4 occasions it’s higher to ebook American Airways award flights with British Airways Avios
American Airways is among the largest and hottest airways on the planet. Nonetheless, once you go to ebook an award ticket on AA, do not robotically assume your AAdvantage account would be the greatest loyalty program to make use of. Do you know that you may ebook American Airways flights on associate carriers? And that it could price you fewer miles?
Since British Airways is a fellow Oneworld alliance member, members of the British Airways Government Membership can redeem Avios, BA’s loyalty foreign money, on associate airways; this consists of American Airways and Alaska Airways. Since you’ll be able to switch most bank card factors to British Airways, it’s value contemplating which program you must ebook with.
Listed here are some situations the place it will possibly make sense to ebook an American Airways award flight with British Airways Avios slightly than American’s personal AAdvantage miles.
Associated: British Airways Government Membership: Information to Avios, elite standing and switch companions
Brief-haul flights in peak durations
AAdvantage nonetheless operates utilizing an award chart. Nonetheless, in 2023, it shifted its charts to mirror extra of a dynamic pricing mannequin with flights on AA “ranging from” 7,500 miles inside the U.S. and Canada. Nonetheless, American will typically have award flights priced decrease than the award chart.
In the meantime, Avios redemptions for home AA flights begin from 8,250 Avios factors, every means in economic system as follows:
- Zone 1 (as much as 650 miles): 8,250 Avios
- Zone 2 (651-1,151 miles): 11,000 Avios
- Zone 3 (1,152-2,000 miles): 14,500 Avios
- Zone 4 (2,001-3,000 miles): 16,000 Avios
On off-peak dates, like midweek in winter, you’ll be able to usually discover flights by means of AAdvantage for as little as 7,500 (or typically decrease). It is a higher choice than the 8,250 Avios BA would cost.
Nonetheless, if you need a flight at a particular time or must fly to a particular airport, utilizing Avios is a less expensive choice as soon as the AA costs begin to rise dynamically.
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For instance, flights from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) to New York space airports in September begin from an affordable 8,500 AAdvantage miles.
Nonetheless, if you wish to take the primary flight of the day and fly into LaGuardia Airport (LGA), AA costs this flight at 12,000 miles.
You possibly can ebook the identical Zone 2 flight by means of British Airways for 11,000 Avios (plus the identical taxes and costs AAdvantage expenses), saving you 1,000 miles.
In case you are seeking to ebook this identical flight in top notch, you’ll pay greater than 83,000 miles. For those who ebook this identical flight on British Airways utilizing Avios, you’d pay simply 20,500 Avios.
Associated: A assessment of American Airways in top notch on the Airbus A321neo from Philadelphia to San Francisco
Nonstop economic system flights to Hawaii
One other candy spot within the Avios versus American Airways battle is nonstop flights between the West Coast and Hawaii on both American- or Alaska-operated flights. Reserving one-way, nonstop award flights lower than 3,000 miles lengthy by means of British Airways will price simply 16,000 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes and costs every means.
American Airways provides flights between the U.S. and Hawaii beginning at 20,000 miles every means, so it can save you not less than 4,000 miles by reserving by means of BA’s Government Membership slightly than AA’s AAdvantage program.
Notice that these costs apply to flights on each American and Alaska Airways, so in both case, you are doubtless higher off redeeming Avios for awards to Hawaii from a number of West Coast gateways. Keep in mind, too, that the Avios pricing solely applies to nonstop flights; when you begin including connections, you may wish to evaluate costs in every program earlier than deciding which provides one of the best worth.
Associated: The very best time to go to Hawaii for good climate, smaller crowds, offers and extra
Nonstop flights to South America
Like home flights, yow will discover some candy spots with shorter worldwide flights utilizing Avios slightly than AAdvantage miles.
Taking a look at routes like:
- MIA to Ernesto Cortissoz Worldwide Airport (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia
- MIA to Rafael Nunez Worldwide Airport (CTG) in Cartagena, Colombia
They’re simply lower than 1,150 miles lengthy and value 11,000 Avios in economic system class.
These flights begin at 12,000 miles every means when booked with AAdvantage miles; reserving with Avios as a substitute saves just one,000 miles. Nonetheless, with American’s dynamic pricing, on the pattern date of Dec. 4 above, the identical flights are priced at 20,500 (plus the identical charges and taxes) — nearly twice the variety of factors.
Nonstop flights to Japan in economic system
When reserving with AAdvantage miles, flights from the West Coast to Japan in economic system price 35,000 miles every means.
Nonetheless, Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) requires simply 25,750 Avios that will in any other case price 35,000 AA miles.
You may also ebook Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) to Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) and HND for 31,000 Avios as a substitute of 35,000 AA miles.
Sadly, the enterprise and first-class awards aren’t cheaper with Avios than AAdvantage miles.
The best way to earn Avios
The simplest option to earn a significant variety of Avios for on a regular basis spending is by making use of for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.
This card is at the moment providing new candidates 85,000 Avios after they spend $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months of opening an account.
The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual price and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Stage. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on resort lodging when bought immediately with the resort. All different purchases earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.
British Airways can be a switch associate of Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, American Specific Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of many best currencies to earn.
The next playing cards all at the moment supply sturdy welcome bonuses that you can simply convert to Avios:
- American Specific® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- The Platinum Card® from American Specific: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Test to see when you’re focused for a 125,000-point welcome supply by means of CardMatch (supply topic to vary at any time). Phrases apply.
- Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
- Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit score Card: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Backside line
Avios are beneficial as a result of they’re simple to earn and redeem. The surcharges on British Airways-operated flights may be excessive. Nonetheless, the smart award chart means, not like on different packages that worth flights dynamically, you may hardly ever see a six-figure worth for a single premium cabin flight on BA.
Due to this fact, reserving American Airways flights by means of British Airways can typically be a way more profitable redemption choice. So, it is all the time greatest to double-check each packages earlier than buying your award ticket.