Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 2,057
Expiring Amex 2-4-1. Use it or lose it?
I have an Amex 2-4-1 that's going to expire later this year. Due to work issues and home renovations going on, it's extremely unlikely that I'll get the chance to use it on a long haul flight to get the maximum benefit from it by then.
An opportunity has come up to go to Barcelona and availiblilty is there from my "local" airport of London City, in either ET or CE currently. I know that European flights aren't the best use of either Avios or a 2-4-1, but I have enough Avios after this even for a few mythical London-Sydney in Club (more if I keep earning 2-4-1's and even more with my AA miles balance).
I'm thinking of using CE for 30000 and £80. I know that at LCY I won't have access to lounges, but how else does the CityFlyer service differ from LHR or LGW? Should I not bother with CE and just go ET?
Is there any overiding factor that says I should just lose the 2-4-1 and keep the Avios and pay for the flight (Note: I'm not chasing TPs currently). All opinions welcomed!
We were in a similar situation last autumn. We used ours to go to FRA and though we had no choice did it nonetheless. Flying out LCY the seating configuration is the same unless it is a different Embraer(sp) version. So I can only think of the meal being the main difference. Lounge access at departing for LCY or additional luggage are the only things I think of as being persuasive for CE (cannot tell if OP has status; using phone).
Programs: BA Silver; VV Silver (deceased); PS Classic; BD Blue (deceased)
Posts: 3,265
Quote:
Originally Posted by dddc
I have an Amex 2-4-1 that's going to expire later this year. I'm thinking of using CE for 30000 and £80.
If I was in your position then, if I actually wanted to go to BCN, and if I didn't need any more TPs or miles, then I would use the 241, and if I wanted to maximise the experience, and discounting for a moment the hassle of actually getting there, I would go in CE, and from LHR, not LCY.
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 2,057
There are loads of flights from LHR and also LGW (which is quicker to get to for me), but LCY is the quickest of them all for me. I can be home within 30 minutes of touchdown if the transport gods are smiling on me. Last week it was just under 2 hours coming home from Heathrow and that was using the HEX! (35 min waitings for bags didn't help, but that's the downside of A380s!)
After reading everything I was thinking of maybe doing ET, but there is only one option showing for my date now (there were loads this morning I swear!!) and that's out of LHR. I'll keep an eye on it for a few days, but the LCY flight arrives at BCN within half an hour of friends arriving from Oz so it makes sense to get that flight if possible. Perhaps not the best use of points and a 2-4-1 by missing out on lounge access, but hey ho.
I have an Amex 2-4-1 that's going to expire later this year. I'm thinking of using CE for 30000 and £80.
If I was in your position then, if I actually wanted to go to BCN, and if I didn't need any more TPs or miles, then I would use the 241, and if I wanted to maximise the experience, and discounting for a moment the hassle of actually getting there, I would go in CE, and from LHR, not LCY.
Sorry to sound confrontational but there is no experience. An airport lounge is just a room with a view and food. There are far more impressive experiences once the OP has reached their destination than picking a flight based on a lounge.
Maybe I'm in the minority but short haul travel should be as quick and convenient as possible with maximum time spent at the destination, not getting there
I have to say, since the introduction of reward flight saver, I think short haul flights are a perfect use for Avios. With ex-EU and sale departures being so cheap these days in CW and charges so high on long haul reward flights there's no shame in blowing 30k plus a 2-4-1 on two CE seats to BCN and using cash for those long haul trips. There were flights from BRU to Hawaii last year in CW and F for less than £1,400, giving almost 50k Avios and 1,200 TP. Those Avios could then be used for 5 flights to Europe, saving almost the cost of the Hawaii trip, or more, if a 2-4-1 is used.
We are in a similar position. SWMBO has a 241 that expires in June and we were hoping to use it for a positioning flight to the West Coast for a TP run. However, availability is currently zero for our travel dates apart from Austin.
A CE weekend would be OK but I get less holiday than her so may be an issue - prefer to spend my time off further away.
Sorry to sound confrontational but there is no experience. An airport lounge is just a room with a view and food. There are far more impressive experiences once the OP has reached their destination than picking a flight based on a lounge.
Maybe I'm in the minority but short haul travel should be as quick and convenient as possible with maximum time spent at the destination, not getting there
I think you probably are in the minority here. The airport experience as a standard passenger is generally quite exciting, as it often means you're going on holiday, but the whole process can be quite painful. Throw in a premium ticket, where you get fast track security access (or sometimes not so fast!), access to comfortable lounges with free food, drinks and much nicer ambience, a more comfortable seat and (hopefully!) excellent on board service and suddenly the flight and the whole experience becomes part of the holiday. That's why we have frequent flyer schemes and why people pay more money for premium seats. Take all that away and you may as well be herded onto a Ryanair flight and enjoy abuse all the way to your destination.
Sorry to sound confrontational but there is no experience. An airport lounge is just a room with a view and food. There are far more impressive experiences once the OP has reached their destination than picking a flight based on a lounge.
Maybe I'm in the minority but short haul travel should be as quick and convenient as possible with maximum time spent at the destination, not getting there
Yes you are in the minority. No idea why, I'm with you. I'm new to all this lounge malarkey and given a choice of lounge or no lounge, it's lounge every time. But as for making a special trip across London to try one.... although I suppose my first and probably last visit to the CCR next month might change my mind. So far at least, they still make me feel like a caged animal, coiled and ready to escape to start my holiday!
Programs: BA Silver; VV Silver (deceased); PS Classic; BD Blue (deceased)
Posts: 3,265
Quote:
Originally Posted by londonclubguy
An airport lounge is just a room with a view and food
Having taken nearly 500 flights in the last 10 years, virtually all of them S/H and the vast majority on BA, I couldn't agree with you more londonclubguy - although with some lounges even a view is lacking
That's why we have frequent flyer schemes and why people pay more money for premium seats. Take all that away and you may as well be herded onto a Ryanair flight and enjoy abuse all the way to your destination.
The OP is asking about a short haul trip so as to not waste a 2-4-1. To go to an airport an additional 30 mins or more away in this instance is totally unnecessary for their needs. I am not discussing the merits of premium travel and or status merely this time there is no point not using a local airport for Galleries Club access and the perceived pomp some feel it brings. The reality is it really isn't worth the effort in my opinion.
Even the Concorde room which is excellent is still a room with a view in a terminal and ok food. I can eat far better elsewhere in London and think some reality is needed sometimes
An airport lounge is just a room with a view and food
Having taken nearly 500 flights in the last 10 years, virtually all of them S/H and the vast majority on BA, I couldn't agree with you more londonclubguy - although with some lounges even a view is lacking
Visit CPT - the views are great. It's the rest of the lounge that's lacking ;-)
Expiring Amex 2-4-1. Use it or lose it?
Yes, I meant at BCN. If there is a flight from LHR,
