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Iberia is normally pretty good at releasing reward seats on schedule, but at present, BA call centre staff can’t seem to access anything after 25th October.
This is true even on long haul flights. I’d chalk it up to the schedule change, but on some dates post-25th Oct I can find reward availability on Iberia’s website, but not via BA (with whom I need to book because I have a 241).
I’m trying to decide if I should hold out for the seats I need to become available, or change my plans.
Does anybody know if this has happened with Iberia before? or, does anybody have any advice on who to speak to at BA to get someone to take a closer look at this? All the call centre can do is advise me to try again in a few days…
Iberia releases reward seats at T-360 but BA only shows any form of availability, cash or reward, at T-355 for both its own flights and partner flights. It is similar for Qatar that releases earlier than BA. Obviously BA won’t show reward availability for any partner that releases it later until that date.
Pre pandemic I have booked Cathay Pacific using Avios via the BAEC call centre at 358 days, so it is or at least was possible
Yes my experience is typically that BA allows you to book with Iberia at 360 days.
This is a different issue, as there’s no availability after 25th October, which is less than 355 days away anyway…
Yes, this has happened with Iberia before – if you can see availability on IB.com but not on BA.com, then the call centre staff should be asking the One World liaison desk to have a look (yeah I know it’s IAG vs. IAG but it still goes through the OWLD).
Thank you! I’ve tried with a few different agents to ask them to escalate it, but they all just advised to check back in a few days.
Having a name for the team to point them towards should help.
It is often the case that Iberia doesn’t release inventory at T-360 on changes from Summer to Winter timetable and vice-versa and there can be several weeks delay.
I booked redemption seats for early May 2024 with Iberia, and to wait until June to do so, at which point seats for several weeks were released in one go, catching up to T-360.
The timing suggests a similar issue may be in play here
Can you book any seats at all after 24th Oct?
I called BA avios line today to book 2nd November Iberia reward seats that were showing on Iberia app and they could not see them.
It is often the case that Iberia doesn’t release inventory at T-360 on changes from Summer to Winter timetable and vice-versa and there can be several weeks delay.
I booked redemption seats for early May 2024 with Iberia, and to wait until June to do so, at which point seats for several weeks were released in one go, catching up to T-360.
The timing suggests a similar issue may be in play here
Can you book any seats at all after 24th Oct?
@marks7389 – thank you, this is helpful. Do you remember if the Iberia flights were showing up for commercial availability at the time?PS – sorry, in attempting to ‘quote’ your post, I reported it instead! I can’t see any way to undo my flub, but I’m sure it will be recognised as such…
It is often the case that Iberia doesn’t release inventory at T-360 on changes from Summer to Winter timetable and vice-versa and there can be several weeks delay.
I booked redemption seats for early May 2024 with Iberia, and to wait until June to do so, at which point seats for several weeks were released in one go, catching up to T-360.
The timing suggests a similar issue may be in play here
Can you book any seats at all after 24th Oct?
I think this is a different issue – the seats can be seen on IB.com but cannot be seen on BA.com – rather than the fact that the seats haven’t been released at all.
I called BA avios line today to book 2nd November Iberia reward seats that were showing on Iberia app and they could not see them.
Same for us and same date. Hopefully we are not both waiting for the same flight. 😬
I wonder if Iberia are delaying the release of certain award seats to BA members by 7-10 days or so as there is currently no award availability on Madrid to South America flights past 26th October 2024
We are still waiting to book ours. We called up and could book LHR-MAD-??? But not MAD-??? Seems strange to me.
Anyone else managed to book anything?I have given up, BA not showing Iberia reward availability after 4 October 24.
BA are 110k (120k peak) to SCL
Iberia are 51k off peak to SCL
Why bother using your BA 2-4-1 for that!
And of course BA fees are huge , they pay for a flight to Madrid.It is not just award availability that has disapeared. You cannot book a cash flight on Iberia long haul after 26th October.
I encountered this last night.
However the CS rep said she could search for IB availability TWO ways.
The other way is to do a search for “Commercial” availability and BINGO she could see reward flights up to NOv 13th
I did not book though as I was testing out for a few dates later than the 360days out that IB will let you book.
May be worth a shot.
However i read on FT that the agents come across an error of “cannot create PNR” when trying so this may well happen.
Thoughts are that it’s a glitch due to the change from Summer\Winter schedules and the Flight codes cx from 4 to 3 letters.
Lest hope it gets fixed soon.
Work around!
Log into Avios.com with your AerLingus account details.
Transfer avios from BA.
Book Iberia reward flight in Avios.comWork around!
Log into Avios.com with your AerLingus account details.
Transfer avios from BA.
Book Iberia reward flight in Avios.comNo good if you want to use a 2-4-1 companion voucher 🙁
I attempted to get a MAD-EZE//GRU-MAD booked on a companion voucher for November next year. After a few times on hold, and being told that I have to book a revenue ticket because there are no reward flights, the very friendly agent checked with someone who confirmed the “known issue” that IB rewards availability for long hauls is not loaded on ba.com after Oct 25 (it is indeed available on Avios.com, but also you can see it on the BA Exec Club app!). No timeline to fix, but apparently it’s a top priority and I should keep checking the website.
Yes, we keep looking every day and nothing available. Fingers crossed there is something left when they finally do get released.
Yes, we keep looking every day and nothing available. Fingers crossed there is something left when they finally do get released.
This is the IB problem, only 2x J released per flight, if its a one per day route your really sweating. MEX and BOG has 3x flights per day so at least, if wanted, you can split family.
Yes, we keep looking every day and nothing available. Fingers crossed there is something left when they finally do get released.
This is the IB problem, only 2x J released per flight, if its a one per day route your really sweating. MEX and BOG has 3x flights per day so at least, if wanted, you can split family.
IB commonly offers more than 2 x J seats per flight, but those additional seats are often only available as part of married sectors.
Looks like these are finally getting released. Managed to book ALC-LIM for October/November.
Having spent some time (too much time!) trying to speculatively price up some business class tickets with Iberia using a companion ticket, I think I have found a bit of a bug with the system.
When you have selected the (Iberia) flights you are interested in, the system will then only price it up with avios/cash IF you have sufficient avios for the upper avios pricing option. Rather than the usual breakdown of pricing options I keep getting a message telling me to select other flights or phone the call centre. I think this is what is happening as it will give me options if I change to EITHER economy out/business in OR business out/economy in – so the business class flights are available for both legs. Same happens for each destination I try.
This is not the case for BA flights – all options are displayed regardless of your avios balance.
Happy to be corrected if this is not the experience others are having!
I’ve just booked a return from Buenos Aires to MAN via Madrid that I’ve been waiting on for a few weeks. Phew
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