Avios discount

Chas_

Hi all

I've got some trips to the States planned from London this year and am looking at the discounts that can be claimed with Avios.

Based on the BA website low price finder these are the lowest priced BA flights for time of year:

£843 return - Apr 2015
£843 return - May 2015
£862 return - Jun 2015
£1160 return - Jul 2015
£843 return - Aug 2015
£843 return - Sep 2015
£644 return - Oct 2015
£642 return - Nov 2015
£642 return - Dec 2015
£763 return - Jan 2016
£763 return - Feb 2016

If you search the Avios.com site for Jul 2015 (most expensive) or Nov 2015 (least expensive) it always lists the following fixed discounts for my destination in the States:

50,000 Avios + £0 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges
40,000 Avios + £90 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges
32,500 Avios + £140 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges
25,000 Avios + £190 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges
20,000 Avios + £230 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges
15,000 Avios + £250 + plus taxes, fees and surcharges

A flight booked in July 2015 costs £797 plus £364.06 in taxes so 15,000 Avios points will save £547 and a flight booked in Nov 2015 costs £277 plus £364.06 in taxes so 15,000 Avios points will save £27.

Is that accurate?


Thanks

phatbear

The issue here is you are comparing two kinda different tickets however at face value they appear the same.

The prices on the ba website will be the cheapest possible seats which are non-changeable non-refundable however the tickets on avios are changable therefore these tickets have a premium attached to them.

By all accounts avios isnt best used for standalone fares they are far better used for upgrades

hxm

It's not really worth using avios for long-haul flights. Better to use them for several flights into Europe

phatbear

hxm wrote: »

It's not really worth using avios for long-haul flights. Better to use them for several flights into Europe

I agree if you only want to travel in economy but they are worth using for business and first class fights long haul

phatbear

For example 1st class to new york in nov with ba is £6747 or on avios 120000 miles and £515 or 60000 miles and £1315.

Chas_

Cheers, phatbear and hxm.

This is for business flights in economy for my own company so I'm only interested in the cheapest possible way to get there for the 6 or so flights that are planned this year, not how much I can save flying business or first class on one of the flights.

The BA site lists 3 types of economy flight, Flexible (Y, B, H) and 2 types of Lowest, Lowest 1 (K, L, M, N, S, V) and Lowest 2 (Q, O, G). Am I right in thinking the two types of Lowest flight types are non-changeable non-refundable?

When the new Avios rates start on 28 April 2015 Flexible will return 100% of miles, Lowest 1: 50% and Lowest 2: 25%

I'm not interested in Flexible economy only the Lowest 1 type, which only seems to be available on flights that are available in a couple of months or more. Flights in the next 2 months all seem to be Lowest 2 type.

I haven't setup a Creditcard to take advantage or started booking flights yet. If Avios isn't the best way to save money flying to the States what is?

Thanks

Caz3121

Chas_ wrote: »

This is for business flights in economy for my own company so I'm only interested in the cheapest possible way to get there for the 6 or so flights that are planned this year, not how much I can save flying business or first class on one of the flights.
The statement was related to the class you are looking to travel in not the purpose of the travel. Although travelling for business you are looking to book in economy which, for longhaul with a few exceptions (eg last minute or one-way booking) is poor value for miles

The BA site lists 3 types of economy flight, Flexible (Y, B, H) and 2 types of Lowest, Lowest 1 (K, L, M, N, S, V) and Lowest 2 (Q, O, G). Am I right in thinking the two types of Lowest flight types are non-changeable non-refundable?
These are cash fares codes you are looking at and you would need to see the fare rules but your generalisation is about right

When the new Avios rates start on 28 April 2015 Flexible will return 100% of miles, Lowest 1: 50% and Lowest 2: 25%
This is the Avios earning rate and not related to the number of miles required to redeem, the redemption miles will be split into Peak and non-Peak rates

I'm not interested in Flexible economy only the Lowest 1 type, which only seems to be available on flights that are available in a couple of months or more. Flights in the next 2 months all seem to be Lowest 2 type.

Different fare types will have different advance purchase rules and the lowest codes will have limited numbers and once they are gone they are gone

Chas_

Very nice summary, cheers Caz.