Avios rip-off

julian0852

Just tried to book a "free" flight (London-Bangkok return) for February 2018 using my AVIOS points. 39,000 avios points redeemed for the BA return seemed OK until I came to checkout - they wanted another £340 in taxes and charges!!! So much for FREE flights?
Looking at other similar flights with other airlines the going rate seems to be around £450 - £550 direct. Are these other airlines (Thai, Eva) really paying £340 for taxes and charges as well?
Also, I live in Birmingham so I would have to travel to Heathrow which will add another £120 to the trip (both ways) - making £460 total to go with Avios.
If I go from Birmingham to Bangkok via Dubai or Doha on Emirates or Qatar the whole trip costs £425.
************** FREE flights with AVIOS is a joke!!!!

blindman

julian0852 wrote: »

Just tried to book a "free" flight (London-Bangkok return) for February 2018 using my AVIOS points. 39,000 avios points redeemed for the BA return seemed OK until I came to checkout - they wanted another £340 in taxes and charges!!! So much for FREE flights?
Looking at other similar flights with other airlines the going rate seems to be around £450 - £550 direct. Are these other airlines (Thai, Eva) really paying £340 for taxes and charges as well?
Also, I live in Birmingham so I would have to travel to Heathrow which will add another £120 to the trip (both ways) - making £460 total to go with Avios.
If I go from Birmingham to Bangkok via Dubai or Doha on Emirates or Qatar the whole trip costs £425.
************** FREE flights with AVIOS is a joke!!!!

Hi

AVIOS for economy flights are -as you have found-useless, unless it's a last minute high value fare you are saving.
The AVIOS fare though is REFUNDABLE though, whilst the others to which you have compared are not.

TBHO they are best used for the BA Reward Flight Savers

Look at Headforpoints for some ideas as to how to spend\earn them

If you do need to get to Bangkok then the

If I go from Birmingham to Bangkok via Dubai or Doha on Emirates or Qatar the whole trip costs £425.

option will get you a decent airline in Economy (Qatar) AND earn you AVIOS

Voyager2002

See if you can get a reasonable BA fare in premium economy... then you can use the same number of Avios to upgrade to Club (business class), which is worthwhile.

Caz3121

I am unaware of any frequent flyer program that pays the taxes for you. Avios can be great if you use them correctly, long haul economy is not a good use unless cash prices are high or you want the flexibility to be able to cancel for refund (less £35) for a refundable economy cash ticket BA charge over £1900

steve1500

We use Avios via RFS.

Off to Crete in two weeks. Three of us including hold luggage 60K in Avios & £80 in fees.

You have to learn how to use them. AS already said HeadforPoints

jpsartre

Caz3121 wrote: »

I am unaware of any frequent flyer program that pays the taxes for you.

That may be true but what BA does is add the fuel surcharge to the required payment which is something many airlines do not. That said, I don't believe Avios flights are ever advertised as being free so the OP is starting his complaint from the wrong place. Avios redemptions are great value for some flights, terrible (and even negative) value for others. It's up to the customer to use them in the best way possible.