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Avios or Destination Miles for transatlantic upgrades?

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Hello,

MSE noob, so please be gentle. . .

Thinking about taking the family away to DisneyWorld/Land (whichever is the one in California) for a treat next year and have heard about airmiles/Avios points being used to get flight upgrades to business class.

Currently we do all our spending on a Tesco card which we pay off in full each month. I understand that we can convert some Tesco points to Avios, but would we be better off getting one of the BA Amex cards instead? If so, which is the best one to get?

Also, can these points definitely be used to upgrade? We'd rather buy the flights and spend the points on upgrading to comfortable seats than use them to get free economy tickets. I've seen a BA Amex card which has Destination Miles on it but when clicking through the "what you can get" link it all becomes a bit unintelligible _pale_ and I'm worried that we'll accrue points that won't be of any use to us.

We're not frequent flyers by any means, but can easily spend the amounts suggested on the forums to qualify for the card freebies.

I'd be grateful for any advice, especially if it turns out that I've got this all wrong!

Comments

  • Ben8282
    Ben8282 Posts: 4,821 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Newshound!
    edited 31 March 2012 at 9:03PM
    I assume you do realise that business class upgrades for you and your whole family on a flight to California will require a very substantial amount of purchase spending in addition to your weekly shop at Tesco. Beyond that, there is nothing wrong, as such, with your idea but there are many potential pitfalls and complications.

    Check the Avios website to determine if upgrade only is possible and the number of points required. Check the reward rate of the card you intend to use. I imagine (although I don't know for sure) that you will have to buy the original tickets through Avios in order for Avios to be able to upgrade them. Also consider that many of the lowest fares may be, by their own terms and conditions, non-upgradable.

    If upgrade only is not possible, obvious solution would be to use the Avios to get business class tickets for part of your group and buy business class tickets for the others.

    The BA Amex card offers Avios, not destination miles.

    I have never heard of Destination Miles. Googling the term, I think it is a BMI frequent flyer scheme. I can find mention only of a BMI card issued by MBNA, which seems to be like the Lloyds/TSB avios duo but with an Amex and a Visa credit card rather than an Amex and a Mastercard.
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