On the Uselessness of Avios
Dec 27, 2011, 6:35 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Some people get far too carried away with all this miles malarkey. Analysing their worth down to 0.1 of a cent is a sign that someone has a problem if you ask me.
If I have miles I spend them without giving it too much thought. Tier points don't concern me...thank goodness for that and if I don't have miles then there is always the old fashioned method of using cash to pay for a ticket.
Some of those can actually work out much better value than using miles and you don't have to worry about finding availability.
If I have miles I spend them without giving it too much thought. Tier points don't concern me...thank goodness for that and if I don't have miles then there is always the old fashioned method of using cash to pay for a ticket.
Some of those can actually work out much better value than using miles and you don't have to worry about finding availability.
You are, however, clearly part of the diversity that is this Forum. And that makes it interesting.
Dec 27, 2011, 6:43 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Southwest is an exception as their awards correlate to the actual cost of the flight, and both AA and US offer holders of their affiliated credit cards a break on mileage (AA in the form of a quarterly list of cities that may be flown for 17.5K and US with a 5K reduction off redemption costs for any flight flown solely on their metal), but, keeping in mind that with most US carriers, the dollar cost of a flight has no relationship to its distance (for instance, it's usually cheaper for me to fly ORF-SAN than ORF-BWI), using Avios for short-haul redemptions on AA can make a lot of sense.
Dec 27, 2011, 6:47 am
#48
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,210
Yes but a lazy one....and a bit thick when it comes to working out figures. 
To be honest if those who complain so much about having to pay BA taxes/charges didn't bother collecting BA miles and just purchased discounted tickets in Y instead then a lot of their angst would disappear.
To be honest if those who complain so much about having to pay BA taxes/charges didn't bother collecting BA miles and just purchased discounted tickets in Y instead then a lot of their angst would disappear.
Dec 27, 2011, 7:28 am
#50
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No Avios complaints from me either...
I managed to get in my CX redemption before the change and got the JFK-YVR-HKG-DPS-HKG-SFO in F (J on the DPS sectors) for 150k miles and £238.10 in taxes fees and charges. Also, looking for award availability to come back from the US, I can travel in F for 60k instead of it being 75k if I want to which is a saving of 15k points... I think it is great.
I managed to get in my CX redemption before the change and got the JFK-YVR-HKG-DPS-HKG-SFO in F (J on the DPS sectors) for 150k miles and £238.10 in taxes fees and charges. Also, looking for award availability to come back from the US, I can travel in F for 60k instead of it being 75k if I want to which is a saving of 15k points... I think it is great.
Dec 27, 2011, 8:34 am
#52
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,210
Oh you are a little devil you....now I must run. I've loads to do before taking charge of my 747 compliment of cherubs all clamouring for my attention......I'm like a mother hen to them.
I've a face pack to apply, nails to sort and glue, iron my size 18 uniform and then pack my French frillies bought from an upmarket fashion house off the Champs Elisa. I tell you this trolleydolly life isn't all glamour you know.
I've a face pack to apply, nails to sort and glue, iron my size 18 uniform and then pack my French frillies bought from an upmarket fashion house off the Champs Elisa. I tell you this trolleydolly life isn't all glamour you know.
Dec 27, 2011, 8:46 am
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Oh you are a little devil you....now I must run. I've loads to do before taking charge of my 747 compliment of cherubs all clamouring for my attention......I'm like a mother hen to them.
I've a face pack to apply, nails to sort and glue, iron my size 18 uniform and then pack my French frillies bought from an upmarket fashion house off the Champs Elisa. I tell you this trolleydolly life isn't all glamour you know.
I've a face pack to apply, nails to sort and glue, iron my size 18 uniform and then pack my French frillies bought from an upmarket fashion house off the Champs Elisa. I tell you this trolleydolly life isn't all glamour you know.
Dec 27, 2011, 9:01 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: London-Nice
Programs: GGL
Posts: 1,425
Dec 27, 2011, 9:15 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 469
Dec 27, 2011, 11:06 am
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 487
The devaluation was rubbish. Combined with the "charges" and "surcharges"(BA would have the gall to try to pass along a line item expense as separate from the cost of the ticket), and other miscellaneous and sundry fees(why do I have to pay 4.5 GBP when paying by credit card ?!?), Avios is only useful for short-haul redemptions on AA or upgrading from premium economy to club world.
More annoying, however, is the sneaky and underhanded manner in which they handled the devaluation - refusing to release any details until it was too late. Air Canada also had a devaluation recently, but they gave their members a year's notice. BA did not.
More annoying, however, is the sneaky and underhanded manner in which they handled the devaluation - refusing to release any details until it was too late. Air Canada also had a devaluation recently, but they gave their members a year's notice. BA did not.
Dec 27, 2011, 11:38 am
#59
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 650
I also did my research about 10 years ago, pre-fees up the wazzoo, and determined that BA was an ideal airline to collect my miles to fly where I wanted to go. Unfortunately the program changes force me to go into another direction. I plan to use up my remaining miles on short-haul AA, and trips to South America, and move on. It was great while it lasted, and I will sorely miss it.
Dec 27, 2011, 11:55 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
The devaluation was rubbish. Combined with the "charges" and "surcharges"(BA would have the gall to try to pass along a line item expense as separate from the cost of the ticket), and other miscellaneous and sundry fees(why do I have to pay 4.5 GBP when paying by credit card ?!?), Avios is only useful for short-haul redemptions on AA or upgrading from premium economy to club world.
More annoying, however, is the sneaky and underhanded manner in which they handled the devaluation - refusing to release any details until it was too late. Air Canada also had a devaluation recently, but they gave their members a year's notice. BA did not.
More annoying, however, is the sneaky and underhanded manner in which they handled the devaluation - refusing to release any details until it was too late. Air Canada also had a devaluation recently, but they gave their members a year's notice. BA did not.
Other good value redemptions are ECoast US to UK, UK-Far East, UK-aus, J-F, .....
I have to say, apart from the first two paragraphs, your post is absolutely bang on.
@ Chuckles - yep there were some real corker redemptions before the changes and it is certainly true that the Avios change left some high and dry. Also true that fuel surcharges are sooo high now, but that isnt just BA of course, and this has affected some longterm members. Not those who didn't find out about YQs before taking out their credit card in the past cople of years though as nothing changed in this area - it was those I was really referring to.