USing BA Avios points is a nightmare
Sep 17, 2017, 11:17 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,587
thank you everyone for your replies - I will spend some time going through them all. I do understand the points about using them for AA but both of us hate AA and avoid them as much as we can. So I don't think I will be able to persuade my husband to fly AA back to England!
We live in Rochester NY, we don't fly often now, both working from home and no reason to fly back to UK more than once a year. We often can't be that flexible when we fly, but I will take another look at the dates. Also, we don't have a huge amount of money at moment, just moved house, so buying expensive flights, even with a possibility to upgrade, is out. So are hotel stays.
But thanks again, I will keep looking. Quite frankly, I would rather give them away than lose them. It's such a pity I can't use them for shopping or something - like I can with United miles!
We live in Rochester NY, we don't fly often now, both working from home and no reason to fly back to UK more than once a year. We often can't be that flexible when we fly, but I will take another look at the dates. Also, we don't have a huge amount of money at moment, just moved house, so buying expensive flights, even with a possibility to upgrade, is out. So are hotel stays.
But thanks again, I will keep looking. Quite frankly, I would rather give them away than lose them. It's such a pity I can't use them for shopping or something - like I can with United miles!
Sep 17, 2017, 11:49 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,587
If the OP -- or any other BAEC member -- has occasion to be in an airport in a major U.S. city on a Thursday or Friday, this Avis deal might be a good way to pick up some Avios at relatively low cost:
https://www.avis.com/en/offers/us-of...-onewayairport
Caveat: I have not taken advantage of this Avis deal yet, so cannot confirm that the 12-hour rental from an airport qualifies as mileage-earning.
https://www.avis.com/en/offers/us-of...-onewayairport
Caveat: I have not taken advantage of this Avis deal yet, so cannot confirm that the 12-hour rental from an airport qualifies as mileage-earning.
Sep 17, 2017, 4:05 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 714
I help a lot of people for free in the Reddit Award Travel forum. I also offer award booking as a paid service via AwardCat.
You have a very well written article based on your tremendous knowledge on how frequent flyer programs work. Unfortunately, most people do not have that knowledge or experience. Maybe you may wish to consider offering, at least initially, a free service, from your web page, of helping others find flights, provided it does not take too much of your time. If the requests go beyond what you can spare with your free time, you can charge a fee and monetize your efforts.
Sep 17, 2017, 6:20 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 495
I help a lot of people for free in the Reddit Award Travel forum. I also offer award booking as a paid service via AwardCat.
Sep 19, 2017, 8:54 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,352
Hi Becksr, I live in Syracuse and also use Avios, so very similar options to yours. Avios are great for short domestic flights, especially for last-minute bookings. I know you don't like AA but for a quick flight to Chicago or Washington it should not be too bad and it gives you lots of options in terms of weekend trips. If you don't find a better use for your Avios, you could even burn them on the hotel. Basically, if you have about 100k Avios you should be able to book return tickets for the both of you to a place like Washington and two hotel nights. It's not the most efficient use of your Avios, but much better than letting them expire.
In addition, as well as the advice to look for options from Toronto, I would try Buffalo (or even Syracuse), award availability is usually different from each of these airports.
In addition, as well as the advice to look for options from Toronto, I would try Buffalo (or even Syracuse), award availability is usually different from each of these airports.