Avios is a well-known factors forex, utilized by quite a lot of frequent flyer applications, together with British Airways Government Membership, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Membership, and Aer Lingus AerClub.
The Avios forex offers you fairly a little bit of flexibility, since you possibly can switch the rewards between a few of the collaborating loyalty schemes for gratis. It’s price understanding the candy spots of every program, so you possibly can resolve beneath what circumstances it’s best to redeem rewards by a selected program, relatively than transferring them to a different “taste” of Avios.
I’ve written up to now about one of the best makes use of of British Airways Government Membership Avios and one of the best makes use of of Iberia Plus Avios.
Aer Lingus’ Aer Membership frequent flyer program might be the least talked about Avios rewards program, so on this submit I wished to take a quick take a look at redeeming Avios with this forex. Below what circumstances do you have to redeem Avios by Aer Lingus AerClub? Are Aer Lingus redemptions cheaper by AerClub than by different applications?
earn Aer Lingus AerClub Avios
Even should you’re not an Aer Lingus frequent flyer, there are many methods to rack up Aer Lingus AerClub Avios:
Fundamentals of redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios
Let’s speak a bit about beneath what circumstances it is sensible to redeem Avios by the Aer Lingus AerClub program, relatively than by different Avios currencies. To very broadly summarize the takeaway:
- If you wish to redeem for journey on Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus AerClub and British Airways Government Membership sometimes have the identical award pricing, although AerClub is usually cheaper
- For redemptions on all associate airways, switch rewards to one of many different Avios currencies (particularly British Airways Government Membership) to maximise worth
Earlier than we take a look at redemption choices, let me cowl a number of fundamentals of Aer Lingus AerClub Avios:
- Aer Lingus AerClub Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity, so it’s essential earn or redeem Avios in that timeframe to maintain them energetic
- Aer Lingus AerClub allows you to change or cancel an award as much as 24 hours earlier than departure, for a payment of €42.50 per passenger per reserving; inside that timeframe, award tickets can’t be modified or canceled
- If you wish to redeem Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on-line, you are able to do so at this hyperlink
Redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on Aer Lingus
The very best use of Aer Lingus AerClub Avios is for award bookings on Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus AerClub has a zone based mostly award chart for these bookings, with off-peak and peak pricing (relying on the day of the 12 months, in step with different Avios applications). Under you will discover the Aer Lingus AerClub award chart.
As is the case with different Avios currencies, Avios pricing is per section. So you possibly can count on to pay the next variety of Avios for transatlantic flights on Aer Lingus to the USA (Aer Lingus operates some transatlantic flights out of Dublin, Manchester, and Shannon):
- Transatlantic flights to the Northeast and Midwest of the USA value 13,000-20,000 Avios in financial system, or 50,000-60,000 Avios in enterprise class
- Transatlantic flights to the remainder of the USA value 16,250-25,000 Avios in financial system, or 62,500-75,000 Avios in enterprise class
The excellent news is that the surcharges on these awards are actually delicate, so this can be a nice Avios redemption possibility, particularly in comparison with journey on British Airways.
So, if you wish to redeem for journey on Aer Lingus, how does Aer Lingus AerClub and British Airways Government Membership award pricing evaluate?
Nicely, for many markets, you’ll discover that pricing is nearly equivalent. For instance, a one-way off-peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from Dublin to Philadelphia prices 50,000 Avios plus precisely $169.10 in taxes and charges with every program.
Nonetheless, in some circumstances you’ll discover that pricing is definitely decrease by Aer Lingus AerClub than by British Airways Government Membership. For instance, take a one-way off-peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from San Francisco to Dublin. This prices 62,500 Avios plus $163.30 in taxes and charges by Aer Lingus AerClub.
In the meantime the identical award would value 90,000 Avios plus $158.70 in taxes and charges by British Airways Government Membership. So whereas it’s a number of {dollars} cheaper, you pay much more Avios.
Typically there are simply quirks with the 2 applications that I don’t have an evidence for. For instance, take a one-way peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from Boston to Shannon. This prices 60,001 Avios plus $141.30 in taxes and charges by Aer Lingus AerClub. I’m undecided the place that additional Avios comes from, however…
In the meantime the identical award would value 60,000 Avios plus $1,002.30 in taxes and charges by British Airways Government Membership. I’m undecided why this system decides to impose large surcharges particularly on this route, but it surely does.
In order you possibly can see, in nearly all conditions you’re both simply as effectively off redeeming by Aer Lingus AerClub, or higher off. So if you’ll redeem on Aer Lingus, it’s at all times price doing a side-by-side comparability of pricing, after which you possibly can transfer round Avios as wanted.
Redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on associate airways
If you wish to redeem Avios on any airline apart from Aer Lingus, you’re higher off transferring your Aer Lingus AerClub Avios to a different taste of Avios. Usually talking:
Backside line
Aer Lingus AerClub is a program that doesn’t get a lot consideration, although it companions with some main transferable factors currencies. There’s no want to check this program in nice element. What it’s best to perceive, although, is that AerClub often has one of the best award pricing for journey on Aer Lingus, at the very least amongst Avios currencies.
So should you’re considering of redeeming Avios on Aer Lingus, it’s at the very least price checking AerClub pricing, because it could be higher than British Airways Government Membership pricing. For all different redemptions, you’re finest off utilizing one other Avios forex, like British Airways Government Membership, Iberia Plus, or Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
What’s your tackle the Aer Lingus AerClub program?
