The perfect methods to redeem British Airways Avios

British Airways is the most important full-service airline in the UK and flies to extra locations in the USA than another European provider.

The airline’s loyalty program is named Executive Club, with Avios as its foreign money. With a considerable U.S. route community, glorious airline companions and a loyalty foreign money that’s simple to earn and redeem, this program must be in your radar, even for those who aren’t touring to the U.Ok. In contrast to the foremost U.S. loyalty packages, Govt Membership doesn’t use dynamic pricing, although there are reductions for off-peak journey dates. Supplied there may be availability, you’ll all the time know what you will want to pay with no nasty surprises or 300,000-point flight redemptions.

Listed here are the most effective methods to redeem British Airways Avios.

Associated: 5 reasons why you should care about British Airways Avios

Quick-haul awards

Quick-haul tickets are arguably the most effective British Airways Avios redemptions. They begin at simply 4,750 Avios plus 17.50 British kilos (about $22) for an off-peak award flight 650 miles or much less in distance operated by British Airways. One instance could be a flight between London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

Since British Airways has a distance-based award chart and American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are Oneworld partners, you need to use Avios to e book any American or Alaska flight with saver-level award availability.

Companion awards, together with these operated by Cathay Pacific and Japan Airways, begin at 6,000 Avios however exclude flights inside North America. In the meantime, companion flights in North America begin at 7,500 Avios for flights 650 miles or much less and get dearer for longer flights.

Reserving short-haul flights with British Airways generally is a nice deal, even for those who’re reserving flights in North America on American or Alaska. A flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) clocks in at 733 miles, that means you want 9,000 Avios one-way in economic system class. That is usually cheaper than you will pay to e book the identical flight with American’s AAdvantage program.

Due to the British Airways Reward Flight Saver offer, Govt Membership members even have the choice to decide on to pay extra Avios to scale back the (already affordable) charges and taxes, down to simply 62 cents per flight.

Associated: How to book awards using British Airways Avios

Island-hop by the Caribbean

You should utilize Avios to fly American Airways to the Caribbean, ranging from simply 7,500 Avios every means, as talked about above. However here’s a neat trick to experiencing extra of the Caribbean as soon as you might be there.

Whereas flights between islands on this area could be costly, British Airways operates a number of fifth-freedom routes the place, for instance, a BA flight originating in London will fly from Antigua’s V.C. Hen Worldwide Airport (ANU) to St Kitt’s Robert L. Bradshaw Airport (SKB) a number of instances per week.

You’ll be able to e book simply the quick hop between the islands, and British Airways costs these quick flights in the identical means as its European short-haul flights. Utilizing the Reward Flight Saver offer, redemptions begin from simply 4,750 Avios every means plus 17.50 British kilos (about $22) on off-peak dates. Award availability is normally excellent on these fifth-freedom flights as many passengers disembark on the first cease, leaving loads of empty seats for the second, quick leg.

If you cannot resolve between two islands on this stunning a part of the world, think about using Avios to cheaply hop between each.

Associated: What it’s like flying British Airways for a 20-minute flight between Caribbean islands

Home enterprise class on American

Although American Airways names its home premium-class cabin “firstclass,” you’ll be able to redeem Avios for this product at business-level charges.

The true kicker is that American Airlines regularly flies internationally configured wide-body aircraft on domestic routes, together with 777s and 787s. For instance, AA’s flagship 777-300ER operates some flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA), a 1,089-mile journey. You would e book a business-class award on this flight for under 16,500 Avios, which is a good deal.

West Coast to Hawaii

Since we’re with regards to American Airways, one other candy spot you’ll discover with Avios is the power to fly from main West Coast cities to the Hawaiian Islands for simply 13,000 Avios every means, due to the Avios distance-based chart. That beats the award price for all of the U.S. airways, and there’s no close-in reserving charge both.

However on this case, it’s not nearly American’s route community. Alaska Airlines can be a British Airways companion, which suggests you’ve entry to Alaska’s flights to Hawaii, although you’ll must name to e book Alaska flights with Avios since they aren’t searchable on ba.com. That opens up routes that AA doesn’t serve however Alaska does, resembling Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Worldwide Airport (SJC) to Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG).

So for those who reside nearly anyplace on the West Coast — or can simply place there — Avios could be your buddy to Hawaii.

Associated: The best ways to get to Hawaii using points and miles

Aer Lingus at off-peak costs

Should you can journey throughout off-peak dates — which cowl roughly eight months of the 12 months — you’ll be able to fly to Dublin from a handful of U.S. cities, together with as far west as Chicago. This award will set you again simply 26,000 Avios round-trip in economy or as low as 50,000 one-way in business class.

And suppose you reside within the South in a metropolis like Orlando or Miami, or the West in Los Angeles or San Francisco. In that case, the worth solely will increase to 32,500 Avios round-trip in economic system and 62,500 one-way in enterprise, which continues to be an amazing deal contemplating how lengthy these flights are.

You additionally will not be charged fuel surcharges when redeeming British Airways Avios for Aer Lingus flights.

Associated: Flight review: Aer Lingus business class on the A321neo, Dublin to Philadelphia

Methods to earn Avios

Avios branded bank cards

The best method to earn a significant variety of Avios for on a regular basis spending is by making use of for the British Airways Visa Signature Card.

This card provides new candidates 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, making the complete bonus value $1,125. The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual charge and earns 3 Avios per greenback spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Degree. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on resort lodging booked straight with the resort. All different purchases earn 1 Avios per greenback spent.

Keep in mind that Avios can easily be transferred at a 1:1 price between the totally different packages that use this foreign money. So you may additionally need to contemplate the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card or the Iberia Visa Signature Card, which provide the identical 75,000-Avios welcome bonus, beneficiant incomes charges and low annual charge.

The next playing cards all presently supply sturdy welcome bonuses that you possibly can simply convert to Avios:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 bonus factors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on the cardboard within the first three months of card membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Examine to see for those who’re targeted for a 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (supply topic to vary at any time). Phrases apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. Phrases apply.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (see rates and fees).

You is perhaps questioning why we did not point out utilizing Avios for transatlantic flights on British Airways or non-flight redemptions resembling accommodations and automobiles. Since British Airways insists on tacking huge surcharges onto its award tickets, utilizing Avios for transatlantic flights on the provider itself normally doesn’t make a lot sense. And the worth you’ll get from burning Avios on accommodations or automotive leases usually isn’t well worth the money you’re saving within the first place.

However now that the most effective makes use of, you will get terrific worth out of your Avios no matter whether or not you like economic system or premium class or take worldwide or home flights. Simply bear in mind the hows and whens so you need to use your Avios properly.

Further reporting by Ethan Steinberg and Andrew Kunesh.