Originally Posted by
amolkold
Because 9K SPG points are more valuable when used for hotels than for airline transfers.
OP, when are you flying? If it's not for a while, you have time to build Avios through a ton of means. BA is transfer partners with everyone and their mother. Get the 50K BA card, or a Chase card (even a Freedom, and transfer them to a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold account to get to BA), or an AMEX MR card.
Or CC!
Avios really has some clout flying in South America.
For example, a one-way flight between Lima and Buenos Aires or Iguassu Falls would be just 10,000 Avios (with no fuel surcharges), and a triangle between all 3 cities would be 27,500 Avios.