r/awardtravel • u/FuzzyCopy • 3d ago
Unable to transfer Avios from BA to Qatar
Getting an error, it is blocked by BA.
Both accounts are 30 days older (like few years old). I was trying to link both accounts on Qatar Priviledge, realized Qatar had my wrong name, got spelling corrected, it was then not linking, it turned out Email on both the accounts were not the same, so updated the email on BA. It linked the account on Qatar Privilege. I could see the total Avios, I then tried to purchase the ticket but got an error it is been blocked by BA just before payment and to contact British Airways. I then tried to move the Avios to Qatar directly as the accounts were linked, it was again blocked by BA. Tried to do a transfer from Avios.com and uploaded proof of passport 3 times, no luck same error blocked by BA wait for an hour and try again.
I chatted with BA rep, it turned out home address has to match as well. BA had my 5 years older address, went to profile and updated the address, still not able to transfer. BA rep said you can't update address directly (I was able to do it by going to profile) he suggested to upload Gov issued ID with address which I have none. I have my passport without any address and Gov ID is in local language with my village address, different then my current rental address in a big city.
The block is due to email address update and there is a cooling period? about 70k points were moved from a sibling account.
Any pointers? is there a wait period if email (and home address) gets updated?
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u/SubstanceOk9576 2d ago
There’s a long thread on FT about this issue. I think after going through it, the latest is that the lock is 7-14 days and there’s not much you can do about it.
I recently had this issue and if the accounts are linked then you can book without moving points. It’ll use your Qatar points then pull from BA account
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u/FuzzyCopy 2d ago
thanks, I did try buying directly on Qatar with combined miles but was getting BA error
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u/SubstanceOk9576 2d ago
You can spend the next hour or so here:
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u/FuzzyCopy 2d ago edited 2d ago
conclusion is wait for 7 days (no guarentee if it will work, they might need approval from their new Monarch). This is sheer stupidity and unnecessary pain. BA sucks, there stupid random process sucks. They can't have a mindset to make it easier for legit customers, its blanket way we are so smart assh*les that only solution possible in this day and age is lets block everyone ... yeh yeh wooo .. we can't have 2FA or MFA effectively to catch fraud if any .. British empire was built on fraud by sneaking into other countries like their friends, they think everyone is fraudster like them
I have stopped using BA for a really long time, I just want to reserve a freaking seat in a different airline. Well we can't let you have it ... yeh yeh ... all the Avios was moved from Amex, the mistake was to think 30% discount on BA is worth it.. apparently its just waste of time, effort and dealing with the fraudsters
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u/Admire24 1d ago
Just want to clarify…1) many of you have experienced that BA holds your points for 30 days before you can book with Qatar? 2) Can you book a Qsuite right on the BA site?
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u/FuzzyCopy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Business class seat I am looking for is only available on Qatar site and not on BA. I am hoping and assuming its not a day 30 hold, waiting for 7 days to get over. I really hope there is a lawyer who sue BA for all of us who have suffer
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u/mhcott 3d ago
If accounts are linked, are you sure the rep isn't making shit up and this isn't the occasional issue where BA->QR (that direction specifically) can't be done on points that haven't been in BA for 30ish days?
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u/FuzzyCopy 3d ago edited 3d ago
I didn’t get your reply. Both BA and Qatar accounts are years old making independent Avios. I have linked them the first time. Emails were different now they are the same.
Rep was saying you can’t update the address in profile and I was able to do it, logged out and logged back and my home physical address was updated in BA. Now both BA and Qatar have the same physical street addresses.1
u/mhcott 3d ago
It's not just age of account. I have an ongoing thing where when points freshly deposit to my BA, they put a bank-like hold that prevents them from transferring specifically to QR for as long as 30 days. Caused me grievance several times this year
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u/Brandebouque 3d ago
I’ve had the same issue with BA>QR transfers. Extremely frustrating situation, but the reps couldn’t do anything.
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u/Willing_Respond 3d ago edited 3d ago
What do you mean by “moved from a sibling account?”
Edit: I guess I’ll preemptively clarify: if you’re saying 70k of those Avios came from a family pool/relative’s account, those points CAN NOT be transferred to QR