I'm new to the BA Amex 241 game, but value is hugely subjective - if I followed the advice on FT I'd be disappointed if I couldn't get a 241 to PER or somewhere. It sounds like you don't have the Avios for the redemption LHR-KRK if it's asking for 6500 Avios plus a cash component?

I don't travel much any more, so I don't earn Avios through flying in anywhere near the numbers for a redemption. ABZ-0LHR is about the extent of it a few times a year. I got the Amex with the sole aim of earning the voucher to redeem ABZ-LHR-ZRH in the winter for me and my son to go skiing. My average spend of £2.5k a month on the Amex allows me to easily make the threshold spend on the free card and get the voucher to redeem in Y for me and my son, which is all I'm really worried about here.

This year he can't make it but the 241 still lets me reduce the Avios required. It saves me the cost of a ticket and that in itself means I can afford the ski trip. To me this is the value.