[dylanwyatt]

BA FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO USE.

I have tried upgrading twice now on flights to GND, and twice been refused as seats are not avalailble, I have e mailed customer relations, only to be told that yes there are seats at a cost of £750 one way, even though it says on their site £460.
I have 41000 avious and now cannot see the point of them, or the club, as you cant spend them.
Both Virgin and Delta fly to where I go and at present are cheaper.
I am amazed that a company who seems to be paying out in fines, and also lost profits, can so easily lose customers this way.

[AirlineSympathizer]

The Executive club is just that - an Executive Club. It is clearly and obviously structured for people who travel in premium cabins, to redeem in premium cabins. I spend my avios very easily with no problems.

Redemption availability for upgrades seems to open up in the few days before the flight. Try back at t-72.

[dylanwyatt]

Originally Posted by AirlineSympathizer

The Executive club is just that - an Executive Club. It is clearly and obviously structured for people who travel in premium cabins, to redeem in premium cabins. I spend my avios very easily with no problems.

Redemption availability for upgrades seems to open up in the few days before the flight. Try back at t-72.

I find that BA are very secretive in their release of upgrade cabins, and the only reason I go as an upgrade is the overnight flights, so I can sleep properly.The only sensible answers I get back are from the CEO and the directors of BA, customer relations dont know what they are doing

[RedScopeAlpha]

I've been trying to use some Avios points and two of my AMEX companion vouchers for this summer. Been looking for four tickets since August 2012. I saw two in September with 5 week difference but I need four. I'm flexible with the dates but 5 weeks is a long time on holiday.
From what I see, they release 2 seats at random intervals 9 months before the date. Then nothing. Given the number of daily flights from LHR to YYC and the seats on the 777 they use on that route, releasing less than a handful is disgraceful. All to happy to take your money but come round to using them, they reply with 'thanks for the money but we don't care'! So a the moment.

[AirlineSympathizer]

If you are expecting to find 4 reward seats in the same cabin on the same day, you will almost certainly be disappointed. Instead of being so overly focused on a totally free trip, why not take the two free seats, pay for two, and then in the future you can do the same again with your remaining points.

[RedScopeAlpha]

Yes, I did think of that but the 5 week difference between outgoing and inbound was just not possible. If I could afford to go that long, I would have just paid cash be done with it all. I also have two companion vouchers I wanted to use as they have a limited life and knowing we won't be able to go anywhere after this summer was the other driving factor on getting four.

[AirlineSympathizer]

Your only chance is to wait until 2-3 days before the flight, when more reward seats may open up.

[RedScopeAlpha]

Originally Posted by AirlineSympathizer

Your only chance is to wait until 2-3 days before the flight, when more reward seats may open up.

Thanks. Will keep looking.

[anonymouscomments]

Firstly i think its a mis conception that the executive club is for premium cabins only. In my experience euro traveller/world traveller avios availability is opened up long before traveller plus or club. A couple of points to take into consideration are that if you are planning to try and use avios for flights you have to be very flexible on dates and consider buying commercial tickets for all or part of the trip for some passengers. Secondly if you are planning to upgrade from euro traveller/world traveller you must be in one of 3 fare types Y B OR H. H is the lowest cost but is still more expensive than a lot of economy fares. Also you can only upgrade one cabin up with avios, when you are upgrading a commercial tickets. Some other very important points are that avios bookings cannot be upgraded when you us part cash part avios and that an avios booking cannot be changed once you are within a point 24 hours from departure.

As for availabilty stop whinging. i know its hard to get availability but at the end of the day there are lots of executive members and the club is growing all the time. If BA allows members to just use avios without selective availability there would be no commericial seats left and no executive club whatsoever!

[RedScopeAlpha]

Originally Posted by anonymouscomments

Firstly i think its a mis conception that the executive club is for premium cabins only. In my experience euro traveller/world traveller avios availability is opened up long before traveller plus or club. A couple of points to take into consideration are that if you are planning to try and use avios for flights you have to be very flexible on dates and consider buying commercial tickets for all or part of the trip for some passengers. Secondly if you are planning to upgrade from euro traveller/world traveller you must be in one of 3 fare types Y B OR H. H is the lowest cost but is still more expensive than a lot of economy fares. Also you can only upgrade one cabin up with avios, when you are upgrading a commercial tickets. Some other very important points are that avios bookings cannot be upgraded when you us part cash part avios and that an avios booking cannot be changed once you are within a point 24 hours from departure.

As for availabilty stop whinging. i know its hard to get availability but at the end of the day there are lots of executive members and the club is growing all the time. If BA allows members to just use avios without selective availability there would be no commericial seats left and no executive club whatsoever!

Whinging? How would you feel if you spent thousands and it ended up being a pile of junk? Doesn't have to be a car or toaster to feel cheated or upset!
I joined a long long time ago...well before every Tom **** and Harry was allowed. Your point would be perfectly valid if I didn't have a 3 month window with flexible dates and times and even locations to some extent!
So, given your reasoning, I ask this, what is the point of such schemes that are so open to the masses???

[anonymouscomments]

I think you just answered youre question. Its OPEN TO THE MASSES! Thats the problem. There is only ever going to be limited availability and as more people realise its a goog idea its only ever going to get more restricted. Avios does not operate for your privilege and the reality is you pay for the service you get avios happens to actually be a bonus added to that. Seats are only opened when BA think the seats are going to be spare. Seriously you need to just get over yourself because whinging isnt going to change this.