vik123

Hi, sorry I know this has probably been asked a bunch of times. I have some points accumulated and but I am a complete novice when it comes to maximizing them. I looked at the sticky but there is a lot of information and I need to book this last minute.

I am looking for a flight from YYZ to AMD around second week of January and returning around second week of February. I have about 35000 Avios points along with about 50000 Aeroplan points. A family member also has about 25000 Aeroplan points. I was thinking of posting this in the Aeroplan forum as well but I am not sure if I should cross-post.

I tried looking for flights through British Airways but it said there is nothing available all the way to AMD. I then looked for a flight to LHR, but the taxes along with all of my Avios points was almost $900.

It's similar with Aeroplan. It would be about 100000 points along with almost $700.

Is this because I am not looking far enough in advance? Sorry again, I am sure this has been asked. I am going through the sticky but thought I would ask as well because time is running out. Any help would be appreciated.

stewardo

I don't think BA fly to Ahmedabad on their own aircraft.

Perhaps try booking a cash ticket Toronto to Delhi? You could then use the avios points to reduce the cost of that, and with the money saved buy a local flight onwards.

highpeaklad

Cymro

Wouldn't be surprised if the OP means AMS - Amsterdam (rather than Ahmedabad)... but it's just about plausible that (s)he does mean that! Could you clarify for us OP?

vik123

Thank you for the advice everybody.

stewardo, sorry I am not sure what you mean by booking cash ticket and then using Avios to reduce the cost. Can you elaborate?

highpeaklad, is long haul economy a poor use because of the taxes charged? Also, can you elaborate what you mean by 2 one way redemptions?

Cymro, I did mean Ahmedabad lol. Sorry I don't really know much about using points. I don't know if it is stupid to use points for such a flight.

One other thing I forgot to ask, is part of the reason because I don't have a lot of points? Would having say, 100000 points help in finding better flights and maximizing the value of the points?

Thank you again.

stewardo

This is when you book a regular ticket at BA.com while logged into your executive club account. At the payment stage you will be given the option to exchange various numbers of avios for a reduction in the ticket cost. It starts at 2000 avios for £20 and goes up.

There is an article summarising it all here.