When it comes to Avios redemptions, British Airways offers a unique and highly valuable option: the Multi-Carrier Award Chart. This award chart allows you to book complex itineraries that involve multiple Oneworld partner airlines, offering significant savings and flexibility compared to standard segment-by-segment pricing.
Understanding the Difference
By including two separate Oneworld airlines in the same itinerary, you trigger the multi-carrier award. For instance, flying JAL from Tokyo to London, then British Airways from London to Bogotá, and LATAM from Bogotá to Santiago qualifies the trip for multi-carrier pricing.
Standard Avios Awards: Segment-by-Segment Pricing
- Tokyo (TYO) – London (LON): 90,000 Avios (peak British Airways award in Zone 7)
- London (LON) – Bogotá (BOG): 75,000 Avios (peak British Airways award in Zone 6)
- Bogotá (BOG) – Santiago (SCL): 38,750 Avios (partner award in Zone 4)
Cost in Business Class: 203,750 Avios
Multi-Carrier Awards: Cumulative Pricing
- Tokyo (TYO) – London (LON) (JAL)
- London (LON) – Bogotá (BOG) (British Airways)
- Bogotá (BOG) – Santiago (SCL) (LATAM)
Total Distance: Approximately 13,900 miles
Cost in Business Class: 180,000 Avios
(savings of 23,750 Avios compared to standard pricing)
Multi-Carrier Award Chart
Miles in Journey | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
---|---|---|---|---|
0–1,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
1,501–4,000 | 35,000 | 52,500 | 70,000 | 105,000 |
4,001–9,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 | 120,000 | 180,000 |
9,001–10,000 | 70,000 | 105,000 | 140,000 | 210,000 |
10,001–14,000 | 90,000 | 135,000 | 180,000 | 270,000 |
14,001–20,000 | 100,000 | 150,000 | 200,000 | 300,000 |
20,001–25,000 | 120,000 | 180,000 | 240,000 | 360,000 |
25,001–35,000 | 140,000 | 210,000 | 280,000 | 420,000 |
35,001–50,000 | 160,000 | 240,000 | 320,000 | 480,000 |
Maximizing the Value of Multi-Carrier Awards
The more complex a journey, the more advantageous multi-carrier awards become. Booking multi-segment trips with long detours can result in substantial Avios savings. Round-the-world itineraries with multiple stopovers and a mix of economy, business, and first-class flights can yield hundreds of thousands of miles in savings.
The British Airways Multi-Carrier Award Chart offers a flexible and valuable option for those looking to use their Avios for complex itineraries involving multiple Oneworld partner airlines. However, the rules governing these bookings can be somewhat elusive. Since British Airways doesn’t widely publicize these rules, even experienced BA call centre agents may be unfamiliar with the nuances. Here’s what we know:
Key Rules for Multi-Carrier Awards
- Eight-Sector Limit:
You are generally limited to a maximum of eight flight segments on a single multi-carrier award ticket. This includes all connections and stopovers. - Single Overland Segment:
Typically, only one overland (surface) segment is allowed. However, there have been instances where multiple overland segments were successfully ticketed, depending on the agent’s discretion. - Consistent Class of Service:
All segments should ideally be in the same class of service. If even one segment is in a higher class, it could reprice the entire itinerary. Nevertheless, there are reports of agents charging based on the longest class flown. For example, if 60% of the journey is in economy and 40% in first class, some agents may charge for economy. - Segment Upgrades:
It’s theoretically possible to book a segment in economy and upgrade it to business class later if availability opens up. This can be a useful strategy to manage initial costs while retaining flexibility for upgrades. - No Backtracking Rules:
There doesn’t seem to be a strict rule against backtracking, although this might vary depending on the agent’s interpretation. Some travellers have managed to book itineraries that effectively involve multiple round trips from a single city, provided they use at least two different Oneworld carriers.
Practical Tips
- Hand-Pick Segments:
Carefully plan and select your flight segments. Confirm availability on the Avios website before calling British Airways to book. - Be Prepared for Delays:
The booking process involves the agent reserving seats and then sending the itinerary to the “fares” team to calculate taxes and fees. This can take time, and delays may cause changes in availability, especially for partner airlines. - Check Fees:
Expect to pay significant taxes and fees, especially for flights on British Airways. While originating in countries with surcharge regulations can help reduce these costs, BA may reintroduce surcharges if there are stopovers. - Optimize Your Itinerary:
Plan your trip to stay just under mileage thresholds to save Avios. For example, if your total distance is just over 20,000 miles, find ways to reduce it slightly to fall into the lower-cost band.
Taxes and Fees
- British Airways Surcharges: British Airways flights incur high out-of-pocket costs due to hefty fuel surcharges, with Iberia and Qatar Airways also imposing significant fees.
- Regulations: Trips originating in countries with surcharge regulations (e.g., Japan, Brazil) can still incur high fees if stopovers are involved.
- Total Costs: Expect around $1,000 in taxes and fees for trips taking full advantage of multi-carrier award rules, even with segments in economy class.
Conclusion
The British Airways Multi-Carrier Award Chart is a valuable tool for maximizing Avios redemptions on complex itineraries. By understanding the differences between standard and multi-carrier awards, and leveraging the flexibility and cumulative pricing of the latter, you can unlock tremendous value and embark on unforgettable journeys.