Why flying LEVEL is decent value for long-haul Premium Economy Avios redemptions

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• Mike P says:

  26 Jan26 January 05:50

  It sounds a thoroughly sub standard product, not sure why anyone would bother frankly.

• a9504477 says:

  26 Jan26 January 06:23

  If the pricing for Level is the same as for IB flights, then not sure why this would be interesting compared to booking on IB from Madrid and having the usual OW benefits?

• Eli gold says:

  26 Jan26 January 06:39

  Thanks Rob for a very Level some up of the airline it’s routes and benefits.

  I just wonder why have Vueling and Level, can’t one do the job of both?

  • Polly says:

    26 Jan26 January 13:55

    Tax

• Julie says:

  26 Jan26 January 07:44

  Slightly OT. I have just taken a flight from Buenos Aires to Santiago. Booked through BA seat 1a on a LATAM 787 cost me 15000 + £50. However just noticed I have been awarded 25 tier points and 708 Avios. Not complaining just wondering why.

  • Genghis says:

    26 Jan26 January 08:10

    IT error. Shhh.

    • Marcw says:

      26 Jan26 January 09:44

      I don’t think it’s an error. The thing is redemptions on LATAM are booked on fare categories which award Avios & TP – which are different from X, U, Z,… traditionally used for redemptions.

  • David S says:

    26 Jan26 January 09:28

    Yep. Keep quiet about it and enjoy it.

• Michael C says:

  26 Jan26 January 08:00

  Friends from BCN have just bought tickets for Boston as we’re meeting there…VERY cheap, though not sure, with their kid, if they knew everything that’s NOT included. So not even any water, for 3 people, for 8 hours?

  • Marcw says:

    26 Jan26 January 09:00

    Everyone in BCN is aware of this. It’s cheap, you can take some sandwiches with nice Serrano jam from home. +You buy some drinks at the airport or you do it in the air.

    • Anna says:

      26 Jan26 January 09:19

      You can’t beat a jamon serrano sandwich, except maybe if you add thinly sliced queso manchego! But yes, buy a couple of big bottles of water after security – or bring re-fillable drinks containers, I don’t know if they have drinking fountains at BCN but there’s nothing wrong with Spanish tap water.

    • Michael C says:

      26 Jan26 January 10:36

      That’s true, although 8.5 hours with sandwiches for a 2-yr old won’t really wing it.
      And the jam could get sticky

      Reminds me of the original long-haul low-cost from Barcelona to B. Aires with nothing included (an Air Europa offshoot? Around the year 2000/2002?).

      Went once, took off so late that catering had closed in BCN, and we had to land in MAD to “load the sandwiches”).
      Took off again, were told a few hours later we’d used too much fuel and couldn’t make it to EZE, so had to stop in Recife to refuel. Took about 3 hours, with the doors open, and 40º outside. No-one allowed off, and all the food and drink (including water) onboard had finished. 2 Spaniards, saying they weren’t going to wait any longer, started to smoke…while the refuelling was going on!
      Arrived 8 hours late. Cheap, though!

      • Aston100 says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:37

        That’s an amazing adventure!

      • Anna says:

        26 Jan26 January 12:32

        You’ll never convince them there are places you can’t smoke!

• Jk says:

  26 Jan26 January 08:11

  Been using them for AMS-LTN when BA/KLM has been expensive. It’s basically like flying Vueling. Short haul space seats can be good value. The flight is only 45 mins anyway.

  I also don’t understand why they needed an extra brand, especially as you still can’t book via them anyway, you have to use the Vueling site. Maybe as a hedge against future pay negotiations with Vueling?

  I also don’t understand why Level/Vueling get to use the low numbered D gates at AMS, while BA is at the end of the pier every bloody time!!

  • Rob says:

    26 Jan26 January 09:37

    I think the Vueling brand has been so badly trashed it made sense to start fresh.

    • callum says:

      26 Jan26 January 10:19

      That doesn’t explain why they have two brands though. If Vueling’s reputation is too bad to use, then why are they using it at all? Re-brand the entire thing Level.

      • Lady London says:

        26 Jan26 January 10:44

        If the Air Europa deal is allowed through by the regulators perhaps that is the time to roll Vueling’s operations into one of the other IAG brands and extinguish the Vueling brand name.

      • marcw says:

        26 Jan26 January 10:56

        Problem is Vuelings brand acceptance. In Spain and Paris, it’s doing well. Outside these places, the brand penetration did not work. That’s why LEVEL SH was launched. Also, Vuelign had problems running an efficient EU hubs – since all their flights must run with crew hired in Spain. LEVEL, can open bases and hire crew locally.

      • Lady London says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:50

        Not worth doing until they sort out the operational issues with Vueling. Otherwise would bring down whatever other brand its rolled under.

  • Chrisasaurus says:

    26 Jan26 January 09:41

    My guess is because of the toxicity of the vuelling brand

• Patrycja says:

  26 Jan26 January 08:30

  Need you advice on how to resolve the issue. I booked my flights from Frankfurt to Sydney in business 6 days ago in Qatar sale that HFP promoted. I found my fare on Kayak which I use for all my bookings for flights and hotel and have never had any issue. The company Kayak linked me to was Dream World Travel. I booked with confidence because they featured on kayak. After booking I had to call to get my booking reservation as none of the details sent worked on Qatar Airways app. Once I had a booking reference I relaxed but now it looks like my booking has been cancelled and it no longer shows on my Qatar Airways app. Looking at web they get 1 star reviews and are infamous for not paying for tickets at the time of booking, cancelling flights at the last minute etc, I know I can get it reported through Amex and get my money back if they don’t refund me but I would rather get the tickets I originally bought. What would I have to get from them to guarantee a booking that they cannot cancel. Would getting e ticket guarantee my booking? Help.

  • mvcvz says:

    26 Jan26 January 08:41

    IMHO always a dumb ass move to book through these third party jokers. Always book direct with airlines, irrespective of alleged savings.

    • Patrycja says:

      26 Jan26 January 08:59

      We travel a lot and I have never had a problem booking through travel agents so never crossed my mind that I might have problems. Anyway, now it is done so I just need to work on resolution and would really appreciate advice on what I need to ask them for to guarantee my flights.

      • Shoestring says:

        26 Jan26 January 09:07

        first of all, check your booking reference on https://www.finnair.com/gb/gb/manage-booking-login

        (yes, Finnair)

        & see if it is there

      • Matty says:

        26 Jan26 January 09:26

        You may well have received a booking reference but it doesn’t seem as though it was ticketed. That could be because the price had increased and this company was caught out and was unwilling to bear the cost themselves. From what you say, this seems to common practice with the company.

        As Shoestring says, check Finnair and see what details you can pull up. What do the company say when you call?

    • Rob says:

      26 Jan26 January 09:36

      Agreed.

      • Patrycja says:

        26 Jan26 January 09:49

        I’ve spoken to Qatar Airways and they said the ticket was never purchased and as long as I go through Dream World Travel they will always have control over my booking so could cancel at any time. I think the only way to guarantee my flight is to get money back for this booking and keep looking out for offers throughout the year to book directly with QA

        • Matty says:

          26 Jan26 January 10:28

          Get on to Amex and explain what has happened – Dream World Travel offered tickets at XXX price, they’ve taken your money but can’t fulfil the booking at that price and have cancelled the reservation. You should get your money back quicker. Have you called Dream World Travel for an explanation or to request a refund? You should do this first before calling Amex.

          There are a number of sites, such as Goole flights, that will monitor the fare and send you an email when the price increases or decreases. Also, not all of the companies you come across on aggregators (such as Kayak) are unscrupulous. Expedia, for example. You will, however, always have issues booking via a third party if the are any problems with you reservation, as you’ll have to go through the agency that you booked with to resolve anything. They in turn will have to contact the airline and this is where matters get protracted. It’s one more link in the chain, so it might be worthwhile to spend a little more, at times, and book direct.

    • Tony says:

      26 Jan26 January 11:05

      Have to agree but my son frequently uses third party sellers and in twenty years had not had a problem.

      • Rob says:

        26 Jan26 January 12:27

        When you have an issue, you really don’t want to be forced to go via an intermediary – if you ring the airline direct, they will refuse to help.

      • Nick_C says:

        26 Jan26 January 13:20

        I’ve used Expedia a couple of times to book fares that were not available direct from an airline, but had problems back in 2005 going to S America. Booked LGW – BCN – MAD – EZE and SCL – MAD – LGW.

        Checking in at BA LGW we only got boarding cards to BCN, even though our luggage was checked through. Told to go to the transfer desk in BCN for onward boarding cards. At BCN, when we eventually found the transit desk, and an IB guy who spoke no English turned his screen round to show we were wait listed! We got on the flights but were seated far apart.

        Flying home from SCL, we arrived at the airport early, luckily, to find the flight time had changed and been brought forward by an hour. Expedia hadn’t informed us. I had checked the IB site that morning and it didn’t show the change in flight time. Flight was a LAN flight, IB codeshare. We just made it, but again were seated far apart.

        I would think twice about using Expedia again for flights. Although I did get a one way from LGW to MCO in 2012, sold as an IB flight by Expedia, but actually the BA direct flight. That all went well and was good value (about a quarter of the price of buying directly from BA if I remember correctly).

  • Riccatti says:

    26 Jan26 January 10:18

    Raise the dispute with American Express IMMEDIATELY. Or be prepared to part with your money, when AMEX will have no recourse on the merchant. (Yes there is Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act protection but that means American Express paying themselves).

    Qatar Airways already told you the ticket was never paid for — and they will not re-create the sale fare once the payment terms expire.

    • Patrycja says:

      26 Jan26 January 10:29

      Thank you. I just did that. AMEX were great. They said that they will refund me on my next statement day and will deal with DWT directly. They gave me a ref number for this as well so should be all good.

      • Lady London says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:00

        If you paid with an Amex charge card then s.75 does not cover charge cards so you are reliant on what’s in Amex ts ad cs.

        However attentive readers will recall Harry’s comment that he now books all tickets on credit cards not charge cards as this gets them covered by s.75. Amex cover is good in such situations but will never cover consequential losses as s.75 does.

        S.75 consequential loss would have given you the option to get a replacement ticket fully paid by the credit card company even at. different cost. This is because s.75 makes the credit card jointly liable for fulfilling the contract.

        FWIW I nearly made the same mistake booking a ticket with eDreams through an OTA. Luckily I checked the reviews before clicking and walked away. I think the other one that gets really bad feedback is Gate Travel.

        Glad Amex picked it up for you @Patrycja.

        • Patrycja says:

          26 Jan26 January 11:15

          This is very helpful. I never considered the difference until this happened. I might get a Gold card just for flight booking and forget the bonus. I guess with BA Premium I won’t be in the position to ask?

        • Polly says:

          26 Jan26 January 14:05

          P…Yes BA premium plus is also a credit card, best use a credit card for all flight and hotel bookings. However plat were good when we had problems couple of years ago. Just not quite the same level of cover as a credit card. Their charge back is good tho, and you won’t be out any cash.
          It’s just as LL points out you could still have got your flights, even at a higher price cost to the card.

  • Charlieface says:

    26 Jan26 January 10:59

    You need to ask Amex to cover a NEW ticket, as they are also liable under S.75 for consequential loss and must fulfil the contract.

    • Patrycja says:

      26 Jan26 January 11:01

      Really? How does that work? I was just delighted they wanted to give me my money back without hassle.

      • Shoestring says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:07

        only if it was an Amex *credit* card (not charge card

        research Section 75 legislation, start with MSE
        https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases/

      • Charlieface says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:32

        I think it’s as simple as it sounds. A credit card provider is equally liable under the contract, in your case that means they must provide a ticket, not a refund (although obviously if you both agree then you can take a refund). It makes no difference if it costs more than the original purchase.
        I can’t understand why more people don’t know this simple fact.

        • John says:

          26 Jan26 January 11:47

          Because it’s a bit hard to believe if this stuff is new to you

    • Lady London says:

      26 Jan26 January 11:06

      Not as a charge card. If it was Amex Gold Credit card or another credit card not charge card (such as Plat) then s.75 would be applicable.

      • Patrycja says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:09

        It was my BA Premium Amex so a charge card. I cancelled my Gold card so I can get a bonus in 24 months

        • Freddy says:

          26 Jan26 January 11:18

          BA premium card is a credit card and not a charge card.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          26 Jan26 January 11:25

          BAPP is a Credit card.

          The charge cards are AMeX own branded Green and Platinum (members may have an old gold charge)

        • Anna says:

          26 Jan26 January 12:40

          Just FYI – if you’re keeping the BAPP my understanding is you won’t get a bonus on a new gold card, only platinum!

      • Patrycja says:

        26 Jan26 January 11:42

        I just called AMEX back and asked for replacement tickets rather than refund. They added it to my case pending investigation but didn’t commit to it. Fingers crossed!!!

        • Lady London says:

          26 Jan26 January 11:58

          Assuming the type of card you booked on is a credit card and not a charge card, I can imagine Amex would look into it carefully before committing to giving replacement tickets as this is likely to cost a chunk more :-).

      • Patrycja says:

        26 Jan26 January 12:06

        This has been extremely helpful. Thank you so much for all your advice!

        • Lady London says:

          26 Jan26 January 12:27

          All thanks to Harry/Shoestring, who covered this in previous comments.

  • r* says:

    26 Jan26 January 11:52

    Dreamworld travel are terrible, never go near them. Their suggestion to resolve an issue was to lie to the airline, then had them on a conf call with the airline when the airline said a change could be made but the ota had to issue it, they said they would and did nothing.

    They lie on every call. Talked to 5 different ppl, then one forgot to put mute on so we heard them talking amongst themselves arguing about how each person we talk to gives a different story.

    Then they were saying there would be a 150 change fee, which then then didnt action.. then the change fee was 500 on the next call. Then they started to forward the calls to an inactive voice mail rather than on hold.

    Absolute scum company.

    • Patrycja says:

      26 Jan26 January 12:05

      So I’ve learnt! Sounds like they have been reported a number of times but are still allowed to operate. I am going to report them to Trading standards.

      • Polly says:

        26 Jan26 January 14:08

        And record all your calls, they record them too, but sometimes “lose the recordings”

• Matthew says:

  26 Jan26 January 08:33

  Do you mean Aer Club rather than Avios.com? Or is the latter still accessible for some?

  • Peter K says:

    26 Jan26 January 08:40

    Avios.com is now a portal to allow you to access Veuling and Aer Lingus booking.

    The old Avios Travel Rewards Programme accounts are gone.

    • Nick_C says:

      26 Jan26 January 09:12

      The old Avios accounts are still there if you were also a member of Aer Club. For me, nothing has really changed.

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