Advice on how to spend points

[dan223]

I’ve only started collecting avios in the last few years, I’ve never really had much luck using miles other than within domestic flights within the US.

I will shortly have around 60K avios, as well as an “upgrade voucher” from the barclaycard avios card.

I’m looking at flights to MCO next year in early end September/early October (haven’t been released yet). Generally for Economy, cash these flights can be had for <£400.

I have three options:

Book with cash and change the upgrade voucher to 7K avios instead, and save up more for another time
Book economy for about 60K points and use the upgrade voucher to get premium economy, will cost about £150 + some extra taxes for premium
Book premium economy which is about 95K points, pay the extra for points about £600, use the upgrade voucher to get to business + additional tax.

I’m not sure what works out the best in forms of usage of points, I assume probably the second option since I don’t need to buy any points. Also at least currently the Gatwick planes have the old business class product which is far from great, not sure when or if that is planned to change.

Just looking for some advice on what you might do in this situation or what is maybe the best thing to do.

[NorthernLass]

I didn’t know that you can still get a return flight to anywhere in the USA for under £400!

PE is very popular and can command high cash prices, so this would be a good use of the upgrade voucher, and as you say would only cost you the PE surcharge. If you can also reserve a decent seat (i.e. not in the middle of 4!), it makes for quite a pleasant journey.

BA only guarantees to release 2 x PE award seats though, so you’d probably need to be ready and prepared to pounce as soon as they’re released. There’s lots of info in the dedicated threads on booking at T-355 on how to maximise your chances of getting seats.

*Having said that, availability is looking very good for next September, though possibly the current extreme weather is putting people off booking!

[dan223]

NorthernLass wrote:

I didn’t know that you can still get a return flight to anywhere in the USA for under £400!

PE is very popular and can command high cash prices, so this would be a good use of the upgrade voucher, and as you say would only cost you the PE surcharge. If you can also reserve a decent seat (i.e. not in the middle of 4!), it makes for quite a pleasant journey.

BA only guarantees to release 2 x PE award seats though, so you’d probably need to be ready and prepared to pounce as soon as they’re released. There’s lots of info in the dedicated threads on booking at T-355 on how to maximise your chances of getting seats.

*Having said that, availability is looking very good for next September, though possibly the current extreme weather is putting people off booking!

Thanks!

There are certainly some cheap flights to the US with BA, and often if you don’t care for a meal, luggage and various other extras you can find return flights for around £250 with norse at some parts of the year, TUI also often sell off cheap seats to MCO at certain points of the year, often last minute though.