Are Avios good for ANY premium cabin redemptions anymore?
Jun 23, 2015, 12:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 599
Are Avios good for ANY premium cabin redemptions anymore?
I have tons of British Avios points, which I typically use for short-haul US-domestic as is conventional wisdom.
But I was wondering - after the devaluation, is there any Avios redemption for Business or First class (anywhere in the world) which is a good redemption value? If yes, I might consider burning them there instead of so many short hops.
But I was wondering - after the devaluation, is there any Avios redemption for Business or First class (anywhere in the world) which is a good redemption value? If yes, I might consider burning them there instead of so many short hops.
Jun 23, 2015, 1:05 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Where are you based?
Something like JFK-DUS for 60k + £3 (!) one way - and a little more tax on the way back - is a decent redemption on Air Berlin.
Something like JFK-DUS for 60k + £3 (!) one way - and a little more tax on the way back - is a decent redemption on Air Berlin.
Jun 23, 2015, 1:12 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
I still maintain that the WT+ to CW UUA is a good use of Avios. Balances are less sustainable than before it is true, but in my case this will act more to whittle down my stock over several years rather than it being self-sustaining.
Over the long term you can save a great deal of money if, as in my case, you would otherwise have paid the I class fare.
Over the long term you can save a great deal of money if, as in my case, you would otherwise have paid the I class fare.
Jun 23, 2015, 1:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 351
You have to decide what is "good redemption" or value for you and while we can calculate the $ value of the redeemed mile it still comes down to personal situation on whether that is best value for you or not.
In my case lets take an F redemption Westcoast US to LHR. Was 150k RT now 200k RT + Fees. Lets say I can get discounted F for $5k (which I know is both unlikely and its not a like for like comparison since in theory the Avois redemption is changeable and is refundable for an extra fee). That would work out to 0.025c/mile + $1200 fees.
Now lets take one of the longer domestic redemptions Westcoast to HNL or MCO on AS in my travels I usually can find flights around $650 so works out to 0.026c/mile + less than $20 of fees. So purely by the numbers redeeming domestic is better value.
But adding in the personal situation for me travelling with family of 5 the cost of 5F using mythical $5k F price :-) is at least 25k vs. $3.2k for domestic becomes a no brainer which I will choose even if its not as good a value on paper.
In my case lets take an F redemption Westcoast US to LHR. Was 150k RT now 200k RT + Fees. Lets say I can get discounted F for $5k (which I know is both unlikely and its not a like for like comparison since in theory the Avois redemption is changeable and is refundable for an extra fee). That would work out to 0.025c/mile + $1200 fees.
Now lets take one of the longer domestic redemptions Westcoast to HNL or MCO on AS in my travels I usually can find flights around $650 so works out to 0.026c/mile + less than $20 of fees. So purely by the numbers redeeming domestic is better value.
But adding in the personal situation for me travelling with family of 5 the cost of 5F using mythical $5k F price :-) is at least 25k vs. $3.2k for domestic becomes a no brainer which I will choose even if its not as good a value on paper.
Jun 23, 2015, 1:42 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 599
Jun 23, 2015, 2:15 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,352
Jun 23, 2015, 2:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 674
I picked up a MIA - MAD for 42500 off peak. BUYER BEWARE however, as some of the MIA flights are scheduled to be operated by A340-300s which are not being refurbished (but are due to be replaced by A330-200s from November).
Jun 23, 2015, 4:46 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
I still maintain that the WT+ to CW UUA is a good use of Avios. Balances are less sustainable than before it is true, but in my case this will act more to whittle down my stock over several years rather than it being self-sustaining.
Over the long term you can save a great deal of money if, as in my case, you would otherwise have paid the I class fare.
Over the long term you can save a great deal of money if, as in my case, you would otherwise have paid the I class fare.
Jun 23, 2015, 4:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly AUS or rural England
Programs: BAEC redundant Bronze, AAdvantage Lifetime PLT, CO, WN, B6
Posts: 6,526
In my case lets take an F redemption Westcoast US to LHR. Was 150k RT now 200k RT + Fees. Lets say I can get discounted F for $5k (which I know is both unlikely and its not a like for like comparison since in theory the Avois redemption is changeable and is refundable for an extra fee). That would work out to 0.025c/mile + $1200 fees.
Now lets take one of the longer domestic redemptions Westcoast to HNL or MCO on AS in my travels I usually can find flights around $650 so works out to 0.026c/mile + less than $20 of fees. So purely by the numbers redeeming domestic is better value.
But adding in the personal situation for me travelling with family of 5 the cost of 5F using mythical $5k F price :-) is at least 25k vs. $3.2k for domestic becomes a no brainer which I will choose even if its not as good a value on paper.
Now lets take one of the longer domestic redemptions Westcoast to HNL or MCO on AS in my travels I usually can find flights around $650 so works out to 0.026c/mile + less than $20 of fees. So purely by the numbers redeeming domestic is better value.
But adding in the personal situation for me travelling with family of 5 the cost of 5F using mythical $5k F price :-) is at least 25k vs. $3.2k for domestic becomes a no brainer which I will choose even if its not as good a value on paper.