Time to think about using your BA miles, as they’re on the verge of devaluation.
It’s an open secret that British Airways is about to devalue its miles, probably in the next 12 months, more or less. So, the savvy traveler does what everyone confronted with devaluation does: Spend the miles. Especially as you can use the miles to book travel as far as 354 days out.
You do that by taking advantage of differences between partner-airline award charts, which come in two flavors: zone and flight-distance. The former divides the world into regions (the 48 contiguous states and Canada, for example), with every destination within the zone costing the same number of miles. A flight-distance chart charges based on the distance flown.
FREE BUSINESS CLASS UPGRADES
TO/FROM THE CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND MEXICO
This one is an easy American vs. British Airways—for flights up to about 1,150 miles in distance one-way: On American Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo and Miami-Aruba flights, for example, BA charges only 30,000 miles round-trip for Business Class—20,000 (40%) fewer miles than American charges (50,000 miles); AA charges 30,000 miles for coach. In other words, think of this as a free upgrade.
Yes, BA has hefty fuel surcharges on award tickets to London and many other places operated by its own flights, but to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico on American flights, BA imposes only modest taxes, sometimes less than AA does.
Award taxes on Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo are $82 on AA and BA, and on Miami- Aruba, $85 on both carriers.
BritishAirways.com Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo screenshot:
American.com screenshot:
BritishAirways.com Miami-Aruba screenshot:
IF YOU ARE SHORT ON AVIOS POINTS:
USE CASH AND MILES TO MULTIPLY OPPORTUNITIES
BA’s Avios & Money option can be a great deal if you’re willing to pay more cash and use fewer miles. On Dallas-Cancun in Business Class, BA wants 30,000 Avios points plus $79 in taxes, while the Avios & Money option requires 16,000 miles and $269 in cash. Here’s the translation: BA is selling you the miles at 1.4¢ each (with no limit), more than a penny a mile less than the usual cost. Book before the devaluation and you’re buying miles on the cheap that will take you farther.
It’s a great way to conserve miles or to get in the game with fewer miles. Look at Avios & Money before even thinking about buying Amex Rewards points at 2.5¢ (500,000-mile annual limit). AA charges 50,000 miles in Business Class and 30,000 for coach plus $154 for taxes, $75 more than BA.
BritishAirways.com Dallas-Cancun screenshot:
American.com screenshot:
Getting BA Avios Points
BA is a points-transfer partner with Amex Rewards, Chase, and Starwood/Marriott, making it very easy to get points. Transfer time from Amex Rewards and Chase to BA is often instantly, while Starwood generally takes two to six days.
HOW TO SEARCH FOR BA PARTNER AWARD SPACE
First, create a British Airways mileage account (takes five minutes), then log in to check for award space or call (1-800-452- 1201).
Over the last month BA has been having problems with booking partner award space online for AA flights. If online award availability does not show, call BA at 1-800-452-1201.
It’s recommended to check the AA website for AA-operated award-flight availability before you buy or transfer miles or points, or do anything irreversible, so you know what your options really are. Our past research has found that award space is, at times, similar when using BA miles.
After you’ve logged in, go to “Book a reward flight.”
Now, input your departure and destination, travel dates, desired cabin, and number of travelers; and then hit “Get flights.” That simple.
In the chart below are 25 short-haul routes that offer American Business Class flights to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico for 30,000 miles using BA miles—the same amount as AA charges for coach. In other words, think of this as a free upgrade.
Free Upgrades Using British Airways Miles Instead of American Miles to Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean
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Below, is a sample of mileage award availability on American Airlines in Business Class to Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Sweet Redeem Survey: American Airlines Business Class
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Business Class for 10,000 More Miles Than Coach: British Airways Miles Instead of American Miles to Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean
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[aside headline="Connecting and Long-Distance Flights: Better Deal with American Miles" alignment="aligncenter" width="big" headline_size="default"]
If you are flying longer distances, say, Chicago-San Juan, there’s no sense in using BA miles, as BA does not offer a savings. For example, Chicago-San Juan in Business Class is 75,000 British Airways miles and American is 50,000—no deal with BA miles.
For connecting flights, like Atlanta-Cancun (via Miami), again, AA is the better deal because, AA only charges 50,000 miles total, BA charges for each flight segment, 30,000 miles for Atlanta-Miami and 30,000 miles for Miami-Cancun, a total of 60,000 miles.[/aside]