How do I best spend 200,000 Avios?

colgor

I've built these points up over the years, well 170,000+ and an option of transferring in 30,000+ or using them on Amazon vouchers instead.

I find the whole scheme quite confusing and whilst I know deals change all the time would like some advice/tips on what might be good options. BA when I ring them keep banging on about business class being cheap but think this might be just up selling.

Travelling from Manchester but would connect via London as might be necessary.

Very flexible. Would be travelling as a couple, can do non-peak periods, and open to beach holidays in Europe, weekend breaks, New York etc for a week, any time of the year..

Willing to use avios (BA Executive Club) alone + taxes or add cash. I simply want value for money be it for one dream holiday or a few shorter or European trips.

I know guess folk will have different ideas but based on your experience and knowledge of the scheme what might be good ideas on types of trip/places and tips on nice holidays but getting the best possible value from the points I have accumulated over many years.

Many thanks
Colin

Voyager2002

There are two good-value ways to use Avios:


Firstly, reward savers within Europe: you can buy a flexible return air ticket for a modest number of Avios and 35 pounds. There are any number of wonderful destinations within Europe. Since the distances are relatively short, economy class is bearable for the couple of hours you will spend on the 'plane.


Secondly, upgrades on long-haul flights. This means that you look for good-value fares in Premium Economy, and then use Avios to upgrade to Business class. The advantage is that you get a proper bed for your journey, and so arrive refreshed, ready to begin your holiday. Of course, if your finances are healthy you can buy business class tickets and then use Avios to upgrade to first class. It is also possible to buy flexible economy tickets and then upgrade to premium economy, but this is complicated and there is quite a lot to go wrong.

While it is possible to use Avios to pay for long-haul economy tickets, you still have to pay cash for fees and taxes, and often this means spending as much cash as buying the tickets would cost and still using lots of Avios!

colgor

Many thanks Voyager2002. It looks look a few trips into Europe is more likely to be sensible and once flights are sorted book hotels separately. There might be limitations on flying from a regional airport such as Manchester. I'm thinking there also seems to be limited availability. Think I'll convert my 30.000 to Amazon vouchers and look to figure ways to use the 170,000 over time.

budgetflyer

I would suggest getting the BA Amex. You will get a bonus 25k avios on 3k spend and then a 2 41 voucher when you spend 10k. This would effectively live you a spending power of up 470000 Avios.

theonlywayisup

Get yourself over to Head For Points. Read their University series on Avios to get an idea of what's achievable.

We use 2-4-1 as mentioned in the post above and fly F or J long haul several times a year purely for the cost of the taxes. Have a play with this tool https://www.baredemptionfinder.com to find reward flights.

theonlywayisup

Voyager2002 wrote: »

While it is possible to use Avios to pay for long-haul tickets, you still have to pay cash for fees and taxes, and often this means spending as much cash as buying the tickets would cost and still using lots of Avios!

It's very possible to use Avios for long haul.

Our last First class flight to St Lucia was just less than £500 each in taxes and using a 2-4-1 50k in Avios each in peak season (would have been 42.5k off peak). The cheapest revenue ticket was a shade under £6000.

Voyager2002

colgor wrote: »

Many thanks Voyager2002. It looks look a few trips into Europe is more likely to be sensible and once flights are sorted book hotels separately. There might be limitations on flying from a regional airport such as Manchester. I'm thinking there also seems to be limited availability. Think I'll convert my 30.000 to Amazon vouchers and look to figure ways to use the 170,000 over time.

Yes: if you need a connecting flight to get to Heathrow (as you do for most flights from Manchester) then that is charged as a European flight, so if you are going somewhere in Europe that doubles the cost! Well worth exploring alternative ways to get to Heathrow.

Remember that you are allowed to transfer Avios to friends, and those friends might be pleased to show their appreciation with gifts or cash. Some people sell them on Ebay (and people like me sometimes buy there).

steve1500

We have used them for RFS during the Summer Holidays - absolute no brainer, even with LGW being a four hour drive. suitcases included covers off the petrol alone.


Look at flying out of Dublin with Aer Lingus the fees / taxes are a lot less

k3lvc

Don't rule out using them for hotels rather than flights - I've used freqeuently for London trips from oop north and in European destinations where I've either driven or flown with other airlines

blindman

colgor wrote: »

I've built these points up over the years, well 170,000+ and an option of transferring in 30,000+ or using them on Amazon vouchers instead.

I find the whole scheme quite confusing and whilst I know deals change all the time would like some advice/tips on what might be good options. BA when I ring them keep banging on about business class being cheap but think this might be just up selling.

Travelling from Manchester but would connect via London as might be necessary.

Very flexible. Would be travelling as a couple, can do non-peak periods, and open to beach holidays in Europe, weekend breaks, New York etc for a week, any time of the year..

Willing to use avios (BA Executive Club) alone + taxes or add cash. I simply want value for money be it for one dream holiday or a few shorter or European trips.

I know guess folk will have different ideas but based on your experience and knowledge of the scheme what might be good ideas on types of trip/places and tips on nice holidays but getting the best possible value from the points I have accumulated over many years.

Many thanks
Colin

As has been mentioned look a Headfor points Avios University


One thing that has been missed here.


AVIOS can be spent on lots of Airlines other than BA:cool:


And TBHO this is where their value can be increased.


If you fly from Madrid with IBeria then the taxes are a LOT less than flying with BA.


They have some good routes to South America.


Use an RFS ( as mentioned) to get LHR to Mad and back.


BTW
Book RFS as one ways as this can be cheaper than £35 as some taxes FROM ex UK are not £17.50



Please do NOT waste them on Amazon or Hotels:eek:

theonlywayisup

blindman wrote: »

If you fly from Madrid with IBeria then the taxes are a LOT less than flying with BA.

A good point, although it's not a case of Iberia being cheaper it's that flights from outside the UK are [mostly] cheaper due to the taxes/charges imposed here.