He only needs 9000 Avios points vs. 25,000 on American Airlines for a round-trip ticket. It's distance-based-- for example, I can also fly to New York (JFK) from Pittsburgh on 9000 Avios points roundtrip. In this way, the Executive Club -> Avios switch benefited a lot of people.

Edit: My plan to burn my Avios points (balance currently sits at around 110,000) is to buy 2 RT Y tickets to Dublin on Aer Lingus via JFK. By my estimate, it should come to 98k or plus about $250 per ticket in fees. I just wish I could have gotten in on the lucrative South America trips people were taking with BA points.

Where's your home airport and do you have any upcoming travel plans? I'm sure the experts here could figure out a good way to burn your points.