Originally Posted by 84fiero

So just to be clear - you're comparing booking the same CX flight, but deciding between redeeming AA miles or BAEC Avios right?

I'm wondering about your figures for taxes & fees (and BAEC Avios). For one thing, those should be identical on an AA redemption in this scenario. Although one can't see CX on AA.com, a search on AA metal HKG-LAX in Y shows ~$53 in taxes and fees per person - same as with a BAEC redemption on CX metal (see below). Redeeming AA miles for the same routing on CX metal shouldn't change the taxes & fees in this situation.

Also BAEC is showing 35K Avios and ~$53 per person for one-way HKG-LAX in Y on CX which would be 140K and ~$212 total.

So both options should be equal in cash and a BAEC redemption would save 10K total miles/points.