topic Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners? in Credit Cards

Can you use avios for other one world partners?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:19:42 GMT

I've heard conflicting things on this. I've a bunch of amex MR points from by PRG card and am trying to decide how to use them. I basically only fly domestically, so BA itself isn't that useful to me, but can anyone confirm that you are able to transfer points to BA's avios and then spend them on American Airlines flights (or other one world partners for that matter)? I could also transfer them to delta eventually, but especially if I caught the 40% bonus before it ended, AA could end up being much more valuable.

Thanks!

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

jsucool76 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:32:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I've heard conflicting things on this. I've a bunch of amex MR points from by PRG card and am trying to decide how to use them. I basically only fly domestically, so BA itself isn't that useful to me, but can anyone confirm that you are able to transfer points to BA's avios and then spend them on American Airlines flights (or other one world partners for that matter)? I could also transfer them to delta eventually, but especially if I caught the 40% bonus before it ended, AA could end up being much more valuable.

Thanks!

You can't "transfer" them per se, but when you go to use them it will list AA flights that are available for your travel, and you can use them for a ticket on the AA flights. You need to do this on the BA website though, they won't "transfer" to AA.

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

red259 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:33:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I've heard conflicting things on this. I've a bunch of amex MR points from by PRG card and am trying to decide how to use them. I basically only fly domestically, so BA itself isn't that useful to me, but can anyone confirm that you are able to transfer points to BA's avios and then spend them on American Airlines flights (or other one world partners for that matter)? I could also transfer them to delta eventually, but especially if I caught the 40% bonus before it ended, AA could end up being much more valuable.

Thanks!

Yes, there is a way to do this, but research it first because I believe there are some limitation when trying to book through partners.

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:52:44 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I've heard conflicting things on this. I've a bunch of amex MR points from by PRG card and am trying to decide how to use them. I basically only fly domestically, so BA itself isn't that useful to me, but can anyone confirm that you are able to transfer points to BA's avios and then spend them on American Airlines flights (or other one world partners for that matter)? I could also transfer them to delta eventually, but especially if I caught the 40% bonus before it ended, AA could end up being much more valuable.

Thanks!
Yes, there is a way to do this, but research it first because I believe there are some limitation when trying to book through partners.

i would open up an british airways executive club account and run some of the flights you would be taking to see how many points it would so you can see if its worth it to do 40% transfer MR to BA or stick with delta

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:06:41 GMT

Great suggestions thanks! I played around with pricing going Boston to Minneapolis. Looks like after the bonus AA with BA avios is still a little more expensive (27k MR+$30 vs 25K+$10). I can't tell if it's just the BA website being bad, but it also looks like the travel dates are spottier.

Guess it's best to keep my points in MR for now since I'm not taking the trip until summer. I could always hope for a Delta transfer bonus, but from what I hear that's wishful thinking

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

koalablue — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:19:48 GMT

I love Avios. Avios awards are distance-based, even within the US, so for short-haul flights within the same "zone," such as LA to San Francisco, they're great. Its only 4500 Avios each way, where for most airlines, such as United, the least amount of mile points is 10,000 each way. I've never even used them to fly on British Airways, because they tack on huge fuel surcharges. I believe you can avoid the surcharges if you use Avios on Ireland's Aer Lingus (they're a partner airline), which is a good way to use them if you're going to the UK. The Noob Traveler blog has a ton of info about how to use Avios.

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:23:01 GMT

@koalablue wrote:
I love Avios. Avios awards are distance-based, even within the US, so for short-haul flights within the same "zone," such as LA to San Francisco, they're great. Its only 4500 Avios each way, where for most airlines, such as United, the least amount of mile points is 10,000 each way. I've never even used them to fly on British Airways, because they tack on huge fuel surcharges. I believe you can avoid the surcharges if you use Avios on Ireland's Aer Lingus (they're a partner airline), which is a good way to use them if you're going to the UK. The Noob Traveler blog has a ton of info about how to use Avios.

hopefully that will still last since BA may be buying Aer Lingus pretty soon

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

bigbang91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:39:48 GMT

massive devaluation upcoming,baddd.!

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

koalablue — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:42:14 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
massive devaluation upcoming,baddd.!

No devaluation if you use them for domestic US flights on American, which is what a lot of people use them for!

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:13:12 GMT

Avios only good for non-stop, short haul, domestic.
Boston to Minnesota falls into 2 category, but there is no direct flight from american airline. The only one I see is from Boston to Chicago.

Boston to Minnesota, you need to fly delta.

Amex MR to Delta point conversion will cost you federal tax. So you need to find a foreign delta partner, to avoid the tax.

Virgin Atlantic!!!!!!!!!

You can transfer your MR point to virgin Atlantic. Amex does transfer bonus, so look out for it. Use virgin miles to book delta awards flight.

Don't transfer MR to Delta skypeso, unless your transferring over 200k. The tax is up to $99.00.

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

bigbang91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:57:18 GMT

I only use Avios for business/1st class award to Europe and Asia, so massive loss 4 me!

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:59:26 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
I only use Avios for business/1st class award to Europe and Asia, so massive loss 4 me!

yeah that definately sucks, would you use BA to cathay for asia?

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

bigbang91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:17:19 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@bigbang91 wrote:
I only use Avios for business/1st class award to Europe and Asia, so massive loss 4 me!
yeah that definately sucks, would you use BA to cathay for asia?

I did, it used to cost me only 140k roundtrip to HK, now the miles needed will increase alot

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:23:57 GMT

Ahh I see never found Ba to Cathay as a great option. I am using aa to Cathay right now. 110k for business to bkk isn't too shabby with almost no fuel surcharges

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

bigbang91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:21:17 GMT

aa saver award in ssummer is not available. So if i were to use aa to fly from houston to Hongkong,it would cost me alot more .So for some asia destination,BA is better

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:32:19 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
aa saver award in ssummer is not available. So if i were to use aa to fly from houston to Hongkong,it would cost me alot more .So for some asia destination,BA is better

Yeah i don't plan on going in summer its too hot in bkk anyways lol. I really have trouble finding good use for BA other than short haul domestic flights. I suppose aer lingus or air berlin are options for Europe, who knows with all the changes now, especially if ba is going to gobble up Aer Lingus any day now.

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

bigbang91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:44:08 GMT

Destination in the Carribean or Hawaii also better than aa

Re: Can you use avios for other one world partners?

mongstradamus — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:58:15 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
Destination in the Carribean or Hawaii also better than aa

yeah carribbean is definitely good use for BA, i have contemplated doing MR 40% transfer to travel to carribbean.