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I have a feeling this is going over old ground, and is more of a musing than a question – but just to check I’m not missing anything…I now have a Barclays “upgrade” voucher to use – or essentially a voucher that enables you to buy a return Avios reward flight in CW, paying the taxes, fees and charges for CW, but only paying the Avios required for PE. Looking at a January 2023 off-peak LHR IAD return. PE Avios required are 26,000 each way. So total required is 52,000 Avios, but now a whopping £844.06 in taxes and charges. Even at a low value of 0.8p per Avios, that is the equivalent of at least £416 + £844.06 = £1260.06 for a CW Washington off-peak return. Now granted it is way cheaper than the BA.com price of £7590.06 (!) for these specific flights, but not a price I would ever pay, so hard to call it a saving (appreciate this is where it becomes very subjective). It is also cheaper than the “cheapest fare” search on BA for a 3 nights trip anytime in the next year, which comes in at £2189 for IAD. And I guess on balance, the £12pm for 1500 Avios per month (plus a little sign up bonus) means the scheme is in a way cost neutral – so I got the voucher after a year for free. But given the fact you have to depart the U.K., so can’t avoid the high TFC, unlike with the new style 241 Amex vouchers, unless I’m missing something these amex rewards are very hard to get excited about, especially given the fares offered out of Europe to East coast USA. Even the old style 241 could differentiate itself from the likes of transatlantic with Iberia/TAP in business due to the ability to use it in BA First – but only in business (the highest cabin permitted with the Barclays voucher), the voucher leaves a lot to be desired, coupled with the ongoing reduced service in CW. Any thoughts appreciated!
- This topic was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
A lot of people on here like to compare prices from outside the UK. My vouchers are often used on my elderly parents whose mobility reduces with every year. Adding an extra leg to their journey would be impossible, they would rather fly in a lower class than add the extra stress. We simply would not be able to afford paying full price and I would struggle to earn enough points for an annual trip without a voucher.
So for me even thou the points per pound value is not that high, the voucher gives us something we can’t afford to do otherwise at a cost that I am ok with. Also as my parent’s health deteriorates, the ability to cancel fights at low cost will mean more to me over time I suspect.
Everyone’s situation will be different, and clearly there are people who still see value and others do not. The one thing I trust is that most people who frequent here often have done the maths for themselves 😃, there are several frequent commentator who seems to be using up their avios stash in Sainsbury and that makes sense to them. But like you, I am curious on others’ thoughts.
Absolutely, all interesting points. We all decide freely how to earn or spend vouchers and points. Nice to get some different opinions on where we stand with the market as it is now (high fuel prices/industry staffing issues etc.). Thanks
I think given all the restrictions and limitations, the upgrade voucher is pants.
I think given all the restrictions and limitations, the upgrade voucher is pants.
I must admit I have not earned and therefore tried to spend a Barclays’ upgrade voucher yet. But I think it will come in useful when I travel with my parents, as we can only use one 2 for 1 when there are 3 of us. The alternative would be I sit in economy alone (which I have done before) as I probably won’t have enough points to redeem a biz seat for myself in addition to what I would use on my parents.
I think given all the restrictions and limitations, the upgrade voucher is pants.
I must admit I have not earned and therefore tried to spend a Barclays’ upgrade voucher yet. But I think it will come in useful when I travel with my parents, as we can only use one 2 for 1 when there are 3 of us. The alternative would be I sit in economy alone (which I have done before) as I probably won’t have enough points to redeem a biz seat for myself in addition to what I would use on my parents.
I think it would take a lot of luck and some effort to get a companion voucher and an upgrade voucher on the same flight.
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