Originally Posted by
Greenpen
I'm very pleased with the redemptions I get, but I will book well in advance and have flexibility as to dates and locations. SFO has seemed straightforward to me both when I've redeemed and checked for availability.
The OP does not mention class of booking as part of the taxes problem so perhaps he does not realise that using miles for Y (economy) bookings is a waste as you gain very little. Go for J or F, or upgrade a paid booking for really good value.
800,000 is a lot of miles; I have just over 500,000 at the moment and feel very rich.
Depends on what your understanding of "a waste" is. Personally I use my Avios on LH flights in Y because the difference between a LH Y fare and that when using Avios is often the difference in being able to go at all.
Next Thursday I am going to DOH for 6 days to see a good friend of mine (Mrs A decided not to make the journey...). For the tune of £650 I would not just be unwilling but simply unable to pay that level of fare, let alone what the minimum upgradeable fare would be. When using Avios the fare drops to slightly over £200.
£200 for an LHR-DOH return on BA? I'll take that.