BA unleashes new cash savings from Reward Flight Savers and Companion Vouchers

1. BA unleashes new cash savings from Reward Flight Savers and Companion Vouchers Christmas came early for British Airways Avios collectors looking to travel long-haul. At the beginning of December, the airline expanded its Reward Flight Saver options across the globe and to most cabin classes. Reward Flight Saver is now available on all long-haul and short-haul routes on the British Airways network in any cabin except First Class. It’s a big expansion of the scheme for long-haul, particularly because it’s the first time Saver fares have been available beyond economy. As American Express Companion Vouchers can be redeemed on Reward Flight Saver bookings there are also now increased ways to maximise the value of this perk. It all adds up to more ways to reduce flight costs by using Avios. What are Reward Flight Saver fares? There are three ways you can use British Airways Avios to reduce the cost of your flight: Part-pay with Avios: as it says, this is a way BA enables you to use some cash and some points. It’s not as good value as a Reward Flight but handy if you have limited Avios or need a wider choice of seat availability. You can do this on any flight and will be able to see the price for part-payment with Avios when you are logged in to your Executive Club account. Reward Flights: these are flights paid for entirely with Avios (except the fees and taxes, which must be paid in cash). Reward flight fares are restricted to a certain number of seats per flight, so you need to be on the ball (or using our Reward Flight Finder alerts) to grab them before someone else does.

2. Reward Flight Saver: these fares are fixed price offers, which reduce the (often considerable) price you would usually have to pay in fees and taxes on top of your free Reward Flight seat. Instead, you pay more of the total cost with British Airways Avios. What’s new? Previously Reward Flight Saver fares were offered only on BA bookings in economy or business on short-haul flights or (since 2020) in economy on certain long-haul routes. Now, every BA long-haul flight will offer Reward Flight Saver fares in business class (Club World) and premium economy (World Traveller Plus) besides Economy. If you happen to have your BA Executive Club membership based in the US, you are also now eligible for the Reward Flight Saver scheme. What are the prices like? BA is currently offering off-peak short-haul Reward Flight Saver return flights from £1 + 18,500 Avios. A return flight to New York (the favourite destination of British Airways Avios bookers) is priced from £100 plus 50,000 Avios for Economy (World Traveller); from £280 plus 85,000 Avios in premium economy (World Traveller Plus) and from £350 plus 160,000 Avios in business class (Club World).

3. Baggage (from 23kg per person) is included with Reward Flight Saver fares. There’s reasonable flexibility too because bookings can be changed or cancelled for £35 per person. Though there’s no set worth for Avios, it’s good to aim for a value of around 1p (or better) per point when cashing them in. How to book Reward Flight Saver is only available on British Airways-operated flights sold through its website or call centre and not with its partners. You must have earned at least one of your Avios during the last year to be able to book these fares. Find the seats you want by making a BA reward flight search through the airline’s website or using our more detailed Reward Flight Finder tool. Once you have selected Book a Flight with Avios on the British Airways website, on the flight display page you will see the Reward Flight Saver symbol (a blue starburst with a banknote inside) on any flight where this deal is offered. You must book at the Saver fare price at the outset, you can’t switch to a reward flight booking later. Your original Reward Flight Saver booking can, however, be upgraded to the next cabin if you wish, so long as there is reward seat availability. Customers travelling from or to any BA UK domestic destination can use a 'free-feeder' flight together with their long-haul Reward Flight Saver booking. Getting greater value from a Companion Voucher British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers are earned as an annual perk by credit card holders who spend over a certain amount. They essentially work as a buy-one-get-one-free on Reward Flights or, thanks to a recent move, 50% off for solo travellers. If you have a standard BA Amex Companion Voucher you can use this discount on economy Reward Flight seats. If you have a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card Companion Voucher (earned through the fee-paying Amex card) it can be redeemed across all eligible cabins – that’s economy, premium economy or business class. As the BOGOF deal is based on the Avios part of the fare and both the original passenger and their companion must pay for the remaining fees and taxes, it makes sense to keep the surcharges part of the booking as low as possible. Reward Flight Saver enables you to do so, as you essentially get the same discount twice and now on a greater variety of seats and routes.

4. More good Companion Voucher news Because the airlines have the same parent company as British Airways, Companion Vouchers earned since September 2021 can now also be redeemed on all Aer Lingus and Iberia-operated flights. So, it’s well worth checking out their availability alongside your BA reward flight search. Not only does the ability to search across all three mean more seat availability on routes which are offered by both BA and Aer Lingus / Iberia but also the chance to book further destinations beyond BA’s network. It’s particularly handy if you’re headed to South American or Central American countries as Iberia has a wide network serving the region. And there’s another twist that may give you extra savings - Iberia has lower fees and taxes than British Airways. As you’ll always end up paying for these in cash (or part cash, part Avios if you use the Reward Flight Saver option with BA), it pays to shop around on routes that are covered by both airlines. With the current hike in the cost of living, there’s never been a better time to get savvy with your search to maximise your Reward Flight and Companion Voucher savings. Original Source- https://rewardflightfinder.com/news-and-advice/ba-unleashes-new-cash-savings-from-reward -flight-savers-and-companion-vouchers?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic