Amex Companion Voucher

[LM]

Hi There

I have an Amex companion voucher (for the free card – have recently upgraded to the premium card) that I’d like to use before it expires in July.

I’ve been looking at flights to St Lucia in June. Using the voucher I get offered a range of different cash + Avios combinations for two economy flights, including 17,500 Avios + £1,240.

However, I can book the exact same flights without using the voucher for 12,800 Avios + £1,284. On that basis, I cannot see what value the voucher is adding – it certainly doesn’t seem to be giving me “2-4-1”. If that were the case, wouldn’t I expect to see the price of the flights without using the voucher double the cost of the flights with the voucher? Am I missing something??

[Scott]

Reward pricing is not related to cash fares, the range of different cash + Avios options will be the same, irrespective of the cash fare.

The 241 voucher means 2 people travel for the Avios of one person (but you still have to pay cash element for both passengers.)

It may be that the route/dates you’re looking at are not a good use of Avios.

It’s generally accepted that you will usually struggle to get value from the free card’s 241 Economy voucher (unless e.g. you must travel on dates when cash prices are sky high.)

[NorthernLass]

The “free” part refers to the avios component only. The different avios/cash options you get can vary in value, but surely for St Lucia in economy the best option is going to be paying 60k avios (if off-peak), plus about £300 for 2 pax?

But looking at a dummy booking for late June, I’m not seeing an option remotely like what you’re saying you’ve been quoted. Are you eligible for RFS fares? Otherwise it could be a pricing glitch, which has been reported a few times recently.

For one person, one way, I’m seeing:

30k avios plus £75

More pricing options
You can select when paying
23000 Avios + £ 150.00
16250 Avios + £ 225.00
11500 Avios + £ 250.00
8500 Avios + £ 285.00
5700 Avios + £ 310.00

Using the voucher will double the cash element.

[Garethgerry]

Using 241 highest avios least cash is best value as you double the cash.

At 1p per avios 30k plus £75 , will cost equivalent of £450 for the two of you. £225 each good value

[NorthernLass]

So using the voucher, for 2 pax in economy, off-peak, these are the pricing options I’m getting:

60k avios plus £300

More pricing options
You can select when paying
46000 Avios + £ 600.00
32500 Avios + £ 900.00
23000 Avios + £ 1,000.00
17000 Avios + £ 1,140.00
11400 Avios + £ 1,240.00

Cash price for June is coming in about £1250 for 2 people, so only the first couple of options offer decent value. Obviously if OP was travelling at high season, cash prices would be a lot higher.

[Rob]

Nothing surprisinng here – it is pretty rare to find value in long haul economy Avios redemptions, except over peak weeks.

[Dashimus]

I did the same search as you Northern Lass and can’t see what they’re seeing. 27th June to 4th July I can see with a companion voucher 60k avios and £300 Cash. Equivalent cash fare with luggage which you get on voucher is £1343. So the 60k of avios is saving you £1043, or 1.73pence per avios. Now, I know Rob famously doesn’t think you can find gold value economy redemption very often, but a £1043 saving at 1.73ppa. That sounds pretty reasonable for me considering it’s the free amex card. Maybe I have low expectations but I fly long haul business for work regularly and I wouldn’t pay for it myself.

[KHepworth]

If you take away the value of the Companion Voucher, personally, I only find long haul Economy redemptions to be a good value redemption when you fly during peak times and the cash fare equivalent is much higher.

[BBbetter]

Or you decide to fly last min and the cash prices are stupid high. And if people havent realised there are a few award seats left.

[Ihar]

BBbetter wrote:

Or you decide to fly last min and the cash prices are stupid high. And if people havent realised there are a few award seats left.

Last minute award seats are crippling my finances 😁 Twice this year I’d decided to extend my vacation by a day or two as there are Avios reward seats on the way back. Wife/son recently got 241 LHR/JFK for £2400 total (@ 1p/Avios) in Club.