One of the best deals in travel has been the British Airways AARP discount. I’ve loved stacking British Airways business class sale fares with $400 off business class fares and even a further 10% discount for eligible Chase credit card holders (using promo code CARDOFFERU).
That has made for some of the best deals on business class in the world, without use of miles, I’ve paid about what fuel surcharges are on an award ticket to get a paid ticket.
- Without worrying about award availability
- Without spending miles
- While earning miles and elite qualifying miles
- And even earning big bonuses for paid transatlantic premium cabin travel
Using the AARP deal and another stackable offer it was possible to buy roundtrip business class in the fall for $650 or even less. Paid first class has been available for $2100 roundtrip.
British Airways Business Class isn’t the world’s best product but can be the world’s best value
I’ve taken the business class sale fares and upgraded to first with miles.
Sadly at the end of January British Airways reduced the discount for premium cabin bookings to $200. That’s still useful, but not nearly as valuable as it once was.
However the $400 discount is back but only for bookings made by Thursday, June 29.
There’s a very limited window to book, and a limited window for travel. Here’s the offer:
This is on the British Airways site. You’re prompted to log into your AARP account, and that page shows an old offer. However travel inside the booking and travel window takes off the appropriate discount.
(HT: Joe Brancatelli)
Interesting news. Remind me — does this work on BA-marketed flights on AA metal?
any good deals? would this work well with the BA Companion pass?
Any idea why 6/29? Is this senior’s day or something?
Note Chase visa discount not working past Dec 2017
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premium-fare-deals/1850390-ba-business-nyc-zrh-fra-bru-1605-a.html
Can you use it in the UK whilst booking flights from the U.K. Or only the US?
No, it doesn’t work with the 2-4-1 BA Companion Pass, which is for Avios redemptions. The AARP discount is for paid (revenue) tickets.
Also interested, like flightwonk, as to whether or not this can be used for flying AA metal as a BA codeshare? If so, tempted because $1700 RT for business on AA 777 is not a bad deal. BA Club World is much less appealing.
This is underwhelming. Last year’s discount resolved as $1200 rt from NYC-LHR for. E, this is closer to $2000. Meh.
Ugh – I just booked two BA J r/t’s a few weeks back ($200 off with AARP discount). I wish my ‘price rewind’ would cover this! Happy with the price I paid but would have liked to save another $200 pp.
Well, be careful what you wish for in terms of using this AARP discount and at the same time having hopes you can upgrade to First using Avios points. While the T&C doesn’t explicitly say you can’t upgrade with Avios, multiple attempts of hanging up and calling back, they all cite T&C #9: “This offer is not combinable with any other discount or deal.” https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/offers/partners/aarp-member-benefits”
BA bizarrely considers an upgrade using Avios another discount or deal. But of course they will still allow you to pay cash, which is absurd because that’s still a “discount or deal” because you’re getting the upgrade that would probably normally cost thousands of dollars. It is deal, just on their terms – cash not points.
Ironically, as I spent 40 minutes with an otherwise sympathetic and lovely agent, I received an email from BA about my upcoming flight with an offer to upgrade – when I clicked on the “upgrade now” button, I got an error message. Oh the irony.
@Jeremy P – I have done it myself
@garyleff – how? Welcome any recommendation….I’ve called 3 times now. Having 2 Avios seats available in F is hard to come by. It fluctuates from 0-2…