Best use of Avios?

[thehound]

I've finally received my Canadian Amex Gold Rewards Card having moved to Toronto recently. You'd think that taking Amex up on their offer to get a new card when moving to a new country as a pre-existing Australian account holder would have been simple and streamlined - how wrong I was! The Canadian financial system is circa 1980s (who uses voided cheques for $1 as an identifier?!) - but that's another story.

The Amex Gold card in Canada allows 1:1 transfers to Avios and Aeroplan, along with some other lesser conversions to other airlines. So what are the best redemptions for Avios? I did a dummy booking for QF PER-SYD J return which was 75000 Avios, and QF PER-MEL J return which was 40000 (I assume it sneaks into a lesser bracket with the shorter distance?). The SYD redemption price seems high, so if anyone has great uses for Avios please let us know!

 

[dajop]

I actually find short haul redemptions best value, in economy, at least for small balances. When SYD-MEL fares are going for 4,500 Avios + $30 vs $160 for commercial fare, thats 2.9c per point. Of course the number of these that you need to use may well be limited. Since the recent devaluation long hauls in J have been dramatically reduced - a return in business from SYD-LHR on QF is 300000 pts return + $1K in taxes. So value is not too different.

 

[thehound]

I'm from Perth so (almost) never need to do the eastern short haul triangle. When we leave Canada in July next year we're in Europe for 6 months, with a couple of intra-Europe flights required. 13500 Avios + 115 pounds for LHR-Lyon in Y for 3 pax (which we need to do), but looking at revenue fares they're only 69 or 84 pounds a head anyway. So probably not the best yield for points.

 

[TonyHancock]

SYD-PER falls into the 2000 mile bracket, whilst MEL-PER is under 2000 miles. The 40,000 points for MEL-PER-MEL is pretty good IMO. (Particularly when compared to QF) I think the general consensus is that European short haul is a good use for Avios, although short haul, up to 650 miles, on partners like QF in J is pretty reasonable 9,000 points plus taxes.

I'll probably use my points on a MEL-LHR-MEL next year, but it is not a great use of Avios. I have also used them on upgrades to F on forthcoming HKG-LHR-HKG sectors.

Burning is an area I need to brush up on, I have four Europe-Australia return trips in J in the next 11 months booked. :shock: So I'll be accumulating a few points along the way. My initial plan was to use them for one or two return trips to Blighty each year but the ex Europe pricing has been so good I have been able to book J at pretty much Y+ pricing.

One issue that is widely moaned about by BA FF's is the lack of long haul redemption availability.

 

[andye]

I've just redeemed some for QF domestic Y (which is good value as above)
One ways ex-HKG aren't bad as the taxes are limited.
US domestic has had a recent devaluation for flights under 650 miles

 

[dajop]

I'm from Perth so (almost) never need to do the eastern short haul triangle. When we leave Canada in July next year we're in Europe for 6 months, with a couple of intra-Europe flights required. 13500 Avios + 115 pounds for LHR-Lyon in Y for 3 pax (which we need to do), but looking at revenue fares they're only 69 or 84 pounds a head anyway. So probably not the best yield for points.

Assuming the 69 pound fares is with carry-on only. if you have checked luggage, it may well be worthwhile, 13,500 poitns saving 137 pound. YOu may need to find a new address, I'm seeing LHR-Lyon for 3 coming with only a 114 SGD surcharge, or <55 GBP!

 

[im.daniel]

Definitely short haul redemptions for BA. Managed to snag a few LRE-BNE flights and v.v. while out there - 4500 points vs $400 AUD one way, it's a no brainer!

 

[Bartosz Kowalczyk]

Avios can come handy when we plan RTW. There is couple of good redemptions available unfortunately using them C and F for long haul redemption is not good anymore however there are some good redemptions available. The following are my favourites :
TXL-AUH AB 12.5k + 30 GBP very good availability
DUB-BOS EI 12.5k + 35 GBP decent availability
AUH-KUL-AKL MH 45k +30 GBP not very good
DUS-CUR AB 25k + 22 GBP good availability
and there is more if you have any questions regarding where you can use your avios feel free to ask.
From my own experience if you travel in Y and you do not want to spend to much money for YQ and airport surcharges I suggest to use Avios for the following airlines:
Y: AB,IB,LA,AA,QF,CX or BA (only for flights within Europe)
C: only worth it for short haul redemptions CX,QR (certain routes), perhaps QF (short haul).
F: Not worth it at all

 

[TonyHancock]

When you reach 2500 TP's with BA you receive a "Gold Upgrade For Two" (GUF2). If you are used to the world of QF and VA this is not what it might seem. You can use it to upgrade a points redemption. The upgrade requires availability in T, I or A depending which class you are looking to upgrade to.

The clever peeps book J using points and upgrade to F without ever needing rewards availability. :shock: I believe this has to be done via a travel agent.

 

[RAM]

I thought the 'enhancements' had struck but was wrong. The discount short haul flights in Europe such as LHR-MUC for 4,000 points and a few GBP were great value. It included hold luggage which I suspect some of the mentioned fares may not have.

The other advantage I found was the AVIOS points required do not increase even if the flight has already sold out of the cheapest Y booking codes. One redemption I've used AVIOS for had the best available cash fare available at over GBP 100 per person on the exact flight I wanted and happily there were 4 AVIOS seats available # 4,000 points each.

For example, just doing a quick search for this years required flight in Jan 2017 (I really must book it) came up with the cheapest available cash Y fare on the flight we want is Eur 178 (includes 23 kg checked baggage).

The AVIOS price is (there is a God!) still 4,000 + Eur 34. YES!

So 144 Euros /4,000 points = 3.6 Euro cents a point or about 5.6 Austr(al)ian cents per point.

Shame about the recent 40% bonus Avios points offer...

 

[burmans]

I have in the past googled Best Use of Avios and would recommend, throws up some options I would never have considered.

 

[RAM]

I have in the past googled Best Use of Avios and would recommend, throws up some options I would never have considered.

This is worth a read (so much detail). It actually has links to 11 other pages taking you through the ins and outs of Avios.

Book British Airways Award Flights Like a Pro: Part 11 – The Best Domestic Awards Using British Airways Avios Points | Million Mile Secrets

 

[dajop]

Used some Avios to fly SIN-MEL a few weeks ago on QF. 20,000 Avios + $54 SGD (~ same in AUD). Much better than 28,000 QFF points + $226 SGD.

 

[RAM]

Facing me today (live...).

10,000 QFF points + EUR 34.12 pp or 4,000 Avios + EUR 34.12 pp

Is there an easy way to transfer QFF points to Avios? Via a hotel scheme of something?

 

[burmans]

Is there an easy way to transfer QFF points to Avios? Via a hotel scheme of something?

Not QFF but you can do Amex MR to SPG to Avios. 40K MR = 20K SPG = 25K Avios.
They do occasional have bonus offers too ,eg. Should You Convert Starpoints to Avios with a 56% Bonus through October 15? | MileValue

 

[joelyong]

The best use of Avios is on short haul flights that can be pretty expensive. Or, if you're planning a multi-ticket round-the-world trip, short to medium haul flights that are at the interface of differently priced regions. For example, an AAdvantage ticket would cost 80k oneway in J routing MEL-HKG-KTM on CX/KA, but it would be 40k oneway AA in J MEL-HKG and 20k BA for HKG-KTM.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The best use of Avios is on short haul flights that can be pretty expensive. Or, if you're planning a multi-ticket round-the-world trip, short to medium haul flights that are at the interface of differently priced regions. For example, an AAdvantage ticket would cost 80k oneway in J routing MEL-HKG-KTM on CX/KA, but it would be 40k oneway AA in J MEL-HKG and 20k BA for HKG-KTM.

Avios also offer 'points plus pay' for selected airlines - I picked up HKG-PVG for 8000 Avios and AUD130 the other day (compared to 15000 Avios and AUD20 full asking price)

 

[burmans]

Avios also offer 'points plus pay' for selected airlines - I picked up HKG-PVG for 8000 Avios and AUD130 the other day (compared to 15000 Avios and AUD20 full asking price)

So 7k Avios effectively costs $110? I'm not so sure of the value of Avios I can tell if this is good value or not.

 

[dajop]

So 7k Avios effectively costs $110? I'm not so sure of the value of Avios I can tell if this is good value or not.

I've recently used Avios for (separate) one way bookings SIN-MEL and MEL-SIN which were ~ 20k+$80 and 20k + $50 respectively. At $110 for 7k would make the flights cost $394 and $364 respectively. Or $758 return. Not too shabby at last minute but probably just buying miles for equal dollar value.

 

[burmans]

I've recently used Avios for (separate) one way bookings SIN-MEL and MEL-SIN which were ~ 20k+$80 and 20k + $50 respectively. At $110 for 7k would make the flights cost $394 and $364 respectively. Or $758 return. Not too shabby at last minute but probably just buying miles for equal dollar value.

Yes, my immediate thought was similar, about 1.5 to 1.6 c would seem about the right value.