capin

Hi all,

Status

My current BAEC status is Gold with 1625 TPs about 151,000 avios with a year end of August. I live in the US and I have absolutely no annual leave left, the way it works in my job is that you need to accrue your leave first and then can use it rather than how it is in jobs I have have in the UK where you are given a lump for the year at the start

I have a trip in May on QR in J AMS-DOH-BKK rtn and a work trip out CLT-SFO on AA in coach lined up for the end of Feb. That should get me to about 171000 avios and about 2250 tps.

Question 1

I'd like to try and get to the GUF2 at 2500. Has anyone any suggestions on a cheap TP run over in the states I could take out of CLT to try and bag 250-300 TPs. Are there any routes which are cheap for first and convenient? I don't want to upgrade the work trip to SFO - too many questions and possible comebacks.

Question 2

I've never used a reward flight and I am thinking of booking one for myself in Jan 2017. I've been looking at taking CX ORD-HKG-BKK return in first (ORD-HKG) and the biz (HKG-BKK). I've priced it up and found this -

279000 Avios + $ 743
235000 Avios + $ 1,643
190000 Avios + $ 2,543
177300 Avios + $ 2,823
156000 Avios + $ 3,203

So, If I can get to 177300 avios, I can get the fare for $2823 US. I just checked the Cathay website and saw the proper cash fare price at $18875 US.

If I was to go biz all the way the prices would be as follows -

216000 Avios + $ 743
193000 Avios + $ 1,523
172000 Avios + $ 2,143
152000 Avios + $ 2,653
121000 Avios + $ 3,273

I think it is a no brainer, first looks like a great bargain and should be a really nice experience. The difference from biz to first after spending the 170000 avios is only about $700 US.

Do you guys think this is a good cost effective way to spend my avios? Is Cathay 1st class nice? I've only ever flown BA first a couple of times on upgrades on work trips, Do Cathay compare favourably?

What would you guys do?