To spend or to save avios?
Mar 14, 23, 12:22 pm
#31
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 9,850
I am keeping a few Avios around for "just in case" moments. My parents are getting older (aren't we all?) and you never know when you might need to make "that" flight back to the UK.
Apart from that, I have just redeemed some for IB flights from DFW to MAD which set me back 125k Avios plus $253.60 for the two of us in business. Another 135k plus a GUF and $900 went on a one-way LHR - LAS flight in Club World and we've used a couple of other GUFs on flights from MAD - NCL and NCL - ARN later in the year as well. However, we also cancelled some QR flights so that saw the balance increase by 364k so neither my wife nor I are "Avios poor" at the moment.
As others have said, they are good value for last-minute flights when cash prices are high but I also find them very useful for domestic flights here in the US where the cash component on a redemption booking is barely a few dollars. The RFS prices for UK flights where the cash component is a mere $2 per person is equally good value in my view.
Apart from that, I have just redeemed some for IB flights from DFW to MAD which set me back 125k Avios plus $253.60 for the two of us in business. Another 135k plus a GUF and $900 went on a one-way LHR - LAS flight in Club World and we've used a couple of other GUFs on flights from MAD - NCL and NCL - ARN later in the year as well. However, we also cancelled some QR flights so that saw the balance increase by 364k so neither my wife nor I are "Avios poor" at the moment.
As others have said, they are good value for last-minute flights when cash prices are high but I also find them very useful for domestic flights here in the US where the cash component on a redemption booking is barely a few dollars. The RFS prices for UK flights where the cash component is a mere $2 per person is equally good value in my view.
Mar 14, 23, 12:28 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bath, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 999
I don't maintain a large Avios balance. I think the most I've ever had is about 150k. Currently am down to 35k. I tend to use them in what is considered by most the least cost-effective way possible - to discount revenue fares! I am usually chasing TP so 2-4-1 and normal redemptions are of no use to me as I use the Avios I earn from my paid-for flights to knock a few bob off the next flight.
I genuinely wish I could gift my 2-4-1 vouchers away so someone else could benefit from them.
I genuinely wish I could gift my 2-4-1 vouchers away so someone else could benefit from them.
Mar 15, 23, 4:52 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,156
It's certainly possible to get more than 3p per avios, but if you're achieving 3p average while also getting 10p per avios on occasion, you must be getting significantly less than 3p as well from other bookings.
I'd say that, no matter how good some opportunities might be, you don't want to be investing in avios based on future appreciation - you want to be spending them at a decent rate and holding actual cash. If the floor value is more than 3p/avios, you're not likely to have time to spend the avios you earn. Basically, if you see a value of 2p/avios, you might be justified in thinking "You know what, I need more avios, I'll spend cash instead" but above 3p, I just don't think those opportunities will ever come along often enough to justify adding to your balance without spending.
I'd say that, no matter how good some opportunities might be, you don't want to be investing in avios based on future appreciation - you want to be spending them at a decent rate and holding actual cash. If the floor value is more than 3p/avios, you're not likely to have time to spend the avios you earn. Basically, if you see a value of 2p/avios, you might be justified in thinking "You know what, I need more avios, I'll spend cash instead" but above 3p, I just don't think those opportunities will ever come along often enough to justify adding to your balance without spending.
Mar 15, 23, 11:20 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,031
