A new ‘buy Avios’ points bonus launches today – with changes to the rules

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• JamesB says:

  12 Feb12 February 05:44

  Not good considering we could buy avios with a 50% bonus at least twice last year. Around September and November IIRC. I am always concerned that when airlines or hotels attempt to flood the market with vast amounts of cheap miles or points it is often a sweetner prior to a devaluation.

  • Optimus Prime says:

    12 Feb12 February 06:40

    I think Avios.com offered a 50% bonus in May.

• Callum says:

  12 Feb12 February 06:08

  “I don’t know why they have done this, as the best value is generally obtained by buying a small number of points to top off your account.”

  Because BA would prefer people to pay more than get “the best value”?

  • Rob says:

    12 Feb12 February 08:40

    I think that line was meant tongue in cheek ….!

• plastikman says:

  12 Feb12 February 06:12

  If you spent £1600 without really knowing what you were buying, I have the same amount of sympathy for those who have lent money and given their bank details for a fabulous Nigerian business opportunity.

  • Anna says:

    12 Feb12 February 07:47

    That customer was only prepared to use his avios to go to Japan (I think). Rob pointed out in the programme that flexibility is crucial to making the system work for you, but I think a lot of people just can`t take this on board.

  • Zoe says:

    12 Feb12 February 07:50

    I think that the ‘average’ Head for Points reader is likely to be well educated and perhaps used to analysing complex data in their professional life. The ‘average’ person may not look at the Avios offer with the same degree of forensic oversight you or I might.

    • callum says:

      12 Feb12 February 08:17

      More fool them. There’s a limit to how much reckless and/or stupid people should be pandered to and you don’t need to be educated or used to analyzing complex data to use a flight booking website!

      • Mikeact says:

        12 Feb12 February 08:43

        You mean a bit like being asked to pop down the road to buy iTunes cards to pay off your tax bill ?

      • callum says:

        12 Feb12 February 09:08

        That’s incredibly gullible but no, I do indeed feel sorry for those people (and stopped countless people doing similar things in my old IT based job). They’re being scammed. The guy buying miles however got exactly what he paid for, he just didn’t bother researching what it was before buying it.

      • Anna says:

        12 Feb12 February 09:56

        Agreed, he was not scammed in any way, he simply didn`t read (or absorb) the information about using the voucher, including a very clear reference to the limited number of flights/routes available. He would undoubtedly be able to get fantastic value from his avios, just possibly not to his preferred destination (though he also seemed to be the type who would never consider being online at T-355 either, even my OH thinks this is odd, though he is quite happy to enjoy the rare CW seats I have secured by doing this!)

    • Leo says:

      12 Feb12 February 23:12

      When I first read some of these comments this morning I though they were a bit harsh. Then I actually watched the clip. I’ve less sympathy now. I don’t think those guys did even the most basic research into points – and to spend £1600 without doing any research on the value you get from them is either cavalier or just plain daft.

• Anna says:

  12 Feb12 February 07:51

  It’s not a good offer, especially at the lower end of the chart where only 10% and 20% bonuses are being offered. I’ll wait for either a 50% bonus offer or pay 0.8p next time I make an avios plus cash redemption.

• Lee says:

  12 Feb12 February 08:25

  You must be on your 10th coffee this morning Callum. They are only airmiles, not worth getting yourself in a tiz

  • John says:

    12 Feb12 February 08:55

    Say that to the guy who “lost” £1600!

  • callum says:

    12 Feb12 February 09:10

    Ermmm, I don’t drink coffee, it’s not the morning here and I’m not in a tizz?

• Cate says:

  12 Feb12 February 12:21

  I’m with Anna, this is not a particularly strong offer. Of course if you need them for a redemption then they have more value. As for the two people in the video well we’ve all made beginners mistakes and hindsight is a wonderful thing.

  The introduction of price bracketing is interesting though. Are there plans for Iberia to follow?

  • Rob says:

    12 Feb12 February 13:11

    Iberia already does this.

    • Cate says:

      12 Feb12 February 13:30

      Really? I’ve never noticed. Thanks Rob.

• RussellH says:

  12 Feb12 February 12:30

  I was always puzzled by the regular broadcast comments that air miles were useless, because you could never spend them. We have never had any problems!
  It was only seeing this broadcast that really made me realise that what people meant, when they said that there were never any airmiles seats, was actually, “there were never any airmiles seats on the only route I would consider booking”.
  It never occured to me that one would do anything other than decide a) we are going to go somewhere nice b) we have enough airmiles to do it c) lets see where we can go d) this looks like the best option.
  If you do have a set destination and set dates, then you must be prepared to use cash, and then see what savings or improvments you can make using the air miles.

  • Anna says:

    12 Feb12 February 13:16

    It’s like going into Lidl wanting to buy lobster. Now and then they do stock lobster and you will be able to buy it if there’s some left, but more often than not there won’t be lobster but there will lots of other nice things like fillet steak or smoked salmon (feel free to substitute vegetarian delicacies)! You can stomp out with nothing or you can choose something else and still have a delicious meal.

    • Genghis says:

      12 Feb12 February 13:23

      Or you go when they’ve just restocked the store and get what you want.

      • Anna says:

        12 Feb12 February 15:09

        Only if you’re right at the front of the queue!

      • Lady London says:

        12 Feb12 February 19:09

        Or you can go get your lobster at a Lidl in Europe where lobster may be available at a different more suitable time for you.

  • Cate says:

    12 Feb12 February 13:39

    I think another problem is reward availability for the number of people who want to fly. If you want to fly as a couple then it’s harder to find two seats than one in the same cabin. Then of course you have public holidays, hotel costs, peak periods etc etc to navigate.

    • Kinkell says:

      12 Feb12 February 15:16

      It’s all about flexibility and understanding the terms. I’ve always( touching wood,) been able to redeem my 241 and RFS seats , so with careful planning have always nabbed the lobster as soon as shelves are stocked!

  • Peter K says:

    12 Feb12 February 16:54

    A lot of people don’t understand airmiles or want to listen. A friend of mine has only managed to collect 38k Avios in 8 YEARS! I’ve tried giving him advice but he’s ignored it until this year. He’s got his first Amex card finally and is excited about the possibility of earning 55k Airmiles in 6 months (probably Virgin now).

    Despite all of this, he keeps trying to tell me how to book flights and routes I should take, even though every conversation I (nicely) explain why A is a good idea but B isn’t.

    He’s an accountant so understands figures but when it comes to Avios etc he just has a blind spot. I can’t imagine he’s the only one.

• S879 says:

  12 Feb12 February 13:16

  OT(sorry, no bits today). I have economy flights coming up with United Airlines (2 people) and a family one (4 tickets) with Swiss and Singapore. I know they are all Star Alliance members but when I look at where to credit website I’m still confused where to accumulate as I don’t travel with these airlines usually. Which one would be easiest to redeem (if at all) or perhaps offers household account as otherwise the miles are likely to sit there and expire. I actively collect One World, Delta and Virgin Atlantic miles. Any transfers to hotel schemes like SPG, Hilton or IHG? Thanks.

  • Cate says:

    12 Feb12 February 14:12

    Steep but Shangri la @12:1 and in 20,000 batches? Transfer Kris Flyer points to Virgin velocity? Any Scoot flights interest you? You can buy stuff in their shop with points.

    Perhaps you can work them in to a future flight as they’re an Amex transfer partner 1:1. They sometimes have reduced points sales 59,500 in biz FRA-SIN and SIN-FRA.

    • S879 says:

      12 Feb12 February 14:27

      Thank you.

    • S879 says:

      12 Feb12 February 14:28

      Are Virgin Velocity miles same as VA Flying Club or transferable to Flying Club?

      • Rob says:

        12 Feb12 February 16:07

        No. You can convert them to Singapore Airlines – do a search, they have a partnership.

  • KevMc says:

    12 Feb12 February 17:26

    United allow you to credit miles to Aer Lingus, but I would strongly advise you NOT to do this. Aer Lingus’ systems are not in place to credit these yet, and my wife and I have been waiting since last May to get our miles credited. When questioned about it on Twitter, Aer Lingus can no longer give a timescale as to when it will be working, despite numerous broken promises throughout 2017.

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