Avios, best use when only enough miles for 1 traveller

[FREEFLIGHTS]

Hi All
I find myself in a strange situation with respect to my Avios points. I have not used any Avios since the days of BMI. So, my knowledge of the Avios reward system and its peculiarities are very limited.

So, my conundrum is as follows: –
My wife and I have approx. 140K Avios in a family account.
Does one of us use the Avios to get an off-peak business seat from MAN to LAS via LHR, thus burning around 135K Avios and paying the associated taxes/fees. The other pays for a return business seat as normal.
OR
Do we use the miles to both get out in UC and pay for the return leg?
Not sure how this would work out with respect to taxes etc now that BA appear to have moved the goalposts. I am aiming to burn the Avios and get the lowest monetary cost.

Help appreciated

[gustavo]

I would say you need to read more about the companion voucher that you get from the BA Premium Plus. I don’t earn enough avios for trips every year so have gained my voucher after spending £10k and cancelled it to avoid paying annual fee. I plan to save enough for another trip to Brazil in a couple of years in Business. Also if you don’t have that card, you could bag a good amount of avios to your balance as part of their sign up bonus.

[FREEFLIGHTS]

@gustavo

I am familiar with the 2-4-1 system, I have the Virgin Atlantic+ card. This gives me the same options as the BA Avios card. In the end we may end up using Virgin, but I was hoping to burn the Avios without being ripped off. I am also concerned about BA loosing our bags once they know we are flying Virgin.

[Peter K]

This post seems strange on multiple levels.

Advice first:

One way cash flights are super expensive, a return will be cheaper than 2 one ways. If you can wait then get a referral from Rob [at] headforpoints.com to get a BA premium amex. If you spend over £10k in the 12 period after getting it you’ll have a 2 for 1 voucher for use on avios rewards flights.

Strange things I’ve thought second:

Despite being willing to pay cash for a business class seat and being happy to use UC as an abbreviation to, I assume, mean Upper Class, Virgin Business class, you claim to have little knowledge and don’t know once ways are cash expensive.

Avios expire after 3yrs so you’ve been adding to a pot you don’t know how to use or suddenly a household member has added you to burn the lot (but you use the expression “my avios points”).

You mention about BA moving the goalposts, but don’t know about Avios since the BMI days.

Plus more things….

It feels a bit like a strange read.

Edit: while I was writing you said you were used to VS, so that explains it a bit.

[Froggee]

I’d suggest pricing up an upgrade using Avios i.e. paying cash for World Traveler Plus and using Avios to upgrade the Ticket to Club World.

[FREEFLIGHTS]

Hi Peter K

Many thanks for your advice with the BA Premium Amex and highlighting to other forum members I am not very articulate. I will admit I have poorly worded my question in trying to explain my/our circumstances.

I suppose I was hoping for some help and guidance and not asking to be criticised.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Peter K]

FREEFLIGHTS wrote:

Hi Peter K

Many thanks for your advice with the BA Premium Amex and highlighting to other forum members I am not very articulate. I will admit I have poorly worded my question in trying to explain my/our circumstances.

I suppose I was hoping for some help and guidance and not asking to be criticised.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to reply.

I tried not to make it sound too harsh, but clearly failed. When you read these forums you do get some time wasters and I wasn’t sure if this was the case with you, hence my post.

However, as you kindly pointed out, I did try to give some benefit of the doubt and useful information.