collecting avios with british airways

[iloveglee]

Does anyone out there collect avios from British Airways. Having finally managed to work out how the airmiles/avios thing works, I don't seem to be able to work out when the avios you have collected actually appear in your account to be spent. We have booked flights to the US which apparently collect about 8000 avios. This figure shows up against our Executive Club membership When I log into the Executive Club account, it shows nil avios. Do you have to actually have taken the flight before you get them, given that the flight is non-refundable and we have paid up front, I would have thought that you would get them straight away. The British Airways website faq's is less than helpful

[EcclesCake]

You need to travel to get the points.

[dzug2]

The points are posted within a few days of your flight taking place

[iloveglee]

OK - get that. Once we have made the flight - presumably the out and in bound I can expect to see the avios in the account. Pity because there are enough to get a flight to europe later in the year but can't afford to leave it until we get back from the US to book. Looks like we'll have to go again next year - what a shame!!!

[dzug2]

Well I booked in mid November with Avios points for a flight to Munich in early December and there was plenty of availability

You don't necessarily have to book that far ahead.

[iloveglee]

Yes, I guess it does depend on where you want to go, what time of year and how much flexibility you have for your travel dates. I understand that there are limited seats to be booked using avios and once they are gone you have to pay in the usual way.