On the Uselessness of Avios
Dec 26, 2011, 11:43 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Glasgow
Programs: ACDC Gold
Posts: 62
[QUOTE=Ferdinand Magellan;17695220
1,230,000 miles versus 780,000 miles, and $19,000 versus $700, even though I used three companion BA vouchers. And the UA flight time is around eight hours less in each direction.
BA, I'm very disappointed.[/QUOTE]
I redeemed 40,000 Avios plus Ł54.60 (US$85) for two one-way HKG-SIN in J on CX.
BA, I'm delighted ^
1,230,000 miles versus 780,000 miles, and $19,000 versus $700, even though I used three companion BA vouchers. And the UA flight time is around eight hours less in each direction.
BA, I'm very disappointed.[/QUOTE]
I redeemed 40,000 Avios plus Ł54.60 (US$85) for two one-way HKG-SIN in J on CX.
BA, I'm delighted ^
Dec 27, 2011, 12:38 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,100
Yes, that 40k for HKG-SIN r/t in J is great - it used to be 80k.
10k for a W-J upgrade BAH-LHR which I am making use of this evening to get a decent night's sleep!
SIN-SYD r/t in J on BA/QF is now 80k, also reduced from 100k.
And 30k for J-F on LHR-HKG which is Thursday's little treat, down from 40k before the changes.
No Avios-related complaints here.
10k for a W-J upgrade BAH-LHR which I am making use of this evening to get a decent night's sleep!
SIN-SYD r/t in J on BA/QF is now 80k, also reduced from 100k.
And 30k for J-F on LHR-HKG which is Thursday's little treat, down from 40k before the changes.
No Avios-related complaints here.
Last edited by BahrainLad; Dec 27, 2011 at 1:11 am
Dec 27, 2011, 1:01 am
#18
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Same here. I am almost embarrassed to say this after reading so many complaints, but after having been with QFFF for a fairly long time, I keep saying "heeeeyyyyy this Avios stuff is fantastic"! Redemptions cost far less, MFU gets confirmed immediately, etc etc.
For what I'm doing, it's better than before or no different, except perhaps it would have been faster for me to get the status before the change, but that's only because of how the timing of my 'full' programme changeover from QFFF to BAEC is working out and it will happen only once during the changeover.
I really think it's all about expectations. I admit I had a very low expectation of how the programme works
For what I'm doing, it's better than before or no different, except perhaps it would have been faster for me to get the status before the change, but that's only because of how the timing of my 'full' programme changeover from QFFF to BAEC is working out and it will happen only once during the changeover.
I really think it's all about expectations. I admit I had a very low expectation of how the programme works
Dec 27, 2011, 1:08 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,658
I strongly believe that AVIOS points are only useful to use to upgrade one class more than what you pay for in cash if someone wants to avoid paying the silly BA fuel surcharges.
Redemption for a free ticket on BA is becoming a burden.
Redemption for a free ticket on BA is becoming a burden.
Dec 27, 2011, 1:14 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,959
I guess this just shows how different people view these things differently.
On a personal level, I am making a habit of an annual First redemption with companion tickets. If the high fuel surcharges keeps the seats free for me, I'm one happy chappy
OP - enjoy UA. And me, I'll enjoy BA.
Merry christmas.
On a personal level, I am making a habit of an annual First redemption with companion tickets. If the high fuel surcharges keeps the seats free for me, I'm one happy chappy
OP - enjoy UA. And me, I'll enjoy BA.
Merry christmas.
Dec 27, 2011, 1:17 am
#21
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Dec 27, 2011, 1:18 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
Avios work for me too! But I can see why people from the US, or at least the non-east coast US say they don't work for them long haul due to a combination of the taxes and surcharges (not really a BA thing but a UK/Euro thing - eg euro *A make surcharges) and the changed rules for multi-leg flights. But by the same token, as a European, collecting with Air China, US air, Southwest, or Air Canada (for example) wouldn't be a wise policy for me. I did my research on the great resource that is FT, rejected most non-Euro schemes, considered my routes, selected EC and started sorting out the credit cards. The problem comes when people do it in the reverse order, starting with the credit cards first (cou-chase-gh).
Dec 27, 2011, 2:31 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
As for other Avios prices, I definitely agree- Avios is useful if you're doing one segment only. As soon as transfers come into play, then you're gonna be hit hard. Not to mention fuel surcharges...
Dec 27, 2011, 3:12 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
Still think that 330K for LHR-SYD with stopovers on both inbound/outbound F (using 2-4-1) + Ł800 is a good deal for 2 people.
Dec 27, 2011, 3:25 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,314
Just got off the phone with US Airways. I got 7 UA first class and business class seats from Florida to Seoul, returning from Manila (just what we wanted). I got them for a total of 780,000 miles, plus $700 for ticketing, connecting flights included.
1,230,000 miles versus 780,000 miles, and $19,000 versus $700, even though I used three companion BA vouchers. And the UA flight time is around eight hours less in each direction.
1,230,000 miles versus 780,000 miles, and $19,000 versus $700, even though I used three companion BA vouchers. And the UA flight time is around eight hours less in each direction.
BAEC does make a less sense for NA pax now.
Dec 27, 2011, 3:27 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,100
40K one way in J for what is essentially a regional length flight isn't really a "great" deal- it's merely average compared to the award costs of the North American based programs.
As for other Avios prices, I definitely agree- Avios is useful if you're doing one segment only. As soon as transfers come into play, then you're gonna be hit hard. Not to mention fuel surcharges...
As for other Avios prices, I definitely agree- Avios is useful if you're doing one segment only. As soon as transfers come into play, then you're gonna be hit hard. Not to mention fuel surcharges...
One would expect better from a self-proclaimed "Frequent Flying Consultant."
I trust you'll now revise your statement above to saying that Avios is now above average compared to NA programs, seeing as I have just doubled the value of the programme for you?
Dec 27, 2011, 3:40 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Glasgow
Programs: ACDC Gold
Posts: 62
Dec 27, 2011, 3:47 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Just a lowly Blue ;(
Posts: 1,780
I look at it like you, not what it did cost me, but what it WOULD have cost me!