Reply To: Points collecting beginner needs your help!

[freddy84]

AJA wrote:

In terms of earning or spening Avios you need a BAEC account so even if you stick with Amex MR points you need a BAEC account to convert NR to Avios. You don’t technically need a Qatar Airways Privelege account but it mught be worthwhile as you can link it to BAEC and transfer Avios instantly between the two. Don’t forget that via BAEC on cash fares you also earn Avios of at least 6 times the base fare excluding taxes which helps build up the Avios stash.

I have already created BAEC accounts for myself and my wife and then created a household account and added her to it as well as our 3 children so they can all earn points when we fly. I’ve also created a Qatar Airways Privilege account when we flew with Qatar last year.

AJA wrote:

If you’re eligible for the BAPP card I’d open one for the SUB which is pretty generous and adds to the Avios pot.

I’m just not currently seeing where I’ll get the value for the annual fee on that card. I want to make sure we fly where we would normally go rather than where the points value is best, but routes to the Middle East for example so far don’t seem to be saving much. And for longer haul routes, though we could get a couple of us on business class, the cost of the remaining tickets are killing that option – just can’t afford that. It might just be the combination of our travel destinations and family size although it’d be great to hear what others with 3 kids are doing in case I’m missing something.

AJA wrote:

It might be worth investigating hotel reward schemes but you are then limiting yourself to the big brands whereas the destinations you mentioned have lots of local but decent hotel chains which are good value.

I have been reading the articles on here about the Hilton and Marriott schemes for this reason but yes, your point is valid in terms of being limited to their hotels and generally I find there are always options on accommodation to flex the price to a particular budget, whereas I feel with flights there is much less room hence it sounded like a good idea to try and get smarter at using Avios to save some money on flights rather than hotels.