Originally Posted by
guv1976
OK. When you redeem Avios, you are charged extra for each flight flown. By contrast, AAdvantage redemptions include necessary connections. If this were a simple intra-European nonstop flight on IB, an Avios redemption would almost certainly be cheaper.
I see that Iberia partner Vueling flies BCN-ZRH nonstop, so that might be a cheaper IB Avios (not BA Avios) redemption or cash option. But Vueling is not an AA partner, so you cannot check Vueling award availability on aa.com, or credit Vueling cash flights to AAdvantage. And Vueling is all Economy Class, so it might not suit your needs.
Thanks for looking! Yes I had seen that, and I think there was even a Swiss Air flight that was (slightly) cheaper, but was sticking with the AA/AMEX mileage redemption or credit. although at a certain point it's not worth it. I also have Executive Platinum so an Iberia upgrade is likely, but I've learned over the past few weeks how vastly inferior European business class is compared with US domestic products, so it's not even that much of a motivation.