avios a bit poo?
Discussion
6x return flights to Marjoca next summer with the clan for holidays, 80'000 avios (EDI-LCY-PMI-LCY-EDI) + £175 for tax. Not bad I would say.
That said I still find it impossible / hard to get much longhaul especially in First / Club for us all to go or even just the Mrs and I for a trip. Yes, we are looking almost at edge of long term availability.
NickXX said:
They make the most sense if you go long haul. I recently booked 2 return First seats (A380 both ways) to Hong Kong for next year. Cost 180,000 avios and a Companion Voucher (courtesy of Amex BA card) and £550 taxes each.
This, or if short haul use the super saver option (or whatever the name is) as this has less tax. if you only have a few (50,000 is not a lot) then they are better of being used for an Avis hire car or bottles of plonk (approx 16,000 gets 3 decent bottles of Champagne).I've been a supporter of BA Miles and now Avios for many years. I've accumulated, and continue to do so, the Miles/Avios via a BA/Amex card. Wife and I only ever use the Avios with a companion voucher and fly BA Club, in the past to the USA/Caribbean but now to Europe especially Italy. 30000 points, plus one companion voucher plus taxes of £80 is all the outlay for two flying BA Club.
Still got close to 300,000 Avios so plenty of trip to enjoy yet!
R.
Still got close to 300,000 Avios so plenty of trip to enjoy yet!
R.
They're OK as long as you work around them. I've just booked two economy tickets to the Canaries in January for 40,000 Avios and £70. Given I have a Gold card I can make use of the First Class lounge at T5 and I'll drink my money's worth in champagne, let alone the a la carte meal, etc. The Gold card gives you more choice of seats too, although you still have to book ahead.
NickXX said:
They make the most sense if you go long haul. I recently booked 2 return First seats (A380 both ways) to Hong Kong for next year. Cost 180,000 avios and a Companion Voucher (courtesy of Amex BA card) and £550 taxes each.
I got mine with an amex and Tesco.What's a companion voucher?
Sounds like they're worth using for upgrades..
To get the Companion Voucher you must:
1. Have an Amex/BA credit card
2. In a period of 12 months, used your card and spent over the pre-set amount, which itself depends on the level of card you have (the higher the level the lower pre-set amount).
Once achieved you get the Voucher which is valid for a year (can be two years at the highest card level)
To use the Voucher, you must book a trip with BA during it's valid period, and the trip must include you and you must use Avios points, cash, or a combination of these. So, when getting your trip sorted you add another person using the Voucher. The second person has exactly the same ticket as you do, travel class included. Passenger tax is paid for both passengers. So, on a points basis only, the only cash spend for both passengers is the tax.
Note that if in the year you're close to the predetermined limit but haven't achieved it there is no concession, so if you fail in the year you don't get the Voucher and you start again. Also, if you get the Voucher and fail to use it in it's valid year then the Voucher is lost: there's no extension allowed.
The bottom line is how much will you spend on and Amex/BA card? If below the pre-set limit then I'd question if the card is for you in terms of Avios points, vouchers etc.
Hope this helps. Full details are on the Amex/BA website.
R.
1. Have an Amex/BA credit card
2. In a period of 12 months, used your card and spent over the pre-set amount, which itself depends on the level of card you have (the higher the level the lower pre-set amount).
Once achieved you get the Voucher which is valid for a year (can be two years at the highest card level)
To use the Voucher, you must book a trip with BA during it's valid period, and the trip must include you and you must use Avios points, cash, or a combination of these. So, when getting your trip sorted you add another person using the Voucher. The second person has exactly the same ticket as you do, travel class included. Passenger tax is paid for both passengers. So, on a points basis only, the only cash spend for both passengers is the tax.
Note that if in the year you're close to the predetermined limit but haven't achieved it there is no concession, so if you fail in the year you don't get the Voucher and you start again. Also, if you get the Voucher and fail to use it in it's valid year then the Voucher is lost: there's no extension allowed.
The bottom line is how much will you spend on and Amex/BA card? If below the pre-set limit then I'd question if the card is for you in terms of Avios points, vouchers etc.
Hope this helps. Full details are on the Amex/BA website.
R.
It seems that sometimes people do have trouble booking their flights with BA using Avios points. Maybe I've been lucky. I usually try and do this once or twice a year. I always do so well in advance, and with a bit of flexibility on dates I've never had a problem, with one exception, in all the years of having my Amex/BA card. The one exception relates to BA flights to Catania, Sicily, which never seem to be available!
R.
R.
Just used 150k Avios + about £1k in taxes to Cape Town next year, BA First, would never be able to afford it if it wasn't for the Avios.
Did NYC First last year, plenty more left for future use.
As has previously been mentioned, one of the best ways to use Avios is to book Premium Economy and use the points to upgrade to Business Class.
Big fan of Avios here!
Did NYC First last year, plenty more left for future use.
As has previously been mentioned, one of the best ways to use Avios is to book Premium Economy and use the points to upgrade to Business Class.
Big fan of Avios here!
My conclusion is before you use your points come on here and learn how to play the game first. I think I unnecessarily missed out on using the Companion voucher and used BA.
Also a bit miffed because, like most non business users I only used the Amex to collect the points, I don't need to use it. Trouble is I'm rubbish at remembering how much I've used it. So when I think I've got a 1k bonus to luck forward to, only to have it wiped out by my forgotten cc Bill, it does take the shine off the few points I've collected.
Oh well, bon voyage peeps!
Also a bit miffed because, like most non business users I only used the Amex to collect the points, I don't need to use it. Trouble is I'm rubbish at remembering how much I've used it. So when I think I've got a 1k bonus to luck forward to, only to have it wiped out by my forgotten cc Bill, it does take the shine off the few points I've collected.
Oh well, bon voyage peeps!
I love Avios, did my honeymoon flights in First class and many other trips besides. The basic rules are:
Get the BA Amex for the vouchers.
Don't use for economy unless actual tickets are unusually expensive.
Be flexible, I wanted to get Vancouver once but ended up going to Seattle and taking the train.
I've never had much of a problem with availability either, decided to go to the 2014 Daytona 24 last week with a mate. Booked two club tickets with a 241. 100k and £500 each in taxes. :-)
Get the BA Amex for the vouchers.
Don't use for economy unless actual tickets are unusually expensive.
Be flexible, I wanted to get Vancouver once but ended up going to Seattle and taking the train.
I've never had much of a problem with availability either, decided to go to the 2014 Daytona 24 last week with a mate. Booked two club tickets with a 241. 100k and £500 each in taxes. :-)
swerni said:
NickXX said:
They make the most sense if you go long haul. I recently booked 2 return First seats (A380 both ways) to Hong Kong for next year. Cost 180,000 avios and a Companion Voucher (courtesy of Amex BA card) and £550 taxes each.
I'd disagree, the amount of tax you pay on long haul makes it expensive.The tax in Europe is limited.
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