Is this a good reward redemption?
 

I realize that this is completely subjective but wanting to redeem 3 coach tickets from Houston to curaçao using 105,000 avios miles. The flights would cost around $1700 but I would spend $300 plus the miles including taxes. This gives me a return of 1.63 cents. Is this a smart value to Use?

Thanks /- don't flame me out I just want to make sure I'm not better in getting a return.

Yes, it's a pretty good redemption. 1.33 cents per mile isn't the best ever, but it's certainly not the worst I've seen. Churn and burn.

Like you say, subjective so tough to call.

Avios are best for short hops eg Toronto and Bermuda from NYC are only 9K each RT in coach... I used that for Toronto a week ago.

But I just dropped 95K each one way on Cathay from Colombo to JFK in Business, because I needed to get the return leg of my trip and I had a lot of miles.

EDIT - just by looking at google maps you would probably be able to pick up a similar 9K RT to Mexico, Belize or Cayman (pure guesswork here using my thumb on the PC screen, which is actually a 42inch TV and I am on the couch... might be a lot more value if you went to those places instead.

Man thanks for the fast responses.

I just needed a secondary response to validate if this was good or bad.
I know it's totally subjective but wanted to make sure it wasn't a total waste of avios - especially since I don't live in an AA hub.

Thanks again

LOL, I was looking for curacao tickets on ba.com today. Nothing for Spring Break.:(

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The taxes seem high. Is BA assessing the U.S. International departure and arrival taxes on this redemption? If so, that is improper, and you can save about $33 per roundtrip if you can get those taxes refunded. Call BAEC, and if you do not get satisfaction, complain to the I.R.S. Those particular taxes are not due on "free" award tickets, i.e., those for which no fuel surcharge is assessed.

I was actually going to ask about those taxes -- it comes out to over $300 for 3 people and I'm using AA from iah to Mia to cur and same way back. I figured I would be looking at $5 per ticket since I'm using American. Should I call BA and see why they are charging those taxes? What should I be looking at

Thanks in advance -- my 4 year old is going crazy about going to the beach -- and luckily I'm not talking about Galveston

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You can do a test booking at ba.com, and click on the "i" icon near taxes and fees. If the breakdown includes the U.S. departure and arrival taxes ($16.70 each, I think), then yes, call BAEC and ask for the taxes to be re-calculated. Remind the agent that there are no fuel surcharges on these awards, and that they are therefore exempt from certain U.S. taxes. The BA rate/tariff desk should understand this, even if the reservations agent does not.

These are the taxes per person -- I'm guessing I should call BA about the $16.70 but is there anything else that looks suspicious. Thanks again.


Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA. USD16.70 USD16.70
Immigration User Fee - USA. USD7.00 USD7.00
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA. USD5.00 USD5.00
Embarkation Tax - Netherland Antilles. USD32.00 USD32.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA. USD7.50 USD7.50
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA. USD16.70 USD16.70
Customs User Fee - USA. USD5.50 USD5.50
Passenger Facility Charge. USD12.00 USD12.00
Total government, authority and airport charges* USD102.40 USD102.40
More information
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I believe Bermuda is 15K out of NYC.

Sbm12's travel tools are very useful for Avios calculations: http://www.wandr.me/Avios-Calculator.aspx

Well, well, you are quite right. Still a bargain, but certainly not what I thought. Thanks.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

It's possible that one or two other (small) U.S.A. taxes/fees should not be assessed on a "free" award ticket, but the two $16.70 charges definitely should not. A call to BA would be in order, as reversing those $16.70 charges alone would save you $100 over three award tickets.

guv1976 - wow! Your knowledge of the taxes is great, and thanks for sharing. Taxes was something I thought could never be wrong or debatable.

Learn something new everyday!

Search for your itinerary on ita software and you'll get a breakdown of taxes.