY avios; they will come in handy sometime.

EDIT -they don't on the CDG-ACE leg. Only 'Tourist class' on Iberia Express, a LCC