Originally Posted by
jcpeden
I'm finding it difficult to establish if there is any value in collecting Avios for me.
Typically, I'd travel with my girlfriend. We'd do a single long-haul economy trip (typically to Asia) each year with ideally a few short-haul trips throughout the year all flying ex-MAN.
This seems to leave me with a few unattractive options to use my Avios:
- European Reward Flight Saver tickets, all route through LHR and therefore add hours to an otherwise short (and cheap) journey.
- Long haul economy with BA, taxes and surcharges plus LHR routing kill this one.
- Upgrade from economy to the next class level, requires that I fly BA or Iberia which means buying a more expensive ticket just to upgrade.
- Take odd-routing to use them, requires that I fly to Dublin, Madrid or Berlin on a separate itinerary before joining my flight.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining and have focused on collecting Starwood/MR points over Avios anyway. I'm just trying to get an idea about what I can expect from collecting points and if there is any point focusing on Avios.
1. I don't fly from a regional airport so I don't know but are you sure? (Or at least, are there really no RFS options when direct ex-MAN exists?)
2. Except possibly in the peak of summer, or at short notice (*if* there is availability), or if you need to be able to cancel with minimal fees, or if you want to fill in an open-jaw, or you can't do a Saturday night stopover...
3. Depends on the route and the fare. I'd say it's not worth it from economy to WTP (less flexible WTP fares price about the same as or less than the upgradeable economy fares anyway) but an upgrade from a cheap WTP is a brilliant use of points. Again, it's all down to availability.
4. If you have the time, that can break up a journey. On multiple PNRs you can add a second mini-break if you have the time. Anyway, you'd be flying MAN - LHR regardless.