Award results on BA. Is this real?

I'll avoid the "fight" with the following poster but as I said earlier, I have a LOT of BA miles and only enough AA for my trip to Thailand next year. If you recall how this thread started, I was really responding to the point that they have value - at least they do for me. I'm not sure what the fees are - I assume you're right. But again, 2 FC tickets to HKG are worth it to me and I can certainly understand that not everyone feels that way.

I was trying to help a friend find tickets from NY to JNB earlier today and was pleased I found Business Class seats he wanted. The return was perfect but the way over involved a 6 hour layover. I told him it was not ideal for me but that I would book it (his points were with CO) and pay the $75 per person when something better came along. He said his wife didn't want that long of a layover and he would pass. My guess is that they will eventually fly coach. Fine - to each his own. But I really believe that this is the reason I ALWAYS mange to score and most people tell you redemption is impossible!

Ok I think I have a better feel where you are coming from. I assume the layover in ticket you were looking for your friend was at LHR which brings up a point which I always found strange, normally with less experienced pax that they are not prepared to book any sort of extended layover. From my perspective a 6 hour layover allows some leeway in case the TA flight is delayed ... nothing ruins your vacation more than missing a major outbound leg or alternately one could always get a day rate at one of the airport hotels .. catch a 3 hour nap and continuethat much more refreshed for what a 12 hour flight to JNB.

BTW if your friend has CO miles why doesnt he see if he can fly SA to JNB or even something like JFK/GRU on CO
and then SA GRU/JNB even the latter will reduce his flying time by some 6-8 hours.

The inbound was great - JNB to IAD and a short hop to NY. The outbound with the delay was LH to FRA and SA to JNB. We were fortunate enough to do LH First last month. The long layover on the way to CDG meant a nice shower, shave and meal in the First Class lounge. I loved it but others thought I was crazy. As my late Dad used to say, "that's what makes horse races!"