Avios Points Boosting guide discussion

jackieblack

For various reasons apparently - they're tested when they're received and you only get points for cartridges that 'pass the test'
I've had many rejected over the years

Bluebirdnick

credit_crunch wrote: »

Hi I ill be spent ding approx £5k on a new kitchen soon & thought I should pay for it on a card to not only claim avios but for added buyer protection.
I have the cash to pay but would like to collect avios as its not often I spend large amounts.
What card would be best to maximise avios collected?
Thanks

Probably too late now, but you used to get a big pile of clubcard points if you order a tesco kitchen. Looks like it's changed (I think it was 40,000 points with any kitchen) and is now just 1 point per £1 spent on kitchens up to £5k, but 10,000 points for spending between £5k and £10k. 10,000 clubcard points = 24,000 avios, on top of whatever you are able to get through using your credit card.

Obviously this should not influence the kitchen you actually buy. For example, an IKEA kitchen would likely be considerably cheaper even taking in to account the value of the avios (and still good quality, despite the complaints of fitters who don't like the lack of service voids).

Frequentflyer2

It is possible to combine BA points shopping via their website (for flights or anything else where the retailers have signed up)and cashback if you use Shopper Discounts and Rewards (google it and look for the .co.uk site not the US .com site - sorry, could not post a link here). This is a cashback site with a fee of £120 a year, but they give you a £10 voucher for a store of your choice each month - so provided you use it for regular spending (in my case pet supplies with a free delivery supplier) it is free.

The important point is that you can download a "savings key" which allows you to click on an icon that appears whenever you go to a participating retailers site, and which bags your discount for you - without needing to go through the cashback website. So you would go the BA site via the browser where you have downloaded the "Savings key", click on the discount icon to get a 10% cashback, then complete the transaction on the BA website. Result: Avios and purchases and for most participating retailers, 10% cashback.

lfc84

shopper discounts and rewards is a con

Frequentflyer2

Want to elaborate on Shopper Discounts and Rewards? They had paid my cashback cheques since I joined a few months ago. The only gripes I had (which I gave to them) is that 1) there is a limit of £100 back per month and 2) some retailers do not refund the VAT amount. This is not at all clear from the site. But, like I said, if you make sure you recover the fee with the vouchers, its all free money.

lynnejk

Just thought you might like to know that Avios is super if you want to fly into one place and then out of another but there can be problems with their online site which makes you think you can not do it, but if you phone the sales line they will do it for you without any problems.

In March I booked flights from Edinburgh to Marrakesh for 2 and then flights from Malaga to Edinburgh for 2 for a total cost of £120 and free baggage !!

This is for holiday in January/February 2014 and all/any dates were available

matt4906

for the sceptics out there, it really does work, using tesco points,BA premium amex card, top cashback and other things shared on this site we've so far enjoyed over £90,000 worth of "free flights" having just done LHR -LAX and SFO - LHR in 1st, £18000 trip !! have faith and save those AVIOS:beer::beer:

Bluebirdnick

budgetflyer wrote: »

Take the £60. Buy used hp or canon ink cartridges off ebay. Tesco recycling give you 100 club card points (240 Avios) per cartridge. You can recycle 100 per year, Jan to Dec.
Total cost for 100 is around £90 inc postage. Pretty good for 24000 Avios

Quick question on this again.

I have checked my cartridges - incredibly, they seem to qualify for 100 points each, which is great news. Getting hold of the bags has been tougher though - I ordered some weeks ago, but have received nothing.

I did find some in my local tesco, but I might have a problem. The small print says that I can use the bags until 8 April 2012.

Has anyone else come across this, and do you know if they will accept the cartridges I send in these bags anyway?

Thanks!

stoneman

Bluebirdnick wrote: »

Quick question on this again.

I have checked my cartridges - incredibly, they seem to qualify for 100 points each, which is great news. Getting hold of the bags has been tougher though - I ordered some weeks ago, but have received nothing.

I did find some in my local tesco, but I might have a problem. The small print says that I can use the bags until 8 April 2012.

Has anyone else come across this, and do you know if they will accept the cartridges I send in these bags anyway?

Thanks!

You don't have to use the bags. I send mine off all in one box and pay for recorded delivery.
It's a hit and miss game on whether they get accepted or not. The cartridges are put through an electronic test, if it fails you don't get the points. I think on average over the years about 4-6 out of a hundred of mine get rejected.

StuieUK34

sorry to hijack,
but any ideas how to boost Virgin Airmiles, (without having a Virgin credit card!)
I got 16k, but wouldn't mind finding a way of boosting over the next year, just noticed I can earn points with the Tesco clubcard thingy...