North West England to New York advice
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 24
North West England to New York advice
Hello everyone,
I'm a silver with 200k avios to use, that may sound like I'm an affluent sort who travels round the world a lot, the truth is, every single one of those points has been earned via work related travel and I never really use them for personal travel, this year I have had a baby, purchased my first home, got engaged and planned a wedding. Holidays are way down the priority list HOWEVER in October 2019 I'd like to take my wife-to-be to NYC as she's never been, despite worries about how we could afford it I've said my points can easily cover such a journey and we can book an airbnb in Brooklyn for about 120 a night.
So knowing that flights are released 355 days in advance I started the search for the first time, can anyone tell me what the point of reward flights are or less flippantly if there's a better way to do it? I knew there'd be surcharges but I was thinking they'd be about 200 per person but off-peak economy flights we're looking at about 1.1k + Avios??? Why? You can get return flights on ba.com for 300 per person, I may as well buy them and knock 90 off with avios.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a cheaper way to do it? What about through Dublin with Aer Lingus?
I'm a silver with 200k avios to use, that may sound like I'm an affluent sort who travels round the world a lot, the truth is, every single one of those points has been earned via work related travel and I never really use them for personal travel, this year I have had a baby, purchased my first home, got engaged and planned a wedding. Holidays are way down the priority list HOWEVER in October 2019 I'd like to take my wife-to-be to NYC as she's never been, despite worries about how we could afford it I've said my points can easily cover such a journey and we can book an airbnb in Brooklyn for about 120 a night.
So knowing that flights are released 355 days in advance I started the search for the first time, can anyone tell me what the point of reward flights are or less flippantly if there's a better way to do it? I knew there'd be surcharges but I was thinking they'd be about 200 per person but off-peak economy flights we're looking at about 1.1k + Avios??? Why? You can get return flights on ba.com for 300 per person, I may as well buy them and knock 90 off with avios.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a cheaper way to do it? What about through Dublin with Aer Lingus?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quite close to NQY
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 9,488
You will pay the exact same charges as a cash ticket.
As you suggest your your best bet might well be EI NCL-DUB-NYC which will work out cheaper and have the advantage of offering US pre clearance in DUB so you would then arrive in the US as basically a domestic passenger and not have to clear customs and immigration.
cs
As you suggest your your best bet might well be EI NCL-DUB-NYC which will work out cheaper and have the advantage of offering US pre clearance in DUB so you would then arrive in the US as basically a domestic passenger and not have to clear customs and immigration.
cs
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Exec Club Bronze, Hilton Diamond, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 1,257
Don't use Avios for long haul economy redemptions. It really is a complete waste as you save yourself almost nothing.
You would be much better advised to use them to travel in Club World or First. Taxes fees etc would be about 1.1k for 2 passengers.
You would be much better advised to use them to travel in Club World or First. Taxes fees etc would be about 1.1k for 2 passengers.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North of Watford Gap
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 602
You will pay the exact same charges as a cash ticket.
As you suggest your your best bet might well be EI NCL-DUB-NYC which will work out cheaper and have the advantage of offering US pre clearance in DUB so you would then arrive in the US as basically a domestic passenger and not have to clear customs and immigration.
cs
As you suggest your your best bet might well be EI NCL-DUB-NYC which will work out cheaper and have the advantage of offering US pre clearance in DUB so you would then arrive in the US as basically a domestic passenger and not have to clear customs and immigration.
cs
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 24
I may try to get to DUB without BA from LPL, I have read an old post about it being cheaper (only 75) taxes to book with BA over the phone for aerlingus flights rather than avios.com, does anyone have and recent experience of this?
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 550
It depends on your budget, but a return from MAN-JFK in W can be quite competitive, often cheaper than from LHR. You could then use your avios to upgrade to Club World. Or a Y flight out to JFK and then a W return, again, upgrading your inbound to Club World.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
#8
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,556
Hello everyone,
I'm a silver with 200k avios to use, that may sound like I'm an affluent sort who travels round the world a lot, the truth is, every single one of those points has been earned via work related travel and I never really use them for personal travel, this year I have had a baby, purchased my first home, got engaged and planned a wedding. Holidays are way down the priority list HOWEVER in October 2019 I'd like to take my wife-to-be to NYC as she's never been, despite worries about how we could afford it I've said my points can easily cover such a journey and we can book an airbnb in Brooklyn for about 120 a night.
So knowing that flights are released 355 days in advance I started the search for the first time, can anyone tell me what the point of reward flights are or less flippantly if there's a better way to do it? I knew there'd be surcharges but I was thinking they'd be about 200 per person but off-peak economy flights we're looking at about 1.1k + Avios??? Why? You can get return flights on ba.com for 300 per person, I may as well buy them and knock 90 off with avios.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a cheaper way to do it? What about through Dublin with Aer Lingus?
I'm a silver with 200k avios to use, that may sound like I'm an affluent sort who travels round the world a lot, the truth is, every single one of those points has been earned via work related travel and I never really use them for personal travel, this year I have had a baby, purchased my first home, got engaged and planned a wedding. Holidays are way down the priority list HOWEVER in October 2019 I'd like to take my wife-to-be to NYC as she's never been, despite worries about how we could afford it I've said my points can easily cover such a journey and we can book an airbnb in Brooklyn for about 120 a night.
So knowing that flights are released 355 days in advance I started the search for the first time, can anyone tell me what the point of reward flights are or less flippantly if there's a better way to do it? I knew there'd be surcharges but I was thinking they'd be about 200 per person but off-peak economy flights we're looking at about 1.1k + Avios??? Why? You can get return flights on ba.com for 300 per person, I may as well buy them and knock 90 off with avios.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a cheaper way to do it? What about through Dublin with Aer Lingus?
No sure if this a goer, but how about using your Avios for the accommodation rather than the flight? Then pay cash for a Virgin, United or Thomas Cook (there may be others) direct flight.
Using Avios for economy flights is generally very poor value. As you have seen, it's often cheaper to buy a cash flight rather than pay the taxes.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 550
It depends on your budget, but a return from MAN-JFK in W can be quite competitive, often cheaper than from LHR. You could then use your avios to upgrade to Club World. Or a Y flight out to JFK and then a W return, again, upgrading your inbound to Club World.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
Alternatively, you could easily get something really nice in Manhattan for 200k avios for 4 nights.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 24
I assume your are looking to book flights in Economy?
No sure if this a goer, but how about using your Avios for the accommodation rather than the flight? Then pay cash for a Virgin, United or Thomas Cook (there may be others) direct flight.
Using Avios for economy flights is generally very poor value. As you have seen, it's often cheaper to buy a cash flight rather than pay the taxes.
No sure if this a goer, but how about using your Avios for the accommodation rather than the flight? Then pay cash for a Virgin, United or Thomas Cook (there may be others) direct flight.
Using Avios for economy flights is generally very poor value. As you have seen, it's often cheaper to buy a cash flight rather than pay the taxes.
It depends on your budget, but a return from MAN-JFK in W can be quite competitive, often cheaper than from LHR. You could then use your avios to upgrade to Club World. Or a Y flight out to JFK and then a W return, again, upgrading your inbound to Club World.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
Alternatively, if you want the absolute lowest cost option, your avios could book you some really decent accommodation in Manhattan. While you wouldn't be realising the best value/avios, its a way to certainly bring the cost of the trip right down.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,585
#13
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,556
No, there used to be direct flights from the regions. The last long haul was MAN-JFK which finished about 10 years ago. There are a few short haul flights during the summer at the weekends, but they seem to be being scaled back.
#15
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,556
No, the AA flight has gone. They've left it to Virgin / UA /TCX and PK (I think!).