Avios / Eurostar
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MAN
Programs: F
Posts: 2,898
Avios / Eurostar
Has anyone used Avios for Eurostar? What is availability like? Do they only allow redemptions into the cheapest fare buckets? Is there any way of determining availability other than by phoning?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Manchester,UK and NYC
Programs: One Pass, BAEC, AA
Posts: 708
Avios can be used on ANY Eurostar train - your avios are simply used "instead of paying" for your ticket.
As a guide, 10,000 Avios is worth about 75 - quite easy to get a return standard class London - Paris for 149 - which would be 20,000 Avios.
Of course, the dearer the ticket the more Avios required - but this allows you to book any train you require.
This can only be booked by calling Avios directly - no way to do it online AFAIK.
As a guide, 10,000 Avios is worth about 75 - quite easy to get a return standard class London - Paris for 149 - which would be 20,000 Avios.
Of course, the dearer the ticket the more Avios required - but this allows you to book any train you require.
This can only be booked by calling Avios directly - no way to do it online AFAIK.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Blue - finally; but hotels.com Gold :)
Posts: 1,856
Avios can be used on ANY Eurostar train - your avios are simply used "instead of paying" for your ticket.
As a guide, 10,000 Avios is worth about 75 - quite easy to get a return standard class London - Paris for 149 - which would be 20,000 Avios.
Of course, the dearer the ticket the more Avios required - but this allows you to book any train you require.
This can only be booked by calling Avios directly - no way to do it online AFAIK.
As a guide, 10,000 Avios is worth about 75 - quite easy to get a return standard class London - Paris for 149 - which would be 20,000 Avios.
Of course, the dearer the ticket the more Avios required - but this allows you to book any train you require.
This can only be booked by calling Avios directly - no way to do it online AFAIK.
If fully refundable (which I'd doubt) then a decent deal.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MAN
Programs: F
Posts: 2,898
According to the Avios website the basic return is 9000 Avios, same as a return economy flight, but without the 27 cash supplement, so potentially a cheap way of getting from London to Paris. I bet it is non-refundable.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: Centurion, VS Gold, LH FTL, CX Diamond, BA Silver, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Jumeirah Gold
Posts: 173
No extra charges to pay (ie. 27) & they let you choose your seats as you got to call to make the booking. They also give 3 options - pure avios and 2 x miles & avios variations. Avios only offered the best redemption value.
I highly recommend avios for Eurostar, especially if one is somewhat avios rich. If you can plan ahead the 9k avios rtn is a steal.
Btw, used our uk centurions to access the business premier lounges at oath ends....which was nice.
#10
#11
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: Centurion, VS Gold, LH FTL, CX Diamond, BA Silver, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Jumeirah Gold
Posts: 173
Have to own up to something here. Whilst I am a big fan of FT, I've never really understood the pence/cents per mile/point calculation!! I am sorry for being a bit thick......but how is it worked out!? Is it, using the figures in my last post, 160 divided by 20k miles/points cost? And from what you say, this means the redemption value I got is about "right" given a 241 can't be used on eurostar.
God I'm feeling well embarrassed asking this!
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,865
Have to own up to something here. Whilst I am a big fan of FT, I've never really understood the pence/cents per mile/point calculation!! I am sorry for being a bit thick......but how is it worked out!? Is it, using the figures in my last post, 160 divided by 20k miles/points cost? And from what you say, this means the redemption value I got is about "right" given a 241 can't be used on eurostar.
God I'm feeling well embarrassed asking this!
God I'm feeling well embarrassed asking this!
NYC is 80k + 500 taxes, so 1100 at 0.75p. This is about right, you can buy a J seat to NYC for that, albeit not BA and not necessarily direct and you may need to wait for a sale. And it is not refundable if you pay cash. And so on.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Maybe these were already posted on the site and I just didn't notice them before. But here are the London-Paris redemption rates:
Adult Standard return
9,000 Avios
6,000 Avios + 30
3,000 Avios + 50
Child Standard return
8,500 Avios
5,000 Avios + 20
2,500 Avios + 40
Adult Standard Premier return
26,500 Avios
16,000 Avios + 70
8,500 Avios + 120
Child Standard Premier return
20,500 Avios
12,000 Avios + 60
6,500 Avios + 90
Examples are starting prices and are subject to availability. Exclusions may apply.
9,000 Avios
6,000 Avios + 30
3,000 Avios + 50
Child Standard return
8,500 Avios
5,000 Avios + 20
2,500 Avios + 40
Adult Standard Premier return
26,500 Avios
16,000 Avios + 70
8,500 Avios + 120
Child Standard Premier return
20,500 Avios
12,000 Avios + 60
6,500 Avios + 90
Examples are starting prices and are subject to availability. Exclusions may apply.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,937
Oh, I didn't realise Amex Plat did that! This means that I can dish out upto 4 supp Plats to family members (on the back of my Cent) which would grant them the lounge access. I have sibling who uses the Eurostar quite often and that would come in handy. Thanks for the info Raffles.
Have to own up to something here. Whilst I am a big fan of FT, I've never really understood the pence/cents per mile/point calculation!! I am sorry for being a bit thick......but how is it worked out!? Is it, using the figures in my last post, 160 divided by 20k miles/points cost? And from what you say, this means the redemption value I got is about "right" given a 241 can't be used on eurostar.
God I'm feeling well embarrassed asking this!
Have to own up to something here. Whilst I am a big fan of FT, I've never really understood the pence/cents per mile/point calculation!! I am sorry for being a bit thick......but how is it worked out!? Is it, using the figures in my last post, 160 divided by 20k miles/points cost? And from what you say, this means the redemption value I got is about "right" given a 241 can't be used on eurostar.
God I'm feeling well embarrassed asking this!
To buy avios you want the smallest cost per mile/point. (AKA Cost)
To redeem avios you want the highest cost per mile/point (AKA Value)
A $500 ticket where you can redeem for 9,000 would be:
$500/9,000 X 100 -> 5.5 CPP