Purchasing Avios points and redeeming on short flights can be cheaper than buying a ticket. Yesterday I posted how I redeemed only 7,500 Avios points for a one way coach ticket that was selling for $350.
On a side note, I hope you enjoyed the guest post from my friend Alex yesterday on his review of the W Minneapolis. He has an addiction to travel and has the resources (points and miles) to go to some pretty cool places at the drop of a dime (or mile).
Back to British Airways Avios points. Today I received an email from British Airways offering me the option to purchase Avios points with a 25% bonus. It turns out I would have still been better off having purchased the points rather than just buying the ticket.
Purchase Ticket
- A one way ticket was pricing out at $350.
Purchase & Redeem Points
- I only needed 7,500 points for the trip
- I could have purchased 6,000 Avios points through British Airways, that would come with a 1,500 point bonus
- Purchasing the points would have cost only $190 vs the asking price for the ticket of $360
- Promotion runs through Febuary 29, 2012 and the max you can purchase is 24,000 points
Bottom Line
I’m starting to like the new Avios program structure. For short hops it is hard to beat these reward redemption levels.
What do you think, are there any other reasons to purchase Avios points?
About The Weekly Flyer
The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
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Although it is true that purchasing miles this way to get the best deal on a flight can save some money, you also have to consider the time and resources you will have to invest to do the various additional transactions, as well as the fact that you will not earn miles on an award redemption.
I enjoy your blog and will look forward to meeting you on the Megado TATL next week! Congrats for making it!