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
#16
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
Is there a timeline for other bonuses like Virgin Elevate / AC / other airline miles?
I have some MR points and would like to plan ahead.
I have some MR points and would like to plan ahead.
#17
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
You can redeem BA points for travel on flights operated by American Airlines. Please scroll back to read discussion of this earlier in the thread, and spend some time reading this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...vios-beta.html
You do not want to transfer Membership Rewards points to Starwood Preferred Guest. The transfer ratio is 3:1.
No. When a promotion become predictable it loses it's effectiveness and becomes the norm.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...vios-beta.html
You do not want to transfer Membership Rewards points to Starwood Preferred Guest. The transfer ratio is 3:1.
No. When a promotion become predictable it loses it's effectiveness and becomes the norm.
#18
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
Hi all -
I am pretty new to this. I have 82,000 amex points with no immediate plans to use them. I have considered getting $800 worth of giftcards to restoration hardware to go to some stuff for my new place. I know this is not great value for the points (although something I am in need right now, which is why I'm considering). I would love to go to Europe but don't think I will have time within the next year due to work. I do a lot of trips from Dallas to St. Louis and vice versa. That is primarily where I fly. I usually spend a week in an SPG eligible hotel. Basically, I have no idea what to do with these things. I don't know if this 35% bonus for British Avios will do me much good as far as where I fly. Just hoping for suggestions!!!!
Cheers,
Matt
I am pretty new to this. I have 82,000 amex points with no immediate plans to use them. I have considered getting $800 worth of giftcards to restoration hardware to go to some stuff for my new place. I know this is not great value for the points (although something I am in need right now, which is why I'm considering). I would love to go to Europe but don't think I will have time within the next year due to work. I do a lot of trips from Dallas to St. Louis and vice versa. That is primarily where I fly. I usually spend a week in an SPG eligible hotel. Basically, I have no idea what to do with these things. I don't know if this 35% bonus for British Avios will do me much good as far as where I fly. Just hoping for suggestions!!!!
Cheers,
Matt
#20
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
82,000 x 1.35 for the bonus will get you 24 one way tickets DFW-STL. Short domestic flights are one of the best uses of Avios, and living in Dallas you can take advantage of that anywhere in the midwest or south. Spend some time in the British Airways forum, and check some of the blogs on maximizing Avios.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 109
I am wondering this too.. I want to transfer a boatload of points and the extra 15% would be nice. I was expecting 50 this time but maybe this is how the other times have been??
#22
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
It is clear, though, that BA has become a go-to for Amex since DL bonuses have been absent for quite some time. BA wants to increase its market share in the US so transfer bonuses with Amex create some buzz for BA. At the same time, Amex needs transfer bonuses to compete with Chase's UR program. Trying to guess at the dynamics of the timing or amount of any future BA transfer bonuses is like trying to time the stock market: impossible to do and generally costly to the person who thinks they're smart enough to do the timing.
The best advice for MR transfers remains to make the transfer if you have solid plans to use the points you transfer. The flexibility of MR (as with UR) remains their strongest point--transfers are one way only so once you transfer, you lose that strength. Nothing wrong with transferring, but if you don't have solid plans to use Avios, why make the transfer now?
#23
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 728
like clockwork, I transferred 45k three days back and said the new bonus would start this week. just my luck.
good news is that I got tix for family of 5 from Miami to Grand Cayman for 45k avios that would have costs 150k AA miles.
any hope of getting the bonus applied retro 3 days?
good news is that I got tix for family of 5 from Miami to Grand Cayman for 45k avios that would have costs 150k AA miles.
any hope of getting the bonus applied retro 3 days?
Last edited by g8trgr8t; Apr 22, 2013 at 9:03 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: Delta Silver, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond, Ex-UA Gold, Ex-AA Gold , Ex-SPG Gold, Peon everywhere else
Posts: 616
Just in the nick of time for me. Have 90K+ MR's and my AF is coming up next month. Was planning on closing my CC and was hoping for any kind of bonus from BA before I call to cancel my account. 35% is better than 0%.
#25
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 153
Avios are perfect for me. I split a lot of time between ORD/DTW and NYC, and just booked ORD-LGA for 12,000 MR (with transfer bonus) points while the flight was like $400. If I was coming from DTW it would have been even less (like 7,000 MR points?)! Definitely the best way I've seen to redeem short-medium domestic economy.
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 180
Based on previous years, is this usually replicated for UK cardholders? (apologies - new to Amex rewards!)
#27
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,951
If BA wants to increase its US marketshare, how about NOT routing me through LHR and charging the commensurate taxes? It gets fairly ridiculous when an award flight can add up to basically 75% of a coach ticket in fees/taxes.
Best bet is to check for availability that doesn't route through LHR unless you are going to the UK. Remember that Iberia is a partner and you can route through MAD/BCN. Aer Lingus is as well, but I have trouble finding any availability BOS-DUB.
Best bet is to check for availability that doesn't route through LHR unless you are going to the UK. Remember that Iberia is a partner and you can route through MAD/BCN. Aer Lingus is as well, but I have trouble finding any availability BOS-DUB.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: FB Gold (ST E+), Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 246
Not sure about date changes, but one of the best things about Avios redemptions (IMO) is that you can cancel tickets online with no additional fee and get all your Avios back – they'll just keep whatever you paid in taxes (typically $5 roundtrip for domestic non-stops). YMMV if you're booking international itineraries – they'll take either the standard $40 change fee or whatever cash you paid, whichever is lower.
#29
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
If BA wants to increase its US marketshare, how about NOT routing me through LHR and charging the commensurate taxes? It gets fairly ridiculous when an award flight can add up to basically 75% of a coach ticket in fees/taxes.
Best bet is to check for availability that doesn't route through LHR unless you are going to the UK. Remember that Iberia is a partner and you can route through MAD/BCN. Aer Lingus is as well, but I have trouble finding any availability BOS-DUB.
Best bet is to check for availability that doesn't route through LHR unless you are going to the UK. Remember that Iberia is a partner and you can route through MAD/BCN. Aer Lingus is as well, but I have trouble finding any availability BOS-DUB.
Their business model makes redemption for economy or premium economy tickets on BA a poor use of Avios. As you've noted, there are some options with partners that avoid LHR. And, of course, domestic use for short-haul flights can be great.
For use on BA itself, I've found the sweet spot to be an upgrade to business class travel in Club World; however, that avenue of redemption means keeping a close eye on sales in the WT+ class and using discounts on fares, such as the 10% Chase BA card discount or the AARP discount. Done this way and even without status, you can fly CW to LHR for about the cost of an economy ticket and a net use of 10K Avios; with Silver status, I essentially break even on most trips to LHR and lose at most about 15K if I go fairly far in Europe since I earn about 20K Avios for my flights.
#30
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,951
For use on BA itself, I've found the sweet spot to be an upgrade to business class travel in Club World; however, that avenue of redemption means keeping a close eye on sales in the WT+ class and using discounts on fares, such as the 10% Chase BA card discount or the AARP discount. Done this way and even without status, you can fly CW to LHR for about the cost of an economy ticket and a net use of 10K Avios; with Silver status, I essentially break even on most trips to LHR and lose at most about 15K if I go fairly far in Europe since I earn about 20K Avios for my flights.
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!