Avios points - what is the smart way of using them?

Raymond Lin · 21 Feb 2017 at 23:31

I have finally enough points for a return economy flight to Tokyo, but is that the smartest way to make the points go the furthest? I know many people on this forum travel a lot more than I do, how do you use your points? What is the best bang for buck so to speak.

Ta.

Tunney · 22 Feb 2017 at 00:44

Get an Avios American Express card. If you spend over a certain limit (quite high but I've seen your posts in the purchases thread

) you get a free companion voucher. It effectively doubles your points if you're going with a friend anyway.

OllyM · 22 Feb 2017 at 00:50

For a start, don't bother using them to book long haul economy flights. You still have to pay taxes and fees when you use them and these make up the bulk of economy fares so you get very little benefit.

In general it's only really worth redeeming Avios for short haul economy flights that qualify for Reward Flight Saver pricing (where the taxes and fees are capped) or long haul business/first class.

Shadowness · 22 Feb 2017 at 01:47

I generally use my Avios miles for experiences, or hotels.

We did a helicopter ride in NYC using avoid points, it would have cost over £300 on its own.

I'm planning a stay in London soon, 4 or 5 nights, which would be the equivalent of over £1000 too.

You can also spend it on booze too if that takes your fancy!

OllyM · 22 Feb 2017 at 02:00

Shadowness said:
I generally use my Avios miles for experiences, or hotels.

We did a helicopter ride in NYC using avoid points, it would have cost over £300 on its own.

I'm planning a stay in London soon, 4 or 5 nights, which would be the equivalent of over £1000 too.

You can also spend it on booze too if that takes your fancy!

How did you earn those Avios though? The hotel and other redemptions usually only get you a pretty awful 0.5-0.6p per Avios.

Shadowness · 22 Feb 2017 at 02:03

By sitting my arse on planes every other week! (I fly quite a bit)

Just seemed to be one of the better ways for me to spend them. Long haul flights can be good sometimes if you et the right route at off peak times, but as stated, you still pay quite a bit of taxes etc

OllyM · 22 Feb 2017 at 02:04

Ah, that's fair enough if they're earned from flying - I wondered if you were earning them from credit card spending in which case you'd just be better off with a regular cashback card.

Shadowness · 22 Feb 2017 at 02:06

Nope, only flying. Company lets us keep our miles, hence why the things we buy are considered 'free'. (although flying that much in economy all the time is a high cost if you ask me!

)

Diddums · 22 Feb 2017 at 07:36

A family friend came over to London last year. He kept banging on about his Avios and what he's going to do with them. He then took us on loads of attractions and touristy things with them, the highlight of which was a medieval banquet which was a great night out. I don't know what they are like for flights but for things like that they really seem to have good value.

House · 22 Feb 2017 at 08:19

I have tonnes of them and was discussing this at work the other day, always used to be best to buy a flight and then use the miles to upgrade it but thats become more and more difficult (long haul). Ive flown to Indonesia twice business by buying a premium economy seat and upgrading it to business with miles. These days our works travel policy of cheapest unflexable ticket means you can't upgrade work trips.

A colleague got a metric **** ton of wine with his when they were about to expire, his garage is full of boxes of not too bad wine, not sure its the most cost effective way of using them but hes happy and it was that or lose them.

Ekim · 22 Feb 2017 at 19:31

House said:
A colleague got a metric **** ton of wine with his when they were about to expire, his garage is full of boxes of not too bad wine, not sure its the most cost effective way of using them but hes happy and it was that or lose them.

Avios only expire if you don't earn any Avios points for like two years. All he would have had to do is earn another point and his points would have been fine. Still, free wine can't complain.

cyber69 · 22 Feb 2017 at 19:38

I've used my Avios points so far to get 2 bottles of gin and 3 bottles of Crystal head vodka.

House · 22 Feb 2017 at 20:47

Ekim said:
Avios only expire if you don't earn any Avios points for like two years. All he would have had to do is earn another point and his points would have been fine. Still, free wine can't complain.

I know, their roll changed at work and they stopped travelling,
I've got serious miles with Ba and Korean air as well as a few with Emirates and some others. depending on the project and the companies travel policy who we fly with changes allot, I salvaged my BA ones by putting tescos points towards them. I dont shop there much but a few points a year keeps my account valid. which puts me in the strange place of having a bronze card with them right now but over 500k miles. Used to have gold with BA and Korean. back in the day when they used to fly us business anywhere over 6 hrs.
I recently lost all my marriot points cause i forgot about them and let them expire, that was a week in a 4 star gaffs worth as well

My wife wouldnt stay in the JW in Jakarta, something to do with it being blown up twice.

Daaaavvveee · 22 Feb 2017 at 20:53

I have a Lloyds American Express card, if you spend £7500 in the year you get a free upgrade voucher.

Last time, I used my points to buy a return off peak Premium Economy site to Bermuda, then used the upgrade voucher to hit Business.

Hoping to do the same every 2 years, the upgrade vouchers only last a year from Lloyds, but you can earn one every year.

Raymond Lin · 22 Feb 2017 at 20:58

Daaaavvveee said:
I have a Lloyds American Express card, if you spend £7500 in the year you get a free upgrade voucher.

Last time, I used my points to buy a return off peak Premium Economy site to Bermuda, then used the upgrade voucher to hit Business.

Hoping to do the same every 2 years, the upgrade vouchers only last a year from Lloyds, but you can earn one every year.

I have BA American Express card, I can hit £7.5k on it easy enough, I spent £5k this month on 2 cameras, I put my fuel through it at £50-60 a pop it won't take long.

weringo · 22 Feb 2017 at 22:53

Long haul business/first gets the best £/point but only really carries decent value if you would have purchased the ticket anyway. Otherwise short haul Europe flights which qualify for Reward Flight Saver are good value - you can comfortably get 1p/point.

Amp34 · 23 Feb 2017 at 00:07

Diddums said:
A family friend came over to London last year. He kept banging on about his Avios and what he's going to do with them. He then took us on loads of attractions and touristy things with them, the highlight of which was a medieval banquet which was a great night out. I don't know what they are like for flights but for things like that they really seem to have good value.

The one in St Catharines Docks? That's a beefeater, which is why they end up with cheesy 80's disco music at the end of the night.

I have real trouble using avios, may as well just waste them on a couple of nights in a hotel or something as trying to book flights with them is a nightmare unless you're super flexible on where and when you want to go.

Diddums · 23 Feb 2017 at 07:22

Amp34 said:
The one in St Catharines Docks? That's a beefeater, which is why they end up with cheesy 80's disco music at the end of the night.

I have real trouble using avios, may as well just waste them on a couple of nights in a hotel or something as trying to book flights with them is a nightmare unless you're super flexible on where and when you want to go.

That's the one. The music didn't really bother us as we left shortly after it started, but yes, it's certainly not in keeping with the theme.