Ah, the British Airways American Express Companion Voucher! This is a fantastic perk that can seriously elevate your travel experiences, particularly for those dream long-haul flights in premium cabins. Think of it as a "buy one Avios reward seat, get one free" deal, with some important nuances. Let's dive into how you can effectively use yours.
Step 1: Understanding Your Companion Voucher & Getting Ready to Book
First things first, let's ensure you know what kind of voucher you have and how it works. This is crucial for maximizing its value.
Sub-heading: Know Your Voucher Type
There are primarily two types of British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers, linked to different cards:
British Airways American Express Credit Card (Free Card): This voucher typically allows you to book two Avios reward seats for the price of one only in Economy (Euro Traveller or World Traveller) cabins. It's usually valid for 12 months from the date of issue. You'll earn this after spending a certain amount (currently £15,000) within your card membership year.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card (Paid Card): This is the gold standard of companion vouchers! It's valid for 24 months from issuance and can be used to book Avios reward seats in any cabin, including Economy, Premium Economy, Business (Club World), and First Class. You'll earn this after spending the required amount (currently £15,000) within your card membership year. This voucher also often unlocks enhanced Avios seat availability in Club World.
Important Note: Regardless of the voucher type, you'll still be responsible for paying the taxes, fees, and carrier charges for both passengers. While the Avios component is effectively "2-for-1" (or 50% off if travelling solo), these charges can be substantial, especially for long-haul premium cabins.
Sub-heading: Ensure Your Accounts are Linked and Voucher is Issued
Your Companion Voucher is an e-voucher and will be automatically credited to your British Airways Executive Club account once you meet the spending threshold on your American Express card.
Linking Accounts: Generally, when you apply for a British Airways American Express card, your Executive Club account is linked automatically. If you're unsure, you typically can't "link" them manually in the traditional sense like linking a non-BA credit card for Avios earning. The voucher is tied to the primary cardholder's Executive Club account. You can check your "My eVouchers" section within your Executive Club account on ba.com to confirm it's there.
Voucher Holder Must Travel: The person whose name is on the Companion Voucher must be one of the two travellers on the booking. You cannot gift it to someone else to use without you being on the flight.
Avios Balance: You'll need enough Avios to cover the full Avios cost of one ticket (or 50% of a solo ticket) at the time of booking. Ensure your Avios balance is healthy!
Step 2: Finding Reward Flight Availability
This is often the trickiest part, as Avios reward seats are limited and operate on a different availability system than cash tickets. Flexibility is your biggest asset here!
Sub-heading: The Golden Rule: Book Early or Be Flexible
British Airways typically releases Avios reward seats 355 days in advance of the flight date. If you have a specific destination and date in mind, booking as soon as these seats become available is often your best bet, particularly for popular routes and premium cabins.
However, BA also releases additional reward seats closer to the departure date, sometimes even within a week or two of the flight. This means if your initial search yields no results, don't give up! Keep checking.
Sub-heading: Using the British Airways Website
The British Airways website is your primary tool for searching and booking.
Go to ba.com and log in to your Executive Club account.
Navigate to the "Book a flight with Avios" section.
When you initiate a search, you'll see a prominent option to "Use a Companion Voucher". Make sure this box is ticked! If you have multiple vouchers, you'll be able to select which one you want to use.
Enter your departure and arrival airports, dates, and select "2 passengers" (even if you're travelling solo, initially search for 2 to see the 2-for-1 availability).
Select your desired cabin class (Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First). Remember, if you have the free card voucher, you'll only be able to book Economy.
Sub-heading: Exploring Different Search Strategies
Calendar View: When searching for reward flights, the BA website often displays a calendar showing availability across various dates. This is incredibly useful for identifying days with open seats if your dates are flexible.
One-Way Searches: Sometimes, searching for one-way flights (outbound and then inbound separately) can reveal availability that a return search might not. You can book the outbound with your voucher, and then call BA to add the return leg when its availability opens up.
Third-Party Tools: While BA's own website is the ultimate booking platform, some third-party tools (like Reward Flight Finder or SeatSpy) can help you quickly identify Avios availability across multiple dates and routes. These often offer alerts, so you get notified when seats become available for your desired route. However, be aware that these tools might not always reflect the enhanced availability that the Premium Plus Companion Voucher offers.
Step 3: Making Your Booking
Once you've found the elusive reward seats, the booking process is relatively straightforward.
Sub-heading: Confirming Your Selection
After selecting your desired flights, the system will display a summary of your booking, including:
The Avios required (this will be for one person, as the voucher covers the second).
The total taxes, fees, and carrier charges for both passengers. These can be significant, so be prepared!
Double-check all the details – dates, times, cabin class, and passenger names – before proceeding.
Sub-heading: Payment & Finalizing
You must pay the taxes, fees, and carrier charges with an American Express card. While it doesn't have to be the specific British Airways American Express card that earned the voucher, using an Amex card is a requirement.
Once payment is processed, you'll receive your booking confirmation. Congratulations, you're all set for your trip!
Step 4: What to Keep in Mind (Terms & Conditions) ⚠️
While the Companion Voucher is fantastic, there are important terms and conditions to be aware of:
Sub-heading: Eligibility and Usage Rules
Flights Operated by BA, Iberia, or Aer Lingus: For vouchers earned after September 1, 2021, you can use them on flights operated by British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus. Vouchers earned before this date might have more restrictive rules (e.g., only BA-operated flights originating in the UK). Always check the specific terms of your voucher.
No "Part Pay with Avios": Companion Vouchers can only be used for full Avios reward bookings. You cannot use them in conjunction with "Part Pay with Avios" options, where you use a smaller amount of Avios to reduce the cash price of a ticket.
Same Itinerary, Same Class: Both passengers must travel together on the same flight, on the same date, and in the same cabin class. You can't book yourself in First and your companion in Business, for example, unless you're making separate bookings without the voucher.
Open Jaw Bookings: It is possible to book "open-jaw" flights (e.g., fly London to New York, return from Boston to London) with a Companion Voucher, but this often requires calling British Airways directly as it might not be bookable online.
Cannot Change Companion Name: Once booked, you typically cannot change the name of the second traveller. To do so, you'd have to cancel the entire booking, and there's no guarantee the reward seats would become available again immediately.
Sub-heading: Cancellations and Changes
If you need to cancel a flight booked with a Companion Voucher, the voucher will generally be returned to your Executive Club account. However, its original expiry date will remain. This is a critical point – if the voucher was close to expiring, you might lose it if you can't rebook a flight before its original validity ends. Avios and taxes/fees are usually refunded, though cancellation fees may apply.
Sub-heading: Voucher Extensions
While British Airways has, in the past (especially during the pandemic), offered extensions on Companion Vouchers, these are not standard policy and are typically only granted in exceptional circumstances (e.g., serious illness, bereavement) and on a case-by-case basis. Do not rely on an extension; aim to use your voucher before it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Companion Voucher expiry date?
You can check the expiry date of your Companion Voucher by logging into your British Airways Executive Club account on ba.com and navigating to the "My eVouchers" section.
How to find out if a flight has Companion Voucher availability?
The best way is to perform a dummy booking on ba.com via "Book a flight with Avios" and ensure the "Use a Companion Voucher" box is ticked. This will show you the exact availability for voucher bookings.
How to use my Companion Voucher if I want to travel solo?
For vouchers earned after September 1, 2021, you can use your Companion Voucher as a solo traveller to receive a 50% discount on the Avios price of your ticket. Simply select "1 passenger" and the voucher when searching for reward flights.
How to combine two Companion Vouchers for more than two people?
If you have two Companion Vouchers issued to the same person, you can potentially use them together for a group of up to four people (the cardholder + three others). This generally requires separate bookings or contacting British Airways.
How to upgrade a flight booked with a Companion Voucher?
Generally, you cannot upgrade a flight booked with a Companion Voucher using Avios directly. If you wish to fly in a higher cabin, you would typically need to book directly into that cabin with the voucher, provided there is availability.
How to avoid high taxes and fees with a Companion Voucher booking?
While you can't entirely avoid taxes and fees, some strategies can help reduce them. Flying to destinations with lower airport taxes (e.g., starting your journey from outside the UK) or opting for shorter-haul routes can sometimes result in lower cash co-payments. However, for long-haul premium cabins, a significant cash component is usually unavoidable.
How to use my Companion Voucher on partner airlines?
For Companion Vouchers earned after September 1, 2021, you can use them on flights operated by British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. For vouchers earned before this date, it's typically limited to British Airways operated flights only. They cannot be used on other oneworld alliance partners like Qatar Airways or American Airlines.
How to book an "open jaw" itinerary with a Companion Voucher?
Booking open-jaw itineraries (flying into one city and out of another) with a Companion Voucher often requires calling the British Airways Executive Club service center directly, as these routings may not be available for online booking with the voucher.
How to extend my Companion Voucher expiry date?
Voucher extensions are generally not standard policy and are only considered in exceptional circumstances, usually related to medical reasons or airline-initiated cancellations. Do not rely on an extension; plan to use your voucher before its stated expiry.
How to know if my Companion Voucher is the "Premium Plus" type?
You can identify your voucher type in the "My eVouchers" section of your British Airways Executive Club account. It will clearly state whether it's a "British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher" or a "British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher."
