On the surface, the deal sounds great — 150 Avios per dollar spent to join a dating website. By maximizing the deal you can earn 82,285 miles for $548.57. No brainer, right? So why have I decided not to take part?
When I read Lucky’s post this morning, I was quite excited. This is undeniably an incredible deal for British Airways Avios. But then I sat down and tried to map out what I would use the points for.
This summer I want to take my wife and son to Israel. We’ll be in the south of Germany, which means we fly out of Basel, Switzerland. British Airways did have plenty of award space via London. Further, British Airways uses “real” business class from London to Tel Aviv.
But look at these prices–
Business Class:
First Class:
So reflecting the actual cost ($0.67) per per point, plus taxes, we are looking at $587.26 for one-way in business class or $671.01 for first class. Plus the infant ticket! Sure, it would be great to have access to the Concorde Room, a free spa treatment, and a nice lie-flat bed on a 4hr, 45min flight…but it is British Airways after all. I’m skeptical even that great price is worthwhile.
Ok, but what about the alternative? Won’t coach tickets be high during the summer?
Apparently not. And I can fly non-stop for $68. With a baby in tow, long London layovers are not ideal. 1/10 of the price for a non-stop flight in coach? Yeah, I’ll take it. I have lounge access anyway thanks to Priority Pass.
Ok, fine, that’s one trip…but how about others?
The thing is, although there are some great uses for these — like flying from Basel to London for 4.5K miles in economy ($30.15) or in business for 9K miles ($60.30) plus modest taxes/fees. Those are incredible deals…though BA is now essentially a low-cost carrier in Europe in economy.
And what about last-minute domestic trips in the USA? Surely 7.5K miles makes more sense than a $300 ticket.
Finally, there are still partners like Air Berlin and Aer Lingus without fuel surcharges on long-haul flights. That’s true, but I doubt Air Berlin will survive much longer and with Aer Lingus folding into IAG the days of no fuel surcharges are waning.
Asia? Say we are going to Asia: Los Angeles to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific is 105K Avios in business. Only 75K on American for the same ticket with free domestic connections and connections to anywhere in SE Asia. Los Angeles to Tokyo in first class is 100,000 Avios with in $31.30 taxes/fees compared to 75K Alaska miles and about $40 in taxes/fees.
I don’t know. ~$700 for a first class ticket is tough to beat. Now I’m talking myself in to it…
CONCLUSION
Well, I’ve got to be honest. I started this post ready to strongly argue why I am passing on this deal. Now I’m not so sure. Still, by the time I probably make up my mind the deal will have been pulled. At least I have peace about booking EasyJet to Israel…
It seems there is a problem with the offer at the moment: “Invalid Publisher Code, Offer, or Publisher – Advertiser Partnership Status”. However public offer page is still available. Messaged to BA, gonna see what they say.
Iberia hasn’t implemented BA-sized fuel surcharges, so I don’t think Aer Lingus doing so is a foregone conclusion. And on that note, premium economy and business class redemptions between the US and Europe on Iberia metal are some of the strongest uses of Avios — I just booked premium economy MAD-JFK for 25.5k Avios and ~$110 in taxes / fees per person.
For the person that only wants miles for long haul First, Avios are definitely not the first points currency you should be acquiring. But they have some fantastic short haul uses, and this is a quick, inexpensive way to load up.
My parents moved to Tampa a few years ago and I’ve been flying ORD-TPA quite a bit to visit. I usually buy the discounted first fares on AA/UA for somewhere between $550 to $700 r/t, That $525 for 73,000 Avios equates to almost 5 one ways in First on AA.
It’s not CX First class, but it’s a great score none the less
I fly DFW-XNa a lot. 7500 Avios +5.60 one way beats $417!!! I can get thousands of dollars worth of flights! And I’m single so a year of match aint bad.
I have plenty of Avios etc. The problem I do not use them and then the company behind the scheme reset them at the end of each year. So I gave up on them as I do not get anything out of the Avios or any other program. Easy to know where I stand. I do not need any carrot anymore