Apr 22, 2013, 11:31 am
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
The best place learn about redeeming Avios points is in Flytalk's BAEC forum. The source of your Avios points does not change the redemption process. Start with this thread:
Your guide to spending Avios [Beta]
Your guide to spending Avios [Beta]
AmEX [USA] Transfer Bonus is back! 35% to British Airways through 6.7.2013
Apr 25, 2013, 1:03 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
Apr 25, 2013, 8:59 am
#47
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 290
Apr 25, 2013, 11:12 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
Just xfer'd 50k in MR to BA ... now unsure about the other 50k due to a possible 50% promo coming back, otherwise will do another transaction and xfer the remaining 50k to BA before June 7th and not risk taking a chance in case this promo doesn't come back for the year.
Not so happy about booking a ticket with a connection into separate individual segments and having separate record locators, but heck 35% is 35%!
decisions, decisions ....
Not so happy about booking a ticket with a connection into separate individual segments and having separate record locators, but heck 35% is 35%!
decisions, decisions ....
CLE-BOS -> BOS-DUB on Air Lingus r/t
with the 50% bonus I took advantage of last year, this trip cost me
17KMR + $250 e-cert (cle-bos) + $120 (award ticket tax)... not bad for a summer trip to Europe!
I'm Also doing CLE-JFK + JFK-DUS (Air Berlin) this summer. Used 24,500 Avios for the out-bound, and booked a reward J return on UA. Another sweet deal, but you have to book the two segments on separate tickets as well. (one on AA, and the other on Air Berlin)
As far as I know, Air Lingus and Air Berlin are the only carriers that don't charge a fuel surcharge on transatlantic flights. Air Lingus can only be booked over the phone... be sure to ask to have the $25 phone-booking fee waived as it can't be booked online.
Apr 26, 2013, 3:34 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BTV
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 486
You can also transfer to Iberia and book without YQ. You have to have an Iberia account for >3 months though before you have the option of transferring.
Apr 26, 2013, 3:38 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
I thought I have seen mentioned free direct transfer from BA->Iberia
Apr 26, 2013, 3:52 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
This is great advice. Do you have any tips on shopping WT+ fares? I've noticed that premium economy doesn't always show up correctly on ITA Matrix. I'm actually looking at booking with cash and upgrading with Avios and noticed it's a decent redemption option.
I wasn't aware of a discount using the BA card, either. That's a great tip, especially because I'm right now looking to book a trip commencing on 12/31/2013 - the date the current promotion ends:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel...0/public/en_us
Any idea if the 10% discount applies when buying a ticket and upgrading with avios (meaning 10% off the base paid fare)?
I may need to get this card. It's a shame the 100k bonus isn't out there still. Thanks for the advice!
I wasn't aware of a discount using the BA card, either. That's a great tip, especially because I'm right now looking to book a trip commencing on 12/31/2013 - the date the current promotion ends:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel...0/public/en_us
Any idea if the 10% discount applies when buying a ticket and upgrading with avios (meaning 10% off the base paid fare)?
I may need to get this card. It's a shame the 100k bonus isn't out there still. Thanks for the advice!
There is a current WT+ sale, good for tickets purchased by 5/8 for travel from June into December, but it's not a deep sale. OK if you have to do some summer travel and BA is in your plans; as I noted in a post in that thread, I wouldn't book a trip for the fall on this sale as there's likely to be another sale sometime after the end of the summer and that fall sale, coming as the tourist season has dried up, generally offers steeper discounts. I went to Dublin in WT+ in December for $1080 on a sale; my booking for a trip to Dublin in June, made today during this sale, cost me $1500.
The WT+ ticket price, however, is still only $350 more than my sister is paying for WT on the same trip. Worth it to see if I can grab a CW seat on the way to Europe for 10K Avios and about $130. I tend to stay in WT+ on the day flight back--it's a comfortable enough seat for me so long as I don't need to sleep.
The 10% off with the BA card has saved me more than the cost of the annual fee on every flight I've booked with BA, including this trip to Dublin where I saved almost $170 on my ticket.
I understand the arguments against BA, but for whatever reasons, travels on BA and collecting Avios have hit sweet spots for my travels.
Apr 26, 2013, 4:06 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
thanks! I'll sign-up with Iberia tonight and maybe Spain will be on the vacation calendar for next summer!
Apr 26, 2013, 6:52 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
What will be interesting is that when AA and US merge, would the BOS-LGA-DCA shuttle be excluded from the Avios short haul mileage scheme.
Apr 26, 2013, 8:00 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: MSP
Posts: 376
I'm wondering if anyone is aware of a list of previous US based Amex transfer bonus by airline?
Apr 27, 2013, 12:25 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
Just a datapoint:
Did a 50k transfer on Saturday (4/20) to Avios, Promotion started on 4/22 - got the bonus retroactive. Did a secure message to get it. They said they are manually giving me 14,000 points and then pushing that into my British Airways account to get the 18,900 points or so that I am missing.
Did a 50k transfer on Saturday (4/20) to Avios, Promotion started on 4/22 - got the bonus retroactive. Did a secure message to get it. They said they are manually giving me 14,000 points and then pushing that into my British Airways account to get the 18,900 points or so that I am missing.
Apr 29, 2013, 10:09 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 63
Sorry for the newbie question, but do Amex Starwood card holders get this 35% transfer bonus when using Starwood points?
Apr 29, 2013, 10:34 pm
#60
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403