Instructions for redeeming British Airways Flight Saver rewards

Even if you don’t go to the UK, Avios, kind of bonus British Airways Executive Club program (also four other major airline loyalty programs), very easy to earn and exchange.

However, the downside to using this type of bonus is that redeeming long-haul premium cabins booked through the Executive Club program may require travelers to pay a significant amount in fees, taxes and surcharges, making the currency appear less valuable.

However, Reward Flight Savers can be a great use of Avios because they allow you to pay fees, taxes, and surcharges (on short flights) for less than $1 per flight. That’s almost it free of charge Travel as much as you can get.

So how do they work and are they generally any good?

Related: Lower fuel surcharges: Reward Flight Saver is implemented on all British Airways flights

Basic information about British Airways Reward Flight Saver

Flight Savers rewards are available worldwide on all flights operated by British Airways in all cabins except first class.

The Rewards Flight Saver Program is priced per flight, not per itinerary. So, if you fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) via London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on British Airways, rewards will be calculated based on distance on each leg. Since you’ll pay more for Avios due to connecting in London, booking a paid ticket or redeeming miles on another airline with direct flights may be more convenient and better value.

In addition to having Avios available in your Executive Club account, you must have earned at least 1 Avios in the 12 months prior to booking to take advantage of Reward Flight Saver awards. Switch Avios from another Avios loyalty program like Qatar Airways exclusive club or Transfer credit card points into the Executive Club meets this earning requirement.

Economy Flight rewards can be especially valuable for last-minute flights because their fixed prices keep costs low. I regularly use Reward Flight Savers for short flights operated by British Airways within Europe a few days in advance when revenue fares are greater than $250.

Flight Saver rewards can be booked online, just like regular redemptions. They are marked with a blue star and banknote symbol above the flight number.

Related: 5 reasons you should care about British Airways Avios

Bonus Flight Savers for short flights

Flight Saver Rewards are great special offers on short flights operated by British Airways to or from the UK and within the Caribbean.

For flights less than 2,000 miles, you’ll only need 50 British pence (about 62 cents) plus Avios per flight.

Flight distance per flight	Euro Traveler Economy Class during off-peak hours	Economy class for peak Euro travellers	Club Europe business class during off-peak hours	Peak Club Europe business class
0-650 miles	9,250 Avios plus 50 pence	9,750 Avios plus 50 pence	15,000 Avios plus 50 coins	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 coins	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 is a great option if you’re rich in Avios. Remember, all Avios redemptions are inclusive Free checked baggage. You can use it elite benefits with Oneworld’s partner airlines such as American Airlines also.

You can also pay more cash and less Avios if you want to save on your rewards.

Bonus Flight Savers for long-haul flights

Standard Avios prices for British Airways long-haul flights can let you fly to London in business class for as little as 50,000 Avios each way. There’s just one downside: It’s very high Fuel surcharges are applied by the carrierThis can add more than $1,000 to your premium cabin exchange. Also remember, UK Air Passenger Tax Charges may also be payable.

If you choose the Reward Flight Saver option instead, you’ll pay more Avios in exchange for reducing the surcharge to a more reasonable level.

Whether you want to part with more cash or more Avios, the choice is yours.

Below is a breakdown of Reward Flight Saver prices on two popular routes from the US to Europe with return flights on off-peak days. Fees, taxes and surcharges noted are correct at the time of publication but please remember that British Airways regularly adjusts surcharges.

Related: British Airways’ Club Suites do not disappoint: On a retrofitted 777 from London to New York

Should you redeem Avios for Flight Saver Rewards?

On short flights within Europe, especially in Euro Traveler economy class on off-peak days, redeeming Reward Flight Savers often offers spectacular value and is arguably the best way to redeem Avios during Executive Club program. Whether you choose to pay the minimum of 50 pence each way or my preferred option of £17.50 for fees, taxes and surcharges, you can easily get your TPG October 2024 valuation of Avios at 1.4 cents each, if not more value guaranteed.

While British Airways Club Europe’s short-haul business class isn’t too much to get excited about lack of appropriate premium seatingIf you’ve never flown in a premium cabin before and appreciate the extra baggage, lounge access, and priority perks, it can be a nice way to treat yourself for a few hours. Catering on board the ship’s award-winning Do & Co was delicious and all drinks, including free-flowing champagne, were complimentary.

On long-haul flights, the value of Reward Flight Savers may be more difficult to demonstrate. On off-peak days, you can find reasonable fares for those days. So, using the New York to London example above, finding a cash fare for $500 or less would be a much better choice than changing 50,000 Avios plus $133.

In premium cabins, it’s nice to have the option to pay more Avios in exchange for a lower surcharge. However, in the New York to London example above, 80,000 Avios each way in business class is a pretty high rate compared to competing plans. United MileagePlus have similar Economy rates between these two cities with no additional fees.

With cash fares for premium cabins still expensive, exchanging 160,000 Avios and paying $500 in fees, taxes and surcharges is quite a high price compared to paying up to $3,000 for a direct cash ticket. cash in business class to London. If you choose to pay fewer Avios and more surcharges, 100,000 Avios plus about $1,000 in fees, taxes, and surcharges may still be a better deal than the cash fare.

Remember, you can choose to pay less Avios and more cash.

Related: Combining points and cash: How I strategize my rewards redemption

How to earn British Airways Avios

Apply for British Airways Visa Signature® Card is an easy way to earn a significant amount of Avios for everyday spending.

This card — is issued by Chase and is therefore subject to 24/5 rule — currently offers 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. TPG values ​​the Avios at 1.4 cents each, making the entire reward worth $1,190.

The British Airways Visa Signature has an annual fee of $95 and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios for every dollar you spend on hotel rooms when you buy directly with hotels. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per dollar spent.

TPG readers may know we recommend earned cards Points are transferable because of their added versatility. This strategy still applies if you are trying to accumulate Avios. British Airways is the transfer partner of Capital One, Chasing the ultimate reward, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards And Marriott Bonvoymaking Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.

Points and miles transfer from Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (other than occasional transfer bonus up to 40%). Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Additionally, you’ll receive a 5,000 Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

The following cards currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you can easily convert to Avios:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, get 20% back in statement credits on qualifying restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• American Express Platinum® Card: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within 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 within the first three months of account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Reserve Chase Sapphire®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

You can also buy Avios, sometimes at a discount.

Bottom line

British Airways does have a bad reputation for surcharges when changing tickets in all classes. The airline has solved this problem by allowing Executive Club members to use more Avios in exchange for lower surcharges through Reward Flight Savers.

On short flights, the option of paying less than a dollar plus Avios on a full-service airline across Europe is hard to beat.

For longer-haul flights, travelers with large Avios balances may want to take advantage of this option to reduce the cash cost of their next redemption.