Redeeming Avios to New York – pricing query

[Cfrost101]

Hi there!

I have 210k Avios points with BA and I’m BAEC Silver.

I’m looking to get a return flight for 2 passengers in business for December from JFK (or any New York Airport) to LHR/LGW departing 14/12 return 28/12.

When I look at booking with Avios on the BA website it seems when booking the return flights using all my Avios it will cost an additional £2,000+, which is ridiculous. When I look at booking the flight normally and simply using my Avios to get the price down it only costs me about $700 in total for both.

How is the above possible? I must be doing something wrong or is it just a really bad system? As I cannot figure out how using all my Avios costs more money to book a reward flight than booking a normal flight and using Avios to discount it.

I also have a £300 BA e-voucher to use so if the above is indeed correct, I will just book the flights normally, use my Avios and e-voucher then enjoy one leg AA business and the return in BA business for £270 for 2 pax.

Any help is appreciated, just hope I’ve done everything correct and haven’t embarrassed myself!

[NorthernLass]

It’s not totally clear but I think you may be saying that you don’t have enough avios for the full redemption fare, in which case the system does charge you quite a hefty amount of cash extra. You may well be better off using the avios to discount a cash booking as you would then get avios plus tier points.
Another issue might be starting in the US; I’m not sure if the BA foible of imposing eye-watering taxes when you start in the US applies to return trips or just singles though.
Sounds like very decent CW prices for Christmas anyway!

[ChrisC]

IIRC you can’t mix an e-voucher with part pay with avios.

If you are short of avios for an out and out reward booking it would be worth checking how much it would cost to buy the neceeeaey avios.

It’s also look at the cost od a pay with cash and upgrade with avios booking.

[John]

Yes the taxes and charges are ridiculous when starting from the US.

50000 avios is the right amount for business class one way off peak so 200k is enough. But December may be peak which needs 60000 (HFP listed the peak dates recently), if that’s the case as part of the booking process BA will “sell” you the extra avios needed at an extortionate rate.

So yes it could well be that buying a paid fare and selling avios to BA is cheaper.

ChrisC wrote:

IIRC you can’t mix an e-voucher with part pay with avios.

Not directly but you can part-pay with avios on a flight costing a suitable amount, then evoucher that and use it with the other evoucher. All evouchers on one booking need to be in the same currency so you may need to revoucher a voucher to change currency

[NorthernLass]

December 14th and 28th are off-peak, which has made my F flights to IAD a real bargain.

[Cfrost101]

Thanks for the replies, it maybe is a combination of both extra required Avios + taxes. I have another 50-60k Avios to transfer in the next month so I will be at 260-270k Avios, hopefully that might get the price down on a reward booking, if not I will do normal booking and discount with Avios, I think I get tier points then as well.

Starting from the US is always going to be harder on taxes, normally if I was flying to the US I would start my trip in Oslo flying in from London to get the price way down and get more Avios and tier points in the process, its just I can’t do that this time, if I had the choice I would do JFK to Oslo then London but my girlfriend would kill me as she hates flying!

The fact that 14-28 is off-peak is great! I love booking flights and hotels so far in advance its much cheaper and you get great deals, plus there’s an abundance of reward flight availability.

[MajaS]

You could consider earning a companion voucher quickly which would be a good alternative to topping up your avios. You could take out the Amex card which will give you a voucher at £10K spending – if you can accelerate some spending on the card (e.g. in the past I have booked fully cancellable hotel fares 9 months in advance). With a companion voucher you only need half the miles (but you need to pay the full fare in avios – there is no option to top up with cash).