Originally Posted by
GM1985
I think much of it comes down to your own outlook on things. There is some received wisdom around these parts that if you're not using Avios to fly First class to SYD for the whole family, you're doing it wrong. Fair enough, if your primary aim is to extract every last ounce of value out of Avios. And if you have a need or desire to visit Sydney.
I tend to start with where I want to go and work backwards from there. Just a couple of weeks ago, I went to MAD using Avios. I had acquired quite a backlog of Amex 2-4-1 vouchers during the pandemic, and one was nearing its extended expiry. So a cheap weekend to Madrid it was, flying Club Europe.
If there are places around Europe you want to go, you have the Avios to burn, and cash fares are high (as they tend to be at the minute), it's a great use of Avios IMHO.
I have a MAD - LHR - NCL flight the week after next that was upgraded using a GUF2, and a NCL - LHR - ARN flight in December that used another GUF2. Both one-way bookings so maybe not the best use of them according to "received wisdom" but, like you say
GM1985, it was getting to the stage of use them or lose them. I definitely agree with the other comments that flexibility of Avios bookings is a real bonus, and that they can been very good value when the equivalent cash booking would be expensive. At the end of the day if you're happy with the value you're getting from your Avios then that should be good enough. For me, I would always use them to upgrade to Club from WTP back in the day but I don't see that as being a good use of them nowadays given the significant increase in YQ. It's often just as "cheap" to book the flight in Club from the get go. I am using some Avios to fly DFW - MAD later this month as that seems a better use of them, and flying back to the USA using Avios and a GUF2 with RFS pricing. I don't think there's a "right" or "wrong" way to redeem them, except perhaps for long-haul flights in Y
