Using BA Avios on partner airlines

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holidaysforme
holidaysforme Posts: 1,786 Forumite
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in Overseas holidays & travel planning
Planning a trip to Thailand june/July 2019, when my daughter finishes her A levels.looking at the taxes BA charge, I could buy a cash ticket for not
much more!

Are there any partner airlines I could use BA Avios on to fly to Thailand., and where the taxes are lower. Don't mind if I have to start my journey from outside of the Uk. In fact, I Wouldn't mind a couple of nights in Madrid or Amsterdam, to start my holiday.

I can see a list of one world partners, but don't know how to search for award availability.


Thanks
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  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
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    You search in the same way on BA.com, just put the different journey in as the search.

    BA are just collecting fees and taxes for the airport and government.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • blindman
    blindman Posts: 5,659 Forumite
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    edited 7 January 2018 at 12:43PM
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    holidaysforme wrote: »
    Planning a trip to Thailand june/July 2019, when my daughter finishes her A levels.looking at the taxes BA charge, I could buy a cash ticket for not
    much more!

    Are there any partner airlines I could use BA Avios on to fly to Thailand., and where the taxes are lower. Don't mind if I have to start my journey from outside of the Uk. In fact, I Wouldn't mind a couple of nights in Madrid or Amsterdam, to start my holiday.

    I can see a list of one world partners, but don't know how to search for award availability.


    Thanks

    Ex_Eu tends to work cheaper for Business class seats and not economy.

    Google flights
    or
    IT Matrix can be used to price up flights from various airports.

    For Avios just search as normal but put in the airport as say AMS or DUB and see what comes up.

    I also think that Inverness is now a cheap departure point.

    Look at HeadforPoints for anything AVIOS

    Qatar should be releasing sale fares soon and they get from (say) ARN to BKK in business for a decent price
  • dj1471
    dj1471 Posts: 1,968 Forumite
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    Long haul economy is not a good use of Avios as you've found.

    If you're looking for direct flights from Europe your options are limited, Finnair from Helsinki is probably the best choice.

    If you're willing to connect there will be options with Qatar and Malaysia, but Avios prices won't be favourable compared to cash prices.
  • holidaysforme
    holidaysforme Posts: 1,786 Forumite
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    Thanks all. We have enough for business one way if there is availability.
    I've plugged in several dates to see what availability is like. Ams to Bangkok, Helsinki to Bangkok, but there are no direct flights available with any of the airlines that come up. They either stop in Honk Kong or Doha.
    Might consider buying a cash flight and upgrading with Avios instead.
  • dj1471
    dj1471 Posts: 1,968 Forumite
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    holidaysforme wrote: »
    I've plugged in several dates to see what availability is like.
    BA only release reward flights around 355 days before departure, so you're too soon for June 2019. I'm not sure about partner airlines.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,459 Forumite
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    richardw wrote: »
    BA are just collecting fees and taxes for the airport and government.

    If only that were true! Its certainly what BA want you to think though.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,459 Forumite
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    holidaysforme wrote: »
    Thanks all. We have enough for business one way if there is availability.
    I've plugged in several dates to see what availability is like. Ams to Bangkok, Helsinki to Bangkok, but there are no direct flights available with any of the airlines that come up. They either stop in Honk Kong or Doha.
    Might consider buying a cash flight and upgrading with Avios instead.

    Have you considered getting a BAPP Amex card? If comes with an annual fee of £195, but when you spend £10000 you get a two for one voucher, which makes Club World great value.

    BA have cheaper Avios fares on off peak dates. No off peak redemptions on One World partners.

    And check out https://www.headforpoints.com

    Loads of great info on there
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
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    Nick_C wrote: »
    If only that were true! Its certainly what BA want you to think though.

    What’s happening then?
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • BorisThomson
    BorisThomson Posts: 1,721 Forumite
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    richardw wrote: »
    What’s happening then?

    BA YQ (fuel surcharge) on a business class ticket is c. £300. That goes to no one but BA!
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,459 Forumite
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    richardw wrote: »
    What’s happening then?

    An example from Head for points;

    "... if you try to book an Iberia Madrid to New York flight on ba.com using BA Avios, it will charge you £368 of taxes! This is for the SAME Iberia flight which costs only £159 of tax on iberia.com using Iberia Avios."
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