Advice on Points Schemes please

zisoregondo

Hello,

VERY late to the party but I would like to make sure I'm optimising as much as possible...

I'd like to offset the cost of travel as much as possible by spending accrued 'points' - what is the most optimal way of achieving this? Within reason, I'm happy to divert a significant part (if not all) spending into a scheme that rewards me with useful points -any clues???

thanks in advance

Zee

richardw

zisoregondo wrote: »

.. useful points..

What's the biggest airline at your nearest airport?

blindman

zisoregondo wrote: »

Hello,

VERY late to the party but I would like to make sure I'm optimising as much as possible...

I'd like to offset the cost of travel as much as possible by spending accrued 'points' - what is the most optimal way of achieving this? Within reason, I'm happy to divert a significant part (if not all) spending into a scheme that rewards me with useful points -any clues???

thanks in advance

Zee

Are you talking Airline points or hotels points or both?

Headforpoints does a good comparison of all FF and Hotel schemes so a good place to start reading IMHO.

Just be aware nothing is "free" as there are "taxes" and other costs in these Free points

BTW
You never really need to fly to earn points as the best way is to churn Credit cards.

zisoregondo

I am located such that Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton are ok for me...

stevenhp1987

What airline rewards program you use will depend heavily on where you fly from/to and who you fly with - or who you want to fly with if you get a credit card, or use Tesco ClubCard points.

Different providers have differing pricing structures. I've found Virgin Flying Club a better deal than British Airways Executive Club - primarily because it's only 35,000 miles for a premium economy redemption return (plus ~ £450 charges) to the East Coast of USA. But, again, that's just me; Virgin has much less redemption opportunities so wouldn't work for everyone.

If you want to fly BA or have the BA Amex card, then BAEC would be the one for you!

zisoregondo

@blindman - I was referring to points which I can earn and then spend specifically to subsidize the cost of flights..

stevenhp1987

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/airline-credit-cards

You need a pretty much perfect credit record for these cards though.

richardw

zisoregondo wrote: »

I am located such that Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton are ok for me...

Which is nearest to you though? no point spending extra money going to Gatwick if Stansted is nearest to you.

zisoregondo

@Richardw I use public transport and live close enough to the right lines in Central London, that it's almost irrelevant.. It takes me about as much time to get to all three stations, with 1 change on public transport for each, so really it doesn't matter/.. I'm not being coy but the focus is on getting best bang for buck to discount the flights themselves

blindman

zisoregondo wrote: »

@blindman - I was referring to points which I can earn and then spend specifically to subsidize the cost of flights..

Then TBHO you will be disappointed unless you always fly Business class.

All these "free" flights incur some kind of "tax" and usually this is almost the cost of a regular ticket in economy.

Earning points by flying is (almost) pointless, as the returns for the cost of the flight are miniscule compared to credit card sign up bonuses.

Flying gets you status-though this is a variable that IMHO is not worth it.

If you are flying Long haul from UK then AVIOS maybe the best scheme due to the upgrades one can buy (WT+ to Business) and Reward Flight Savers (short Europe flights) one can buy with BA (£35 + avios)

Also AVIOS can be used overseas to book with partners (internal domestic flights) and at times these can be almost tax free :T

Virgin
At the moment they are severly restricted in destinations BUT they will be joined By AirFrance and KLM in the future which may open up the options.

Credit Cards
MBNA have just stopped a few of their Airline specific cards-See Headforpoints.

Amex Platinum or Gold is a good charge card to get

loobs40

Reward Flight savers with BA Executive Club are a good way to start. Apply for an Amex Preferred Charge Card and if you spend 3k in 3 months on it, you will get 20k avios. You should then be able to get return flights to Europe (some countries ) for £35 + 9000avios pp. That includes Hold luggage as well