Newbie question: use Avios on short-haul connection or pay for through fare?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm new to EC so would like some help.

I'm looking at HKG-LHR-NCL and other long-haul flights connecting to a very short short-haul flight. Flying into LHR without the connection is around US$100/150 cheaper than adding the connection.

Would using Avios for that short-haul flight be logical based on how you value your Avios? Still new, so I don't have a valuation yet.

Cheers,
Will

You're comparing a cash fare HKG-LHR-NCL with a cash fare HKG-LHR plus a separate redemption booking LHR-NCL?

What class of booking is this?

Is there actually redemption availability on the day(s)/flight(s) you need?

Separate bookings is always a faff, I try and avoid this scenario if possible.

For $100-$150 I would pay the extra, mainly because your connection is protected if your inbound is delayed (even though BA would help on separate tickets).

Using avios will cost 9,000 + RFS cash component. Depends how you value your avios, but for $150 ~ £100 I would pay cash.

You'll find commentary elsewhere on how people value the cost of Avios. Most people seem to put them at 1p or perhaps a little less.

One way on Avios from LHR to NCL would be 2250 Avios estimated value £22.50, plus £15 tax if you are able to secure a RFS. So £37.50 using Avios vs £60 full cash.

However bear in mind that if you use Avios for the last leg you then the Avios leg would be a separate ticket. If your incoming flight is late and you miss your connecting Avios flight then theoretically you lose the Avios flight miles and cash and would have to buy a new ticket. BA might take pity on you if your incoming flight is BA as well as the LHR-NCL and put you on a later flight but if you're on separate tickets they don't have to.

If you check other Oneworld airlines that could sell you the ticket all the way through to Newcastle you might find a cheaper alternative. Depending on where you need to go Edinburgh Glasgow, Leeds Bradford (LBA) or Manchester could be alternatives that would give you a wider choice of airlines from your starting point. If you really need Newcastle then there are some nice connections from places like Brussels instead of Heathrow but these may not be on Oneworld airlines so you would lose the chance of collecting Avios.

Your figures are wrong. For one the RFS fee has increased from £30 to £35.

LHR-NCL is 4500 avios one way + £17.50 RFS fee (or down to 2500 avios + £17.50 RFS fee + £25 cash component).

Using 1p/avios, paying cash is cheaper without taking in to account the opportunity cost of avios not earnt on an award ticket.

Thank you for the feedback, everyone. I'll just book the connection as part of the revenue (cash) ticket instead of using Avios. Cheers!

Thanks nux. My brain wasn't working. Glad to see the OP decided in favor of the security offered by ticketing the whole thing on one ticket.