While in general I tend to think the best use of points is for a flight or hotel stay, loyalty programs and credit card companies are increasingly offering members access to some pretty cool events and experiences. This is something that Starwood has been doing for years with their SPG Moments packages, where you can redeem points for access to special experiences you couldn’t otherwise have. They’ve also been offering exclusive cardmember events for those with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card for years. In the meantime, this concept has become much more popular.
If you have the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, British Airways and Chase have teamed up to offer cardmembers some cool experiences through their “Above & Beyond” program.
Cardmembers can redeem 20,000 Avios for a pair of tickets to each of these events. To book these events, you’ll want to call 855-690-8854 once tickets go on sale. There are three upcoming events that cardmembers should be aware of:
An Evening Beneath the Space Shuttle Endeavour
Location: Los Angeles, California
Ticket sale date: September 14, 2017
Event date: October 20, 2017
Join us for the ultimate aviation experience at the California Science Center in Los Angeles for a very special evening with a former British astronaut. During a private dinner, seated beneath the last orbiter built by NASA, hear first-hand from the astronaut about their own space endeavors.
- Private, after-hours access to the California Space Center
- Welcome reception with cocktails and canapes in Disney Court (second level of the main Science Center building), where you will be among amazing air and space artifacts such as the Gemini, Apollo and Mercury Mission Capsules, as well as two permanent exhibit galleries
- Hear first-hand from a British astronaut about his very own space undertakings, especially those where he served as pilot on the STS-123 Endeavour and STS-134 Endeavor
- Private multicourse, wine-paired dinner in the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion
- Meet-and-greet with photo opportunity at conclusion of event
- Receive an autographed gift item
An International Culinary Evening
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Ticket sale date: October 4, 2017
Event date: November 7, 2017
Celebrate the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list at Next Restaurant with a grand tasting menu collaboration including dishes from UK chefs Brett Graham (The Ledbury) and Isaac McHale (The Clove Club). Founded by chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas and under the direction of Executive Chef Jenner Tomaska, Next won the James Beard Award for the Best New Restaurant in America and has received an unprecedented sixteen 4-star reviews from the Chicago Tribune.
- Cocktail reception at The Aviary beginning at 6:30 pm
- Private multi-course wine-paired dinner at Next
- Valet parking
- Personalized gift
Season’s Greetings in New York City
Location: New York, New York
Ticket sale date: November 17, 2017
Event date: December 2, 2017
To get in the holiday spirit, cardmembers will experience an interactive evening with a British chef. Guests will enjoy a traditional British Christmas dinner menu curated by chef and hosted in one of Rockefeller Center’s iconic spaces, 620 Loft & Garden.
- A private multicourse, wine-paired, traditional British Christmas dinner
- Private cooking demonstration, meet & greet and engaging experience with the chef
- Panoramic views of the New York City and a stunning view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
- Receive a personalized gift
Bottom line
These won’t be for everyone, but if you’re someone who enjoys this type of stuff, I’d consider this to be a solid deal. I value Avios at ~1.2 cents each, so to me this is like spending the equivalent of ~$240 on a pair of tickets to any of these events, which seems like a solid deal. If you don’t yet have the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, you should still be able to apply, and as long as you’re a cardmember when tickets go on sale, you can redeem Avios towards these experiences.
Is anyone considering one of these BA Visa cardmember events?
I only looked carefully at one of the packages, but that one says the cardholder must be one of the 2 participants: https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/british-airways/above-beyond/International-culinary Whether that would be enforced at the package site, who knows? Perhaps you would have to show the card for identification.
Can you book the package for other people or do you have to be one of the guests?
By the way, where did you see that the packages are 20,000 Avios each? That is a key bit of info that I didn't see on the Chase/BA website.
The Chicago offer is unbelievable! Assuming it is for the full dinner, the dinner alone retails for over $680 for 2 (this includes tax and tip), and probably over $900 with the wine pairing, not to mention the cocktails and the gift, which I'd guess is a cookbook. See https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/british-airways/above-beyond/International-culinary. Based on your valuation, Lucky, this package is at least 60% off regular price and probably closer to 75% off. Even if you have to...
The Chicago offer is unbelievable! Assuming it is for the full dinner, the dinner alone retails for over $680 for 2 (this includes tax and tip), and probably over $900 with the wine pairing, not to mention the cocktails and the gift, which I'd guess is a cookbook. See https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/british-airways/above-beyond/International-culinary. Based on your valuation, Lucky, this package is at least 60% off regular price and probably closer to 75% off. Even if you have to tip or pay the tax, which are included in the retail price, it would still be a good deal; however, I suspect that the gratuity is included and there will be no tax.
I would definitely try to get the package, but I recently booked that dinner at Next for a night in October when I am in Chicago, and I don't think I can get the card and the Avios in time to go again because the offer will go very quickly on the sale date. Lucky, you should try to get the package if you like exceptional food. It will definitely be worth the trip to Chicago -- and your savings will pay for the travel. This is one of the top restaurants in the world. It will be even better than your beloved First Class airplane dinners! :) You can thank me later.
Does the source of the avios matter? Meaning Does this work no matter the source of the avios (flight earnings or transfers in of ThankYou points for example)? Or only for UR point to avios?
What time does the LA event start?