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CDG-LHR in cash or Avios?

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Old May 5, 2022, 7:32 am
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CDG-LHR in cash or Avios?

I think I need what Google Flights call economy plus, in addition to my OWS status, to get free seat selection and luggage? It's £124 for the round-trip fare. I think booking a Eurostar ticket will cost about the same now. So am I better off paying cash or using my Avios? I think it's around 18-19k for the round-trip with BA. Comments?
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:39 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
Comments?
What is your actual journey? Is it really CDG-LHR, or is it central Paris to central London?

If it's the latter, then choosing to fly is a bit like deliberately booking a connecting itinerary when you could take a non-stop flight: you might have a good reason for doing that, but you should make sure you know what your good reason is.
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:44 am
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I wouldn't be shelling out 18-19k avios for a ticket costing £124.

Your valuation of avios may differ from mine, but I'd consider that very bad value.
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:54 am
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Originally Posted by Globaliser
What is your actual journey? Is it really CDG-LHR, or is it central Paris to central London?

If it's the latter, then choosing to fly is a bit like deliberately booking a connecting itinerary when you could take a non-stop flight: you might have a good reason for doing that, but you should make sure you know what your good reason is.
It's Central Paris to Central London. I'm in the middle of trip planning, and I don't know if I should take the train or the plane.
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:56 am
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I would fly just because ....

But yes if you are going centre to centre, and subject to a reasonable rail fare being available, I think any sensible person would get the train.
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:57 am
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Train all day long.

Book Standard Premier if you can. The check in process at Paris is a bit slow as you have security and both sets of passport control (allow 1hr), but after that it's easy. Arrive in London, walk off the train and you're on Euston Road.
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Old May 5, 2022, 7:58 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
It's Central Paris to Central London. I'm in the middle of trip planning, and I don't know if I should take the train or the plane.
Then train, unless you have some really good reason for flying.
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Old May 5, 2022, 8:12 am
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Single Economy (includes luggage) would be 4750/5250 off peak/ peak each way. So 9500/10500 round trip.
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Old May 5, 2022, 8:48 am
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Originally Posted by KARFA
I would fly just because ....

But yes if you are going centre to centre, and subject to a reasonable rail fare being available, I think any sensible person would get the train.
Originally Posted by Globaliser
Then train, unless you have some really good reason for flying.
I'm leaning on the plane because of status and earning TPs. The Eurostar is also pretty good as well, and I've taken it before.
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Old May 5, 2022, 8:49 am
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Originally Posted by bluemoon68
Single Economy (includes luggage) would be 4750/5250 off peak/ peak each way. So 9500/10500 round trip.
Did I do so something wrong? I think I saw different rates from you
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Old May 5, 2022, 9:19 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
I'm leaning on the plane because of status and earning TPs.
If you are utterly desperate for those 10 TPs (5 TPs each way), then maybe that might be a good reason.

Your status benefits are worth practically nothing when compared to the pain of having to haul yourself out to CDG from central Paris and having to haul yourself from LHR into central London, let alone the unavoidable hassle of going through the airports themselves (check-in / bag drop lead times, walks through terminals, security, immigration, baggage reclaim).
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Old May 5, 2022, 9:42 am
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Depends how much Avios you have and whether you need it for anything else.

I used a Companion Voucher to fly from Belfast to London to watch England play in the Euro 2020 final in a pub because I had no other use for it... so it's completely down to personal circumstance.

For me, if a Domestic return flight from BHD > LHR is £200 or more I use Avios, if not I just pay cash.
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Old May 5, 2022, 10:00 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
Did I do so something wrong? I think I saw different rates from you
Economy Avios seats give you luggage and you can book your seats 24 hours beforehand, earlier if you have status.
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Old May 5, 2022, 10:05 am
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Originally Posted by JackDann
... to fly from Belfast to London ...
I don't think that Belfast to London is really comparable to the OP's situation, though. You can't stroll on to a train in central Belfast and then 2¼ hours later stroll off it in central London.
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Old May 5, 2022, 11:14 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
Did I do so something wrong? I think I saw different rates from you
Did you look at the £1 option rather than the middle option which is typically the best given a 1p Avios valuation.
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