In the last few days we’ve seen a huge change in balance between American Express Membership Reward points and British Airways Avios. First, transfers went from 1.25 AMEX to 1 BA Avios to 1:1. Now AMEX is offering a 40% transfer bonus through September 17, 2017. In other words, you get 75% more Avios for your AMEX points this week over last week. I’m suspicious.
Make no mistake, this is good news. Tiffany wisely lays outs why you should think carefully before transferring points, but hopefully you can take advantage of some of the sweet spots in the British Airways Avios award chart during this promotion.
As a reminder, I lay out my top five redemptions here. I should add that shorthaul redemptions in Asia and Australia also tend to be extremely lucrative, but that’s the key: shorthaul.
Just remember that the distance-based award chart becomes progressively punitive for premium cabin redemptions:
| Zone // Flight Distance | Economy Off Peak // Peak |
Premium Economy Off Peak // Peak |
Business Off Peak // Peak |
First Off Peak // Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 1-650 miles |
4,000 // 4,500 | 5,750 // 6,750 | 7,750 // 9,000 | 15,500 // 18,000 |
| Zone 2 651-1150 miles |
6,500 // 7,500 | 9,500 // 11,250 | 12,750 // 15,000 | 25,500 // 30,000 |
| Zone 3 1151-2000 miles |
8,500 // 10,000 | 12,750 // 15,000 | 17,000 // 20,000 | 34,000 // 40,000 |
| Zone 4 2001-3000 miles |
10,000 // 12,500 | 20,000 // 25,000 | 31,250 // 37,500 | 42,500 // 50,000 |
| Zone 5 3001-4000 miles |
13,000 // 20,000 | 26,000 // 40,000 | 50,000 // 60,000 | 68,000 // 80,000 |
| Zone 6 4001-5500 miles |
16,250 // 25,000 | 32,500 // 50,000 | 62,500 // 75,000 | 85,000 // 100,000 |
| Zone 7 5501-6500 miles |
19,500 // 30,000 | 39,000 // 60,000 | 75,000 // 90,000 | 102,000 // 120,000 |
| Zone 8 6501-7000 miles |
22,750 // 35,000 | 45,500 // 70,000 | 87,500 // 105,000 | 119,000 // 140,000 |
| Zone 9 7001+ miles |
32,50 // 50,000 | 65,000 // 100,000 | 125,000 // 150,000 | 170,000 // 200,000 |
For most longhaul premium cabins redemptions, there are other and better programs, especially if you have flexible points currency like American Express or Starwood. Remember that all partner airlines (non-BA) are always charged the peak price.
But I’m suspicious.
We know that the many different Avios programs will eventually be merged into a single program. We know that is supposed to happen some time this year.
I have a feeling this promotion is the swan song: the calm before the coming storm. While I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong, the last British Airways devaluation was significant. Incredibly significant.
Virgin Atlantic has eliminated nearly all the sweet spots in its loyalty program and I expect British Airways to follow.
Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised. United’s autumn devaluation will not be nearly as bad as I feared. Maybe we’ll be similarly fortunate with BA.
But heed this warning: do not make speculative transfers into your Avios account. Try to only transfer in what you can book immediately or at least in the next few weeks.
I say this for your own protection. If I am wrong, I’ll take the blame, but if I am right you will thank me later. No speculative transfers for me.
lots of the natural scenery fun in Greenland lies inside those deep ice caves unspoiled by human activity – I’d say go for it if you can find a way to safely carry an infant inside those ice caves with you.
*sorry that was meant for your other post about choosing between the flight itineraries, not about the BA Avios one.
I agree this has the feel of an impending devaluation.
Would be really dirty pool, but that’s SOP from BA.