Your guide to spending Avios | 2019 edition
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
#64
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 443
Looks like it will be J for me then!
#65
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
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In that case, if there is a J cash fare that you would have been happy to pay, then you might want to think about whether you might be better to pay the cash fare and earn the Avios (and TPs) from that, and use Avios for another trip when you can find award availability and you don't have to use the double Avios benefit. I doubt that there is a single answer that fits all, in these circumstances, but it is worth thinking through the alternative options before making a decision.
#66
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 443
Yes a cash fare is the best option I think.
I really wanted to go F but heyho we can't have everything
I really wanted to go F but heyho we can't have everything
#67
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South East England
Programs: Status with BA Exec Club; KrisFlyer; Hilton Honors; IHG One; Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 543
You can always ask about an AUP for cash at the airport on top of the redemption booking. Don’t get your hopes up but if you really want F there’s no harm in asking.
#68
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
Quick question please, I have a spreadsheet and have a formula for DATE-355 which shows the 11 Feb as being available. However, on the BA website bookings are only allowed up to the 10 Feb? Should I be thinking of this as released at midnight on the 10 Feb, i.e. 0001 on the 11th or have I missed something?
#69
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
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I think BA sells 355 days at once, including today.
Today being 21 February, there are 8 days of this month.
8+31+30+31+30+31+31+30+31+30+31+31=345 days, so BA will today be selling the first 10 days of February 2020 - as you have found.
Today being 21 February, there are 8 days of this month.
8+31+30+31+30+31+31+30+31+30+31+31=345 days, so BA will today be selling the first 10 days of February 2020 - as you have found.
#70
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
Thanks, just checking I haven't missed something for which night I need to stay awake!
#71
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: LHR-BHX
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 3
I've read through this thread over and over and followed many of the links to different guides, but I haven't found anywhere with tips/tricks on how to get around BA fees/taxes on redemptions from LHR. Is there a thread for this? The only reference I see is from the sticky below:
I am US based in UK, and the the majority of the reason i joined BAEC was to help with leisure travel for me and family back to the US. Seems I may have made a mistake if it's going to cost me over £1000 PLUS tons of avios to do this...I'm better off getting a cheap fare from United or somewhere.
Do the BA carrier fees apply if you book through other Oneworld alliances? How does one do this with Avios? Also, is there a way to fly from another airport (i.e. BHX) to bypass the LHR taxes? I've seen Aer Lingus takes Avios, and they do BHX-DUB-(US places), but not sure how to look into availability as those flights don't come up on BA's website.
With all redemptions tickets, you will be charged all applicable taxes. fees, and surcharges in addition to the Avios points used to fund the ticket. These extras do add up to a significant sum. When estimating the cash extras, the general rule of thumb is your Avios points are used in place of the equivalent net fare, and so the airport fees, government taxes, fuel surcharges are all assessed as extras and must be paid in cash when you book your redemption.
For example, it now costs over £650 in taxes/fees/charges to redeem Avios for a Club World round trip from London to New York, or over US$1,420 for a Club World round trip from New York to London.
For example, it now costs over £650 in taxes/fees/charges to redeem Avios for a Club World round trip from London to New York, or over US$1,420 for a Club World round trip from New York to London.
Do the BA carrier fees apply if you book through other Oneworld alliances? How does one do this with Avios? Also, is there a way to fly from another airport (i.e. BHX) to bypass the LHR taxes? I've seen Aer Lingus takes Avios, and they do BHX-DUB-(US places), but not sure how to look into availability as those flights don't come up on BA's website.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I am US based in UK, and the the majority of the reason i joined BAEC was to help with leisure travel for me and family back to the US. Seems I may have made a mistake if it's going to cost me over £1000 PLUS tons of avios to do this...I'm better off getting a cheap fare from United or somewhere.
You can reduce the amount of TFC payable by some methods. For example, starting your trip at INV can exempt you from paying the UK APD (which is a true tax). But if you're based in London, you may find that the extra costs of going to INV and back outweigh the saving.
Or you may find that redeeming for awards on other BAEC partners result in you paying less TFC: flying Aer Lingus from DUB, for example, is often given as an example. But then you give up the convenience of a non-stop trip from London. Others will have to advise on how to get EI trips to price on the BA website - you may have to do this sector by sector rather than asking the website for a through trip.
#73
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
I've read through this thread over and over and followed many of the links to different guides, but I haven't found anywhere with tips/tricks on how to get around BA fees/taxes on redemptions from LHR. Is there a thread for this? The only reference I see is from the sticky below:
I am US based in UK, and the the majority of the reason i joined BAEC was to help with leisure travel for me and family back to the US. Seems I may have made a mistake if it's going to cost me over £1000 PLUS tons of avios to do this...I'm better off getting a cheap fare from United or somewhere.
Do the BA carrier fees apply if you book through other Oneworld alliances? How does one do this with Avios? Also, is there a way to fly from another airport (i.e. BHX) to bypass the LHR taxes? I've seen Aer Lingus takes Avios, and they do BHX-DUB-(US places), but not sure how to look into availability as those flights don't come up on BA's website.
I am US based in UK, and the the majority of the reason i joined BAEC was to help with leisure travel for me and family back to the US. Seems I may have made a mistake if it's going to cost me over £1000 PLUS tons of avios to do this...I'm better off getting a cheap fare from United or somewhere.
Do the BA carrier fees apply if you book through other Oneworld alliances? How does one do this with Avios? Also, is there a way to fly from another airport (i.e. BHX) to bypass the LHR taxes? I've seen Aer Lingus takes Avios, and they do BHX-DUB-(US places), but not sure how to look into availability as those flights don't come up on BA's website.
Unfortunately yes that's the way it goes and other oneworld partners will cost just as much. EI is an option (ex-Ireland) for lower surcharges/taxes but best to call BA to book them.
#74
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: LHR-BHX
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 3
The airline doesn't promise that the award flights are free in a cash sense, and they're not.
Or you may find that redeeming for awards on other BAEC partners result in you paying less TFC: flying Aer Lingus from DUB, for example, is often given as an example. But then you give up the convenience of a non-stop trip from London. Others will have to advise on how to get EI trips to price on the BA website - you may have to do this sector by sector rather than asking the website for a through trip.
Thanks for the response!
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Upgrading using Avios (eg buy a World Traveller Plus ticket, perhaps during a sale, and upgrade to Club World) is still pretty good because you earn Avios and TPs for the underlying WT+ cash fare while still benefiting from the use of the Avios to secure perhaps the biggest step-up in comfort; starting from the UK, the additional TFC to pay on such an upgrade is still relatively modest.
Alternatively, making use of Amex companion (2-4-1) vouchers for pure redemptions in premium cabins: you still have to pay the TFC for both people, but it can make your Avios stretch significantly further. Or you could use them for a treat that would be beyond normal reach, such as flying in First.