yorkshire exile

Recognise this might not be the best place - but have been lurking here and wanted to tap into the collective expertise.

I have a lot (>800,000) Marriott points and want to exchange them for a 2 week break in SKB. (The villa accommodation is what i need for 2 adults, 2 kids ( under 12) + some other family members who may join)

Marriott do travel packages - whereby you can book a weeks hotel and get 120k miles (so 240k) for an airline of your choosing.

I have about 300k Avios (from CC and Tescos) + an AMEX 241.

Would like to fly business ideally.

I can get flights I want pretty much want with BA - but the taxes crippling at about Ł2k (cash flow not great).

Am i better off transferring the 240k miles to AA / ANOther to minimise the taxes I pay. ie just forgo my BA avios and 241 this time

Can someone help me get there on the cheap? do i need to go ex EU with Air Berlin and change etc etc....

thx in advance

nux

Your 241 must be on BA metal.
ex-EU can provide a good saving on revenue fares, but on an award fare you will only really avoid APD but not the carrier surcharge which is the bulk of the cash component.

AB and EI are the main airlines that have low cash components for TATL fares. You could then use AA to fly to SKB.

Otherwise AA metal using AA miles will have a lower cash component. AA miles redeemed for BA metal flights TATL will have similarly high surcharges.

yorkshire exile

so i can use my BA avios on EI or AB... but not the 241 eg Dub> JFK

I can transfer my marriott point to AA miles to get the second leg? JFK > SKB

ok will take a look - thanks

nux

Yes. You could also use avios for the AA flights (JFK-SKB or MIA-SKB) for 40k return in J, which should have a low cash component. Using AA miles it would be 60k return in J.

You would also need to book a separate flight LON-DUB for example. Also bear in mind that as these are separate tickets, you would be taking the risk of misconnecting (except to/from AA as per AA's separate ticket policy). If your LON-DUB was late and you missed your DUB-JFK flight, you would not be protected.

yorkshire exile

how can i find ei availability on BA?? or do i have to book on ei?

I am in Leeds - so looking at

MAN > MCO
MCO > MIA (drive?)
MIA > SKB

I can take a few days to see the sights at each transfer to avoid mis-connections...

nux

You need to call BAEC.
See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...os-2014-a.html