Nov 17, 2012, 4:33 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
i Preface
If you are new to the British Airways Executive Club (BAEC) or a long term member but have not booked a redemption flight since the programme's relaunch in 2011, you may have realised by now that planning an Avios redemption calls for a shift in mindset, especially to those more used to redeeming miles for flights with North American frequent flyer programmes.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
The purpose of this thread is to introduce you to how the BAEC works in terms of spending Avios and to share some tips will will assist you during the planning and booking stages. We'll also cover the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision on how best to maximise your Avios Points.
If you are seeking guidance on the changes to the Executive Club in relation to the programme's 2011 relaunch, the Q&A discussion serves as a very useful reference point.
ii Contents
Introduction
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
Standard reward flights
Multi-Partner reward flights
Reward Flight Saver
Avios & Money
Upgrading using Avios
Using your companion vouchers
Additional Gold benefits
Hotel and car rental redemptions
Avios Part Payment
iii Acknowledgments
This guide is a collaborative effort, and could not have been produced without the kind contributions from corporate-wage-slave, DWFI, LTN Phobia, Petrus, Prospero, and Stez.
Your guide to spending Avios [Beta]
Aug 25, 2013, 10:01 am
#676
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: BA, AA
Posts: 2
I would use the aa miles for lower transatlantic fees. Use the avoids to get around Europe. Open an Iberia plus account and you can use the avoids for getting from Barcelona on vueling. Also a flight from Paris to London. Look into the Eurostar though. It may be comparable price and arrives/departs city center.
Aug 25, 2013, 10:22 am
#677
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 61
Sounds as though ba.com is playing games with you. I just used aa.com to search for 2 x F from LHR to SYD in March 2014 (i.e. roughly the six months that you mention) and saw availability on 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 March.
I didn't look at exactly what flights were being offered on all of those dates, but for those I did it tended to be QF2 (LHR-DXB-SYD) and/or QF10 (LHR-DXB-MEL) followed by a MEL-SYD domestic.
I didn't look at exactly what flights were being offered on all of those dates, but for those I did it tended to be QF2 (LHR-DXB-SYD) and/or QF10 (LHR-DXB-MEL) followed by a MEL-SYD domestic.
The only QF flights I am offered are also through SIN.
None of these options are F, some J.
Problem is to use my 241 voucher, I need BA metal I believe.
Aug 26, 2013, 8:03 am
#678
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Maybe people with experience of redeeming on this route can offer guidance beyond the standard "keep looking and if you see what you want grab it quickly".
Aug 26, 2013, 12:59 pm
#679
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 61
I just used the new rewards flight map - changed to first and watched availability drop to 0. Then crosschecked with Awardnexus and Awardtravlr.
If it is the standard check daily and grab, I can live with that - so long as I know they do actually exist!
Thanks IMH.
Aug 26, 2013, 1:58 pm
#680
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
There have been several threads complaining about poor availability but also occasional reports of success. Some have found that searching segment by segment and adding a stopover in SIN can improve results. The following thread may be helpful:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...1-lhr-syd.html
Good luck!
Aug 26, 2013, 6:28 pm
#681
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MHT
Programs: UA
Posts: 121
Spending Avois in KEF
Have anybody successfully redeemed Avois for either hotels or car rentals in KEF or Iceland? I do not see any.
Appreciate the feedback.
Appreciate the feedback.
Aug 27, 2013, 9:50 am
#682
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,214
It's rarely good value to use Avios for hotels, so I suspect there is little experience among members of this forum in this matter.
But I could be wrong!
But I could be wrong!
Aug 27, 2013, 10:52 am
#683
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
It's always worth a quick check if there's a special. I got 3 nights at a decent 4 star with breakfast for 38000. It worked for me at the time and isn't a terrible value.
Aug 28, 2013, 8:39 am
#684
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: Lufthansa Senator Gold, Flying Blue Gold , Hilton HHonours Gold, BA Club Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 27
Finding ANY Business Class Rewards Available
Hello All, great forum.
I have been through this thread and I THINK this question has not been asked before.
I have 400k Avios, and am looking to take my wife and daughter on a long haul flight from the UK. Ideally this would be to Vancouver, but I am struggling to find any availability in August, I would consider other destinations and it got me wondering if it was possible to search for a date range, and find out what award seats are open at that time, regardless of destination.
We are quite flexible on dates, as long as we leave and return in August, and would consider any destination.
Is such a search possible? I am happy to pay for one of the tools if they provide this capability.
Thanks for any pointers.
I have been through this thread and I THINK this question has not been asked before.
I have 400k Avios, and am looking to take my wife and daughter on a long haul flight from the UK. Ideally this would be to Vancouver, but I am struggling to find any availability in August, I would consider other destinations and it got me wondering if it was possible to search for a date range, and find out what award seats are open at that time, regardless of destination.
We are quite flexible on dates, as long as we leave and return in August, and would consider any destination.
Is such a search possible? I am happy to pay for one of the tools if they provide this capability.
Thanks for any pointers.
Aug 28, 2013, 8:47 am
#685
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,328
Hello All, great forum.
I have been through this thread and I THINK this question has not been asked before.
I have 400k Avios, and am looking to take my wife and daughter on a long haul flight from the UK. Ideally this would be to Vancouver, but I am struggling to find any availability in August, I would consider other destinations and it got me wondering if it was possible to search for a date range, and find out what award seats are open at that time, regardless of destination.
We are quite flexible on dates, as long as we leave and return in August, and would consider any destination.
Is such a search possible? I am happy to pay for one of the tools if they provide this capability.
Thanks for any pointers.
I have been through this thread and I THINK this question has not been asked before.
I have 400k Avios, and am looking to take my wife and daughter on a long haul flight from the UK. Ideally this would be to Vancouver, but I am struggling to find any availability in August, I would consider other destinations and it got me wondering if it was possible to search for a date range, and find out what award seats are open at that time, regardless of destination.
We are quite flexible on dates, as long as we leave and return in August, and would consider any destination.
Is such a search possible? I am happy to pay for one of the tools if they provide this capability.
Thanks for any pointers.
Aug 28, 2013, 8:47 am
#686
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: STR
Programs: LH HON->SEN, BA GGL+CCR->Gold, HH D, Hertz PC
Posts: 603
Rewards Saver Flights
I know that the cash component went up from 35€ to 42€ as of mid-July.
In the past, I could book MUC-LHR-NCL-MUC for 4500 Avios and 85€, now it is 5000 Avios and 102€.
Why 500 Avios more? And why 17€ more?
It's still 9000 and 42€ though.
In the past, I could book MUC-LHR-NCL-MUC for 4500 Avios and 85€, now it is 5000 Avios and 102€.
Why 500 Avios more? And why 17€ more?
It's still 9000 and 42€ though.
Aug 28, 2013, 8:51 am
#687
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
I suggest you search for -- and book -- each direction separately (unless you're using a 2-for-1 voucher).
Aug 28, 2013, 11:10 am
#688
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
But remember that this tool is extremely unreliable. Use it with caution and a great deal of scepticism.
Aug 28, 2013, 11:20 am
#689
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,328
Aug 28, 2013, 11:54 am
#690
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450