Guide to British Airways Reward Flight Saver redemptions

Even for those who do not journey to the UK, Avios, the rewards foreign money of the British Airways Executive Club program (in addition to four other major airline loyalty programs), is simple to earn and redeem.

The draw back of utilizing this rewards foreign money, although, is that long-haul premium cabin redemptions booked by way of the Government Membership program can require vacationers to pay a major quantity in charges, taxes and surcharges, making this foreign money seem much less priceless.

Nonetheless, Reward Flight Savers is usually a improbable use of Avios, as they assist you to pay lower than $1 per flight in charges, taxes and surcharges (on short-haul flights). That is about as near free journey as you may get.

So, how do they work, and are they deal general?

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British Airways Reward Flight Saver fundamentals

Reward Flight Savers can be found worldwide on all British Airways-operated flights in all cabins besides top notch.

Reward Flight Savers are priced per flight, not per journey. So, for those who fly from, say, Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) by way of London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on British Airways, the award is priced based mostly on the space per section. Since you may be paying extra Avios due to the switch in London, reserving a paid ticket or redeeming miles on one other airline with a direct flight could also be extra handy and a greater worth.

In addition to having the Avios accessible in your Government Membership account, you need to have earned at the least 1 Avios within the 12 months earlier than reserving to make the most of Reward Flight Saver awards. Transferring Avios from one other Avios loyalty program like Qatar Airways Privilege Club or transferring credit card points to Government Membership satisfies this incomes requirement.

Reward Flight Savers might be particularly priceless for last-minute flights, as their fastened costs maintain prices low. I’ve frequently used Reward Flight Savers for short-haul British Airways-operated flights inside Europe just a few days upfront when income fares had been greater than $250.

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Reward Flight Saver awards might be booked on-line, similar to regular redemptions. They’re marked with a blue starburst and a banknote icon above the flight quantity.

Associated: 5 reasons why you should care about British Airways Avios

Reward Flight Savers for short-haul flights

Reward Flight Savers are particularly nice offers for short-haul flights operated by British Airways to or from the U.Ok. and throughout the Caribbean.

For flights lower than 2,000 miles, you will have simply 50 British pence (about 62 cents) plus Avios per flight.

Distance flown per flight	Off-peak Euro Traveller economic system class	Peak Euro Traveller economic system class	Off-peak Membership Europe enterprise class	Peak Membership Europe enterprise class
0-650 miles	9,250 Avios plus 50 pence	9,750 Avios plus 50 pence	15,000 Avios plus 50 pence	16,250 Avios plus 50 pence
651-1,150 miles	11,750 Avios plus 50 pence	12,750 Avios plus 50 pence	20,000 Avios plus 50 pence	22,250 Avios plus 50 pence
1,151-2,000 miles	13,750 Avios plus 50 pence	15,250 Avios plus 50 pence	24,250 Avios plus 50 pence	27,250 Avios plus 50 pence

This can be a nice possibility if you’re Avios wealthy. Bear in mind, all Avios redemptions embrace free checked luggage. You need to use elite benefits with Oneworld companion airways like American Airlines as properly.

You can even pay extra cash and fewer Avios, for those who want to save your rewards.

Reward Flight Savers for long-haul flights

Commonplace Avios pricing for long-haul flights on British Airways can assist you to fly to London in enterprise class for as little as 50,000 Avios every approach. There’s just one catch: There are very excessive carrier-imposed fuel surcharges, which might add over $1,000 to your premium cabin redemption. Bear in mind, too, that the U.K.’s Air Passenger Duty fees might also be payable.

For those who select the Reward Flight Saver possibility as an alternative, you’ll pay extra Avios in trade for decreasing the surcharges to a extra cheap degree.

Whether or not you wish to half with extra cash or extra Avios, the selection is yours.

Here is how the Reward Flight Saver pricing breaks down on two standard routes from the U.S. to Europe with return flights on off-peak dates. The famous charges, taxes and surcharges had been right on the time of publication, however remember the fact that British Airways frequently adjusts the surcharges.

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On short-haul flights inside Europe, particularly in Euro Traveller economic system class on off-peak dates, Reward Flight Saver redemptions often provide spectacular worth and are arguably the easiest way to redeem Avios within the Government Membership program. Whether or not you select to pay the minimal quantity of fifty pence every approach or my most well-liked possibility of 17.50 British kilos for the charges, taxes and surcharges, you are more likely to be simply acquiring TPG’s October 2024 valuation of Avios at 1.4 cents every, if not securing much more worth.

Whereas British Airways Membership Europe short-haul enterprise class is not an excessive amount of to get enthusiastic about given its lack of proper premium seating, for those who’ve by no means flown in a premium cabin earlier than and would worth the extra baggage, lounge entry and precedence every thing perks, it may be a pleasant solution to deal with your self for just a few hours. The onboard catering by the award-winning company Do & Co is first rate, and all drinks, together with free-flowing Champagne, are complimentary.

On long-haul flights, the worth of Reward Flight Savers might be more durable to justify. On off-peak dates, you might be probably to have the ability to discover cheap money fares for a similar dates. So, when utilizing the New York to London instance above, discovering a money fare for $500 or much less could be a significantly better possibility than redeeming 50,000 Avios plus $133.

In premium cabins, it is nice to have the choice of paying extra Avios in trade for decrease surcharges. Within the New York to London instance above, 80,000 Avios every approach in enterprise class is an honest fee in contrast with competing applications, although United MileagePlus has related Saver degree pricing between these two cities with no surcharges.

With premium cabin money fares presently nonetheless costly, redeeming 160,000 Avios and paying $500 in charges, taxes and surcharges represents a strong deal in contrast with paying upward of $3,000 for nonstop money fares in enterprise class to London. For those who select to pay fewer Avios and extra surcharges, 100,000 Avios plus round $1,000 in charges, taxes and surcharges remains to be more likely to be a greater deal than a money fare.

Bear in mind, you’ll be able to select to pay fewer Avios and extra cash.

Associated: Combination of points and cash: How I strategize my award redemptions

Making use of for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a simple solution to earn a significant variety of Avios for on a regular basis spending.

This card — issued by Chase and due to this fact topic to the 5/24 rule — presently provides 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.4 cents every, making the total bonus price $1,190.

The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual payment and earns 3 Avios per greenback spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Degree. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on lodge lodging when bought instantly with the lodge. All different purchases earn 1 Avios per greenback spent.

TPG readers might know we suggest playing cards that earn transferable points due to their added flexibility. This technique nonetheless applies for those who’re attempting to accrue Avios. British Airways is a switch companion of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of many best currencies to earn.

Factors and miles switch from Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (along with occasional transfer bonuses of as much as 40%). In the meantime, Marriott Bonvoy factors switch to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you may get a 5,000-Avios bonus for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred.

The next playing cards presently provide sturdy welcome bonuses that you would simply convert to Avios:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, obtain 20% again in assertion credit on eligible restaurant purchases (as much as $100) throughout the first six months of card membership. Phrases apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

You can even buy Avios, which generally go on sale.