Originally Posted by
Sopwith
I did this about 8 or 10 years ago. It was good at first and I scored a few trips to LHR in business and first, but then the availability of flights from Canada became almost zero. I finally burned the last of my BA points on a hotel last year.
You're not wrong about BA's award booking availability problems lately. Avios points were useful to have back when Cathay Pacific connected through YVR on its former HKG - JFK route. There was usually lots of availability for award bookings in Business and First and it was great to fly within North America on a wide body plane with an international class cabin configuration. Funnily enough, I've been using my Avios points for hotels too. I used some in Dublin in September for a completely cashless award stay (the hotel didn't even ask for a cc at check-in).