If you've ever wondered whether collecting Avios could genuinely save you cash on your travels, you're in the right place.
For many, Avios remains a somewhat mystical currency, hoarded diligently but not always spent wisely. However, with a strategic approach, Avios can open the door to substantial savings on flights and upgrade your travel experience without stretching your wallet.
In this blog, we'll discuss four examples to show you can use your Avios for flights to fund your adventures at a fraction of the cost, with practical tips to maximise your Avios value.
Understanding Avios and Reward Seat Redemptions
Avios are the loyalty currency of British Airways' frequent flyer programme. While they may seem like mere points, they're a powerful tool for the wise traveller. Using your points like a currency strategist can fundamentally change how you approach booking flights.
When used correctly, each point should give you at least 1p in value. This might not sound like much, but it’s a benchmark that can help guide your redemption choices. If you’re getting less than this value, you might want to think twice about whether it’s the right time to redeem. Conversely, surpassing this value can feel like hitting the jackpot — a Business Class flight to Tokyo for less than the price of a premium economy ticket? Yes, please!
So, how do you ensure you’re hitting that 1p mark or better? Here's a straightforward way to compare the Avios cost to cash fare cost directly on BA.com:
- Find Your Flight on BA.com: Search for your desired flight as you normally would, noting down the cash fare.
- Switch to Avios Fares: Toggle your search to show prices in Avios instead of cash. This will show you how many points plus any taxes and fees are required for the same flight.
- Calculate the Avios Value: Take the total cash price (include those taxes and fees!), subtract the taxes and fees from the Avios booking, and divide this number by the total number of Avios needed. This gives you your per-Avios value.
- Compare and Decide: If the per-Avios value is at or above 1p, you’re in a good spot. If it’s below, you might want to hold off unless you need to burn some points before they expire.
How Reward Flight Finder (RFF) Members Saved Big
Nothing speaks louder than real-life success stories, and our RFF members have some tales of triumph to share about their Avios redemptions.
Dick’s Story: Imagine flying to Japan in Business Class and saving a whopping £6,800 against its cash price in the process. That’s exactly what RFF member Dick achieved. He managed to get Business Class seats using RFF Alerts and a Companion Voucher with British Airways, transforming what could have been an extravagantly priced trip into an affordable luxury adventure.
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Kaye’s Story: Then there’s Kaye, whose story takes savings to a whole new level. By using her Avios and a Companion Voucher, Kaye managed to book two First Class seats to Mumbai and two Business Class returns from Delhi. The total savings? About £25,000! Two premium trips made possible by the clever use of points and vouchers.
Each story underscores a critical point: while the mechanics of collecting and redeeming Avios are important, the real magic happens when strategic planning meets opportunity. This is the essence of travel hacking, and it’s accessible to anyone willing to learn and engage creatively with their travel goals. Remember, the world of Avios is like a game — the more skilfully you play, the more you stand to gain.
A Closer Look at Actual Savings
Short-Haul
London to Athens
If booked on BA.com during peak season in August, a return Economy ticket from London to Athens costs £769.69 per traveller. That's a substantial amount for a European getaway.
On the other hand, if you choose to redeem your Avios for flights on the same route, the cost is dramatically different. For a return trip in Economy, you'll spend 30,500 Avios plus a mere £1 in taxes and fees. Applying the 1p per Avios rule, this total expenditure translates to around £306 for the flight, all things considered. This represents a direct saving of £463.69 for a single traveller — an undeniable bargain.
British Airways
Savings with a Companion Voucher
Now, let's consider the Companion Voucher. Holders of the free American Express BA credit card can bring a partner along on an Economy flight using a Companion Voucher for just the cost of the taxes and fees — assuming you're using Avios for the primary ticket.
In the case of our London to Athens flight, using your Companion Voucher for a second passenger means the total cost for two travellers would be £307 (factoring in the Avios redemption and taxes for both passengers). When compared to the cash fare of £1,539.38 for two, the total savings now leap to £1,232.38.
London to Florence
For those paying with cash, a return Economy fare from London to Florence during peak times will set you back £435.89 per traveller.
This might be the quick way to book, but it’s certainly not the most economical. Switching our focus to Avios, the scenario looks quite different and far more appealing. A return reward seat on the same route, also in Economy, costs 25,500 Avios plus just £1 in taxes and fees.
When applying the rule of aiming for 1p per Avios in value, this totals approximately £256 for the flight — a saving of £179.89 per traveller.
British Airways
Savings with a Companion Voucher
Once again, a Companion Voucher earned with the free American Express credit card allows you to book two Economy Class tickets for the price of one in Avios. For two travellers, the total cash fare would typically be £871.78. However, with Avios and the Companion Voucher, the combined expense is only about £257. This means a total saving of £614.78 when travelling as a pair.
Long-Haul
London to Barbados
Booking a return Business Class ticket from London to Barbados on BA.com in the peak time of August costs a staggering £5,682.09 per traveller if paying out of pocket.
However, a Business Class return using Avios costs 200,000 Avios plus £450 in taxes and fees. When you apply the rule of 1p per Avios, this equates to approximately £2,450 for the ticket. This means impressive savings of £3,232.09, slicing almost half off the regular cash price.
British Airways
Savings with the Companion Voucher
For those who hold the Premium Plus American Express BA credit card, the savings can be even better. A Companion Voucher earned through this card allows the cardholder to book a second Business Class ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees, provided the first ticket is booked using Avios.
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This means that for a couple travelling to Barbados, the combined fare would amount to just £3,200 when including the £300 annual fee for the card. Compared to the cash fare of £11,364.18 for two, this results in savings of £8,164.18!
London to Hong Kong
The standard cash fare for a Business Class return flight from London to Hong Kong during peak season is listed at a hefty £5,550.59 on ba.com.
Let’s see how Avios can make this more palatable. Opting for a reward seat in Business Class will cost you 220,000 Avios plus £550 in taxes and fees. Following the guideline of valuing each Avios at 1p, the total Avios expenditure translates to approximately £2,750. This leads to a saving of £2,800.59, effectively cutting the cost in half once again.
British Airways
Leveraging the Companion Voucher
The standard cash fare for two passengers would be around £11,101.18. However, with the use of Avios and the Companion Voucher, you would only be responsible for the Avios cost of one ticket and the taxes for both, summing up to £3,300, plus the annual card fee of £300. Thus, the total expense would be about £3,600. This nets a major saving of £7,500.18.
Key Strategies to Maximise Your Avios
Here are some essential tips to ensure you're always getting the best value from your Avios:
Value Your Avios Correctly
The key to using Avios effectively is to consistently value them at 1p each. This benchmark serves as a guide to ensure you're always making cost-effective redemption choices. If a redemption offers you less than this value, it might be worth considering alternative options or saving your points for a better opportunity. Conversely, redemptions that offer more than 1p per Avios are typically considered excellent value and should be prioritised.
Focus on Long-Haul for Maximum Savings
While Avios can certainly help cut costs on short-haul flights, it's the long-haul routes where they truly make a difference. The savings potential on international Business and First Class tickets can be astounding, as we’ve shown in our examples to Barbados and Hong Kong. By targeting these long-distance routes, you can experience major reductions in the cash prices of high-value tickets.
Leverage the American Express BA Credit Card
A Companion Voucher from British Airways earned through the American Express BA credit card is an invaluable tool, especially when booking long-haul flights. This voucher allows you to book a second ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees when you redeem Avios for the first ticket, doubling the value of your redemption. Regular daily card use can also boost your Avios balance and accelerate your journey towards your next big trip.
