In my case, they can transfer or be used for more valuable commodities, compared to the (relative) glut of BA and AA points/miles, and the related promos to obtain those at a substantial discount through other transfer partners.

I was very happy that my SPG points got us business class tickets to Rome last fall ^ I don't personally use them for hotel stays, but I will consider coupon connection.

Our travel dates are the first week of Sept. I would need 18K Avios to get to RT tickets.

If you do choose to transfer SPG (which I do not recommend, but they're your points), I would suggest LAN over BA. LAN LIM-CUZ r/t is 16K LAN kilometros, which is 8K SPG transferred at the 1:2 rate. The same on BA would be 9K SPG -> 9K BA.

But that's only as a last resort. I'd still look for ways to get BA miles more cheaply.

Chase BA Visa signup is 50K Avios on first purchase.

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"It is NOT $35 for my dates tho. One of the dates is $35, the other is not. So the total is at least $150 RT."

So how about buying the $35 one-way, and just using 6K AA miles or 4.5K BA Avios for the other way on LAN Peru (assuming you can find award-seat availability in that direction)?

That WOULD be the ideal plan ^ Obviously BA will book a OW award, so that is an excellent idea. ;)

Avios really has some clout flying in South America.

For example, a one-way flight between Lima and Buenos Aires or Iguassu Falls would be just 10,000 Avios (with no fuel surcharges), and a triangle between all 3 cities would be 27,500 Avios.

Thank you both for correcting me, that's good to know. Sorry ALadyNCal that the low fare is not available for you. :(

can somebody point me towards the main avios thread, if there is one? having trouble figuring it out, avios.com, is it for UK residents only?

If I use the AA miles, I have to pay a $25 phone fee. If I TRADE or EARN the Avios points I don't. But since I HAVE 12K AA miles, it probably isn't worth all the hassle of working out a trade to save the $25...? First I have to check BA.com for availability or call AA for availability -- I don't know how easy the awards are to get and we have little flexibility now that we've purchased the LAX-LIM.

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If you are interested in redeeming Avios held in a BA Executive Club (frequent-flyer-program) account, the FT BA Executive Club forum is the place to go.

I'll swap you 9,000 Avios for a week at your Maui condo. ;)

Are there low miles options for TACA?

They're supposed to be joining *A anyday ... haven't checked the redemption possibilities, but it'd be 10K each-way on UA and 25K rt on US + $50 phone booking fee.

I see fares available on StarPeru for my dates for $270 a/i (for 2 people).

I've got a similar booking made on LAN via Avios for 9,000 x 2.

If I've done the math right, I'm only getting 1.5 cents per Avios for LIM-CUZ. Isn't that mediocre? Worth canceling my LAN booking?

Not the greatest redemption, but I'd keep it. 1.5 is decent for BA unless you really need it for an international biz award somewhere.

1) It's saves $270. Cash in hand is cash saved.
2) You're flying LAN which is better than starperu IMHO