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Message
paging AmeriKop
Posted on 1/31/17 at 1:47 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 1:47 pm
Okay, I'm trying to swing a late May trip to London maximizing my use of points. Gonna get a Sapphire Reserve, so assume 50K bonus points from that. And I plan to fly British Airways since it is instituting nonstop RTs from my origin city. Flight one way is abt 4200 airmiles. Cash price is $1430 RT. How do I work this to my advantage? I can't find BA award charts....TIA.
4
Posted on 1/31/17 at 4:04 pm to hungryone
quote:
Gonna get a Sapphire Reserve, so assume 50K bonus points from that.
If you are under 5/24, apply in-branch before 3/31/ and get 100K.
quote:
And I plan to fly British Airways since it is instituting nonstop RTs from my origin city.
Sure, you could do this, but BA charges HUGE fuel surcharges on their awards to/from London. Especially when you exit London. So you'd be looking at $406 in surcharge plus the points (41,250) you spend. Are you flexible at all? Or are you pretty set on this? If the flight really is $1,453, you could argue this is not a bad redemption. Since you are getting about 2.53c per point value. ($1453-$406/41,250)
Availability seems to be WIDE OPEN.
Looks like YQ is $448. Not $406. Still not bad value for points.
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 4:13 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 4:14 pm to AmeriKop45
Ya, I was looking at booking my brother MSY to LHR and there was a lot of availability in Spring/Summer that avoided the taxes by not flying BA with just one stop between.
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 4:17 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Probably not a good option when using avios though, right (with the stop)? If they have AA miles then yeah.
Ideal situation would be leave on the non stop BA flight. May is still Off Peak so it will be 16,250 miles + $120.
Then coming back, leave out of Madrid or something and use AA miles. 30K + $50. 27K if you have one of the AA cards. Damn Im tempted to do this myself
Ideal situation would be leave on the non stop BA flight. May is still Off Peak so it will be 16,250 miles + $120.
Then coming back, leave out of Madrid or something and use AA miles. 30K + $50. 27K if you have one of the AA cards. Damn Im tempted to do this myself
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 4:25 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 4:21 pm to AmeriKop45
Hungryone,
If you are booking through UR portal, round trip flight for 2 in Economy on that BA flight was about 120K miles a few months ago for April trip. That avoided (or baked in) those fuel surcharges BA charges for a mileage based redemption.
Get spouse to get a card as well and you will be pretty damn close even at 50K.
If you are booking through UR portal, round trip flight for 2 in Economy on that BA flight was about 120K miles a few months ago for April trip. That avoided (or baked in) those fuel surcharges BA charges for a mileage based redemption.
Get spouse to get a card as well and you will be pretty damn close even at 50K.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 5:03 pm to hungryone
Can you fly to Boston? Boston to Dublin is much cheaper on Aer Lingus using Avios. Then it's just a quick hop to London.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 5:22 pm to BlackenedOut
quote:
If you are booking through UR portal, round trip flight for 2 in Economy on that BA flight was about 120K miles a few months ago for April trip. That avoided (or baked in) those fuel surcharges BA charges for a mileage based redemption.
Yea, I would book through ultimate rewards
Posted on 1/31/17 at 5:27 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Can you fly to Boston? Boston to Dublin is much cheaper on Aer Lingus using Avios. Then it's just a quick hop to London
Last I heard they moved DUB 6 miles further on their systems thus making it fall out of the 12,500 zone. Needless to say, DUB didn't actually move and it is still technically under 1,200 miles.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 5:27 pm to hungryone
Don't apply for the card if you are getting 50k signup bonus.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 5:29 pm to LSU6262
quote:
Yea, I would book through ultimate rewards
See that was my first instinct too. But $1453 = 95K points. I would do the RT for $480 + 32,500 (if RT is within May. Otherwise 41,250). And you have the option to do 11,400 + $770 too. Both are better than 1.5c yields.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 6:02 pm to AmeriKop45
Thanks to everyone for the assistance. I'm dumb--what does 5/24 refer to? ETA: I figured that out. Can I really get the 100K if I sign up in-branch? Better half is having cataract surgery on both eyes shortly, so I'll have no prob meeting the spend on two cards.
I did manage to get the award ticket lookup to work on BA's website, and it looks like the RT is 32,5K pts plus the $480. Still better than the cash price....and for this trip, I need a departure city relatively close in and the nonstop both ways.
Why is it so damn cheap to fly to Dublin? Headed there over Mardi Gras b/c the ticket was practically cheaper than a road trip to TX and back. (Well, not quite, but like $300).
I did manage to get the award ticket lookup to work on BA's website, and it looks like the RT is 32,5K pts plus the $480. Still better than the cash price....and for this trip, I need a departure city relatively close in and the nonstop both ways.
Why is it so damn cheap to fly to Dublin? Headed there over Mardi Gras b/c the ticket was practically cheaper than a road trip to TX and back. (Well, not quite, but like $300).
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 6:12 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 7:28 pm to hungryone
Dublin is trying to ramp up its tourism. You can find really cheap flights to it rn. I think it was $450 last summer for me on Delta from NYC.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 7:34 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
If you are under 5/24, apply in-branch before 3/31/ and get 100K.
Interesting. I've been having non-buyers remorse for not jumping on the original offer. I still don't know how I'd get to the spend requirement without stretching it with manufactured spend.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 8:14 pm to hungryone
quote:
Can I really get the 100K if I sign up in-branch?
Yes
quote:
RT is 32,5K pts plus the $480
Do this. Only problem is - you need to get the card, meet min spend, wait for points to post and then hope availability is still there. I'd get on it (at least the first CSR) ASAP.
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 8:15 pm
Posted on 1/31/17 at 8:35 pm to AmeriKop45
The dates are a bit flexible, mid to late May, staying off peak. I should be able to meet the min spend quickly....I'm selling back a VW TDI in two weeks, and I can pay off a chunk of my new car w credit card. So the spend will be done by month's end....dunno how quickly the points post. Honestly. now that I consider it, I don't absolutely need to fly BA. I've got a tidy pile of Delta sky miles too....so I can maybe leverage those instead.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 9:01 pm to hiltacular
Ton of capacity into Dublin right now, and prime season ramps up in June. The airport is growing like crazy (primarily shorthaul) but there are thoughts that IAG (owns BA Iberia and Aer Lingus) will build DUB into a trans-Atlantic transfer hub to relieve LHR.
Just wait til Norwegian starts flying Cork/Shannon to the NE in 2018. It'all be cheap like Wowair.
Just wait til Norwegian starts flying Cork/Shannon to the NE in 2018. It'all be cheap like Wowair.
Posted on 1/31/17 at 10:08 pm to hungryone
quote:
ungryone
Contrary to my belief, I actually think the BA flight @ 32,250 + $480 is worth considering. I've started to value non stops a lot. Especially with a long haul like this one. Go to sleep in New Orleans and wake up at your destination in London? Now that's something.
Your points will post at the end of the billing cycle in which you meet your min spend. Again, see if it is possible to get this card in-branch tomorrow and meet the spend ASAP.
This post was edited on 1/31/17 at 10:09 pm
Posted on 2/1/17 at 1:05 pm to hungryone
Thanks again for everyone's help. Went into a branch today, signed up for the card, should have it in my hands on Friday. Looking forward to maximizing my use of points this year w/lots of upcoming international travel.
Posted on 2/1/17 at 4:05 pm to Dead Mike
quote:
I still don't know how I'd get to the spend requirement without stretching it with manufactured
One of your easiest routes without getting crazy is to head to your local grocery store like Winn Dixie and buy a ton of their gift cards. You know for a fact you'll be back buying groceries in the future.
As long as you can float yourself.
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