British Airways is offering its Executive Club members a promotional free-companion-ticket deal with real savings, but patience with fine print is essential.

Fly BA round-trip on most published fares through Dec. 31, 2008, and in six to eight weeks you’ll receive an e-voucher good for 2-for-1 travel in 2009. What separates this from other companion-ticket offers is that it’s valid for discounted fares—including the popular, heavily discounted Business Class “I” fare. Similar offers, including one through BA’s co-branded Visa, are based on full (expensive) fares, such as the Business Class “J” fare, resulting in little savings, if any.

Example: Fly New York to London in Premium Economy (as low as $720 mid-week) or in Business Class (from $1,976) by year end, and you’re eligible for the 2-for-1 voucher for 2009, worth as much as $5,792 (Business Class, New York to Mumbai).

Selected highlights from the extensive terms and conditions:

• Registration for the promotion is required
• Travel on first ticket must be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. Companion travel voucher is valid from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15, 2009, but must be booked between Jan. 5 and June 30.

Many more interesting details await you at: www.ba.com/eccompanion

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Note: At press time, BA’s stateside cousin American Airlines extended a similar offer to AAdvantage members traveling round-trip from the US to UK through the end of the year. For more information, visit www.AA.com.