BA Avios subscriptions

[Notyourbag]

Today , Payment was made for my usuals monthly subscription.

No changes to the previous monthly price deduction.

For those worried that your ongoing monthly plan will increase , fear not

Fabulous news. Keen to hear of anyone who had an annual subscription due in May (or June)

 

[MG1]

Would this be considered worthwhile at current prices (~A$3.9k for 4k Avios = ~1.94c/Avios (if I've calculated it correctly))? If so, perhaps I should look into it.

 

[levelnine]

Would this be considered worthwhile at current prices (~A$3.9k for 4k Avios = ~1.94c/Avios (if I've calculated it correctly))? If so, perhaps I should look into it.

It is expensive, so it depends. What are you planning on redeeming the points for? Do you have alternatives ways of collecting other points for the flights you want to redeem?

 

[Jacques Vert]

Would this be considered worthwhile at current prices (~A$3.9k for 4k Avios = ~1.94c/Avios (if I've calculated it correctly))? If so, perhaps I should look into it.

The time to buy was when the GBP fell as Liz Truss was stuggling to outlast the lettuce. I think the horse has bolted.

 

[Mr H]

Would this be considered worthwhile at current prices (~A$3.9k for 4k Avios = ~1.94c/Avios (if I've calculated it correctly))? If so, perhaps I should look into it.

It's a line ball call. As @levelnine says, it depends what you intend to do with the Avios. Bear in mind it will take a year for you to receive the full whack, so it is not going to be for immediate redemption (and the received wisdom is not to buy points until you are about to pull the trigger on a redemption). Also bear in mind that most routes with connections will price as the two individual flights rather than as a connection.

Personally, I could be tempted by being able to access QR flights to/from less common destinations, especially in Africa. They are not available any more through QF. I could also be tempted by return fares to London - I think they just creep in under the 200k - although who knows where they would price in a year's time, and that would be for a flight that is currently two years in the future.

I would also be wary about looking for the cents/Avios redemption value. If you divide the cost of a walk up J fare by the Avios you are using, you are probably kidding yourself - in reality you would never have spent that amount of money on the fare using cash. By that, I mean if your Avios cost you ~$4000 for a return J flight to London, it may look like good value but would you even have spent $4000 to fly that route or would you have gone in deep discount Y or used QF points for another carrier? My pockets are not deep enough for that, and so I'm not sure they are deep enough to pay for 200k Avios in the off chance I might want to use them in a year's time.

Like I say, I am sorely tempted, but haven't been quite tempted enough to go for it yet.

 

[levelnine]

Personally, I could be tempted by being able to access QR flights to/from less common destinations, especially in Africa. They are not available any more through QF. I could also be tempted by return fares to London - I think they just creep in under the 200k - although who knows where they would price in a year's time, and that would be for a flight that is currently two years in the future.

To add to this, I think the only significant sweet spot for Australians is the 90K tickets on the Australia-Europe in J on QR (180K return). Yes, domestic Y/J redemptions on QF using Avios are good, but no where near good enough to acquire Avios at nearly 2c per point.

That makes speculatively buying Avios a big risk. If BA/QR destroy that sweet spot (and I think it is ripe for devaluation given it is so good), you will have acquired a lot of Avios for nothing.

 

[Mr H]

To add to this, I think the only significant sweet spot for Australians is the 90K tickets on the Australia-Europe in J on QR (180K return). Yes, domestic Y/J redemptions on QF using Avios are good, but no where near good enough to acquire Avios at nearly 2c per point.

I thought I got good value from Avios earlier this year

QR - J - Bucharest-Doha-Tehran - 38,500 Avios
QR - J - Tehran-Doha-Amritsar - 38,500 Avios

Obviously it would have been better value if I could have done them using my existing OWA!

 

[levelnine]

I thought I got good value from Avios earlier this year

I'm sure there are more sweet spots, but I wouldn't call that significant given the number of Australians wanting to fly from Bucharest to Tehran then Tehran to Amritsar is probably under 5.

 

[djtech]

I think now AMEX has added Avios as a transfer partner, I find the subscription less attractive. Just transfer in as needed rather than converting liquid cash into ever depreciating points!

 

[MG1]

@levelnine, @Jacques Vert, @Mr H, @djtech; thank you all very much for your helpful answers - much appreciated. They are all valid points.

The bit that is tempting me is the linking with QR. Some thinking will be ahead of me.

Post automatically merged: Jul 12, 2023

It is expensive, so it depends. What are you planning on redeeming the points for? Do you have alternatives ways of collecting other points for the flights you want to redeem?

An alternative would be flying QR with Velocity points but that doesn't open up 1W and other partner opportunities. But at $4k though, it's a tricky one.

Post automatically merged: Jul 12, 2023

The time to buy was when the GBP fell as Liz Truss was stuggling to outlast the lettuce. I think the horse has bolted.

I'd say you're probably right there.

 

[MG1]

It's a line ball call. As @levelnine says, it depends what you intend to do with the Avios. Bear in mind it will take a year for you to receive the full whack, so it is not going to be for immediate redemption (and the received wisdom is not to buy points until you are about to pull the trigger on a redemption). Also bear in mind that most routes with connections will price as the two individual flights rather than as a connection.

Personally, I could be tempted by being able to access QR flights to/from less common destinations, especially in Africa. They are not available any more through QF. I could also be tempted by return fares to London - I think they just creep in under the 200k - although who knows where they would price in a year's time, and that would be for a flight that is currently two years in the future.

I would also be wary about looking for the cents/Avios redemption value. If you divide the cost of a walk up J fare by the Avios you are using, you are probably kidding yourself - in reality you would never have spent that amount of money on the fare using cash. By that, I mean if your Avios cost you ~$4000 for a return J flight to London, it may look like good value but would you even have spent $4000 to fly that route or would you have gone in deep discount Y or used QF points for another carrier? My pockets are not deep enough for that, and so I'm not sure they are deep enough to pay for 200k Avios in the off chance I might want to use them in a year's time.

Like I say, I am sorely tempted, but haven't been quite tempted enough to go for it yet.

You're right in saying that it will take a year to accumulate, and by that stage the game could've changed. As referenced in a previous response, $4k is a decent sum.

Post automatically merged: Jul 12, 2023

To add to this, I think the only significant sweet spot for Australians is the 90K tickets on the Australia-Europe in J on QR (180K return). Yes, domestic Y/J redemptions on QF using Avios are good, but no where near good enough to acquire Avios at nearly 2c per point.

That makes speculatively buying Avios a big risk. If BA/QR destroy that sweet spot (and I think it is ripe for devaluation given it is so good), you will have acquired a lot of Avios for nothing.

Let's hope that they don't take it away (but sadly anything that's good is eventually removed/diluted over time - entrapy).

Post automatically merged: Jul 12, 2023

I thought I got good value from Avios earlier this year

QR - J - Bucharest-Doha-Tehran - 38,500 Avios
QR - J - Tehran-Doha-Amritsar - 38,500 Avios

Obviously it would have been better value if I could have done them using my existing OWA!

That does look like good value.

Post automatically merged: Jul 12, 2023

I think now AMEX has added Avios as a transfer partner, I find the subscription less attractive. Just transfer in as needed rather than converting liquid cash into ever depreciating points!

Another interesting point to consider.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would also be wary about looking for the cents/Avios redemption value. If you divide the cost of a walk up J fare by the Avios you are using, you are probably kidding yourself - in reality you would never have spent that amount of money on the fare using cash. By that, I mean if your Avios cost you ~$4000 for a return J flight to London, it may look like good value but would you even have spent $4000 to fly that route or would you have gone in deep discount Y or used QF points for another carrier? My pockets are not deep enough for that, and so I'm not sure they are deep enough to pay for 200k Avios in the off chance I might want to use them in a year's time.

Like I say, I am sorely tempted, but haven't been quite tempted enough to go for it yet.

I ‘value’ a return fare to Europe in premium carriers at around $4500.That’s the cost of buying miles for the trip.

If i wasn’t able to find award seats I’d be buying Bamboo Airways, or Vietnam Airlines or some other equivalent for that price.

Buying miles transfers that travel to carriers such as SQ, EY, BR, QR etc. Not necessarily because those carriers offer a superior hard product, but because they have a bigger route network and often, timings that can give me an extra day away (SQ’s and others midnight departures mean you can be in europe same day instead of next morning)

 

[levelnine]

Buying miles transfers that travel to carriers such as SQ, EY, BR, QR etc. Not necessarily because those carriers offer a superior hard product, but because they have a bigger route network and often, timings that can give me an extra day away (SQ’s and others midnight departures mean you can be in europe same day instead of next morning)

If you value a business class return at $4500, then I think it is very reasonable to purchase miles to get there.

However, there's no way to buy miles that gives you all those four options with the same currency. And your closest option (VA) gets QR & SQ at a disadvantage to Avios & Krisflyer respectively, which can mean you're fighting over the scraps.

And if you're purchasing miles in multiple currencies, the risk of paying way over $4500 by having orphaned miles, etc shoots up considerably.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you value a business class return at $4500, then I think it is very reasonable to purchase miles to get there.

However, there's no way to buy miles that gives you all those four options with the same currency. And your closest option (VA) gets QR & SQ at a disadvantage to Avios & Krisflyer respectively, which can mean you're fighting over the scraps.

And if you're purchasing miles in multiple currencies, the risk of paying way over $4500 by having orphaned miles, etc shoots up considerably.

True, although Aeroplan comes close and handles SQ, EY, EK, and all other star. you would need a separate one to do QR.

I only buy the required number of miles for the single or round trip, and a stopover if including that on say Aeroplan.

 

[levelnine]

True, although Aeroplan comes close and handles SQ, EY, EK, and all other star. you would need a separate one to do QR.

I only buy the required number of miles for the single or round trip, and a stopover if including that on say Aeroplan.

Unfortunately EY J redemptions have disappeared from AC. No idea if/when they will come back. And EK redemptions are generally extortionate — no obscene taxes like with QF, but the points prices can be absurd.

 

[Notyourbag]

Confirming my new annual Avios subscription hit today for the Adventurer Yearly (200,000 Avios) - same price of £1,789 (didn't go up to £1,989).

 

[kelvedon]

Confirming my new annual Avios subscription hit today for the Adventurer Yearly (200,000 Avios) - same price of £1,789 (didn't go up to £1,989).

Yes, mine was renewed at the old price too.

 

[jbmemories]

Is it worth getting the avios subscription even with the new subscription prices?

Or have the BA and various Avios using OW partners tightened how Avios can be used?

 

[masco131]

Is it worth getting the avios subscription even with the new subscription prices?

Or have the BA and various Avios using OW partners tightened how Avios can be used?

Yes depending on how you redeem it. You can redeem avios on Qatar, Iberia, Finnair etc and you can transfer points 1:1 to all those partners.

Qatar Qsuite from MEL-DOH-Many destinations in the world and even Europe.

 

[jbmemories]

Is it more of a value to get the price in USD or GBP atm for the subscriptions? I am assuming you need a US address for USD rates.