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Forums Frequent flyer programs British Airways Executive Club Advice on Avios redemption to South America

  • zapato1060 797 posts

    It’s a shame that options for onward travel to the rest of the Caribbean from SJU are so limited these days, but an IB redemption is a great option if you want to go to Puerto Rico.

    Actually not too limited nowadays. LCCs like Silver Airways fly to and fro St Maarten for peanuts. This is the route I’m looking at for Xmas 25.

    ukpolak 115 posts

    Thanks for the tips for PR.

    When we last went, indeed we visited Culebra and then Charlotte Amalie as Mrs UKP’s cousin out there has a small-ish boat moored up in Fajardo PR. A LOT of work cleaning, fuelling (never knew a pump could show numbers that high!), prep and docking etc so may choose a more relaxing adventure next time we’re there! I seem to remember some amazing rated beach in Culebra which a bit meh.

    PR was a lovely place – jungle rain forests, flora and fauna, beaches and traditional customs inland. And lots and lots of damn iguanas. And tree frogs (cocee?)

    Let me see what we can arrange – thanks again.

    NorthernLass 9,440 posts

    Flight Connections actually shows multiple connecting routes from PR to other islands, as well as Mexico and the US mainland. Now planning a trip for Jan 2026! After annual visits to GCM I doubt it can be that expensive ($12 for a jar of mayo, anyone?) 😂.

    We had 2 blissful weeks on St Thomas back in the days when there were direct flights from the UK, we still talk about Bill’s Texas BBQ pit!

    zapato1060 797 posts

    Flight Connections actually shows multiple connecting routes from PR to other islands, as well as Mexico and the US mainland. Now planning a trip for Jan 2026! After annual visits to GCM I doubt it can be that expensive ($12 for a jar of mayo, anyone?) 😂.

    We had 2 blissful weeks on St Thomas back in the days when there were direct flights from the UK, we still talk about Bill’s Texas BBQ pit!

    STT’s little sister St Croix was a delight. I never knew there was direct flights before? we did a multiple stop if I remember LHR-HEL-JFK-STT-STX with the last leg on a 6 seater plane where we had to weighed beforehand. Your making my mouth water now, in St Croix it was La Reine Chicken and Rib Shack that got me thinking of just going there now.

    NorthernLass 9,440 posts

    It was the year 2000 and one of the charter companies ran package tours to St Thomas from the UK. I can’t remember which airline but it might have been booked through Kuoni. IIRC, it went via Antigua, I doubt there would have been enough demand otherwise.

    We rented a car and took the ferry over to St John, which was just idyllic.

    After 2001, of course, so many direct routes disappeared.

    Scott 289 posts

    IB only releases 2x tickets on BA at 355, but a tidy tip is if you don’t mind NOT using the 241. IB release 9 business seats to IB members at full price 34k like 360 days or so out.

    Happy to be corrected, but I don’t think this is correct. The app shows the number of redemption seats available (I don’t think the website offers this functionality) and if you look at a destination that always has good availability (e.g. MVD) for the most recently added dates (currently up to 4th Oct), there are only ever 2 seats available,

    zapato1060 797 posts

    I booked 3x seats MIA-MAD from the 9 available 360 days out or so on IB site after transferring the Avios. If I waited for them to show on BA 355 days out obvs it’ll be 2x but I could use a 241 then.

    meta 1,640 posts

    You could have called BA and they would have now booked you on Iberia at T-360 with a voucher. They have been doing that for a while for IAG airlines.

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