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Answers (11)

AA Miles or Avios

AA Miles or Avios

  1. David Geizhals New Member

    Hi,
    I’m looking to fly short haul in the US East Coast on points. The cost of the same flight is 25k AAdvantage Miles (which I have in my AA account), or 15k BA Avios (that I would instantly transfer over). No surcharges. Which do you recommend that I book with?

  2. rickyw Community Ambassador

    15k Avios for sure – why not save almost 50%?

  3. David Geizhals New Member

    [QUOTE=”rickyw, post: 68504, member: 1436″]15k Avios for sure – why not save almost 50%?[/QUOTE]
    Because miles that are already with an airline are less valuable than “banked” points with American Express or Chase. For example, if the numbers were even, it would be a no brainer to go with the AA miles

  4. OCTinPHL Diamond

    [QUOTE=”David Geizhals, post: 68505, member: 6365″]Because miles that are already with an airline are less valuable than “banked” points with American Express or Chase. For example, if the numbers were even, it would be a no brainer to go with the AA miles[/QUOTE]

    I would agree with that… it also depends on which is your primary “currency”. I’d burn 25k AA miles over 15k Avios IF I was trying to accumulate Avios for something in particular (don’t know what that would be – just using that as an example).

  5. rickyw Community Ambassador

    True, but if you agree with Ben’s valuation of 1.7c for Chase, 1.4c for American, 1.3c for British, then you are looking at $195 vs $255 vs $350

    I guess the unknown is how many points you have.

    I’d also consider the cash cost, depending where you’re traveling that may be cheap too.

  6. David Geizhals New Member

    [QUOTE=”rickyw, post: 68509, member: 1436″]True, but if you agree with Ben’s valuation of 1.7c for Chase, 1.4c for American, 1.3c for British, then you are looking at $195 vs $255 vs $350

    I guess the unknown is how many points you have.

    I’d also consider the cash cost, depending where you’re traveling that may be cheap too.[/QUOTE]

    It’s a last minute ticket so cash cost is high. To me, Chase UR and AmEx MR are worth the same. I’m just not sure if 25k AA is equal to 15k AmEx MR (when transferred in BA Avios)

  7. David Geizhals New Member

    [QUOTE=”David Geizhals, post: 68510, member: 6365″]It’s a last minute ticket so cash cost is high. To me, Chase UR and AmEx MR are worth the same. I’m just not sure if 25k AA is equal to 15k AmEx MR (when transferred in BA Avios)[/QUOTE]
    Also, I’m not sure why the amount of points that I have is relevant.

  8. rickyw Community Ambassador

    I only asked about your balance for a reference point. If you have 100k AA points and 500k Amex points, then I’d probably part with the Amex points first.

    Just giving you some context on how I (and many others on here) weigh our decisions when redeeming points.

  9. RTBones Member

    My take? It depends on which points currency you personally value more (meaning, which you’d rather keep than spend), what your balances in each, and your capacity to replace the point spend in each. I dont think you go wrong either way, its just a matter of preference. I think if its me, I’d spend the AA miles, only because I know my AA miles will recharge faster than my Avios (via Amex or whatever)

  10. OCTinPHL Diamond

    [QUOTE=”RTBones, post: 68514, member: 1686″]My take? It depends on which points currency you personally value more (meaning, which you’d rather keep than spend), what your balances in each, and your capacity to replace the point spend in each. I dont think you go wrong either way, its just a matter of preference. I think if its me, [B]I’d spend the AA miles, only because I know my AA miles will recharge faster than my Avios[/B] (via Amex or whatever)[/QUOTE]

    This +1. While 15k Avios may be the “better” deal, I find Avios harder to use on AA short hops than does Ben, and I have more AA miles than I know what to do with. I would spend the Avios if I already had them in my account, but I wouldn’t transfer them from Chase or Amex – particularly Amex, where I get 35% back when I use MRs for airfare. And it counts as purchased airfare, so I earn EQDs and EQMs (which starts the cycle all over again).

  11. OCTinPHL Diamond

    [QUOTE=”OCTinPHL, post: 68518, member: 4556″]This +1. While 15k Avios may be the “better” deal, I find Avios harder to use on AA short hops than does Ben, and I have more AA miles than I know what to do with. I would spend the Avios if I already had them in my account, but I wouldn’t transfer them from Chase or Amex – particularly Amex, where I get 35% back when I use MRs for airfare. And it counts as purchased airfare, so I earn EQDs and EQMs (which starts the cycle all over again).[/QUOTE]

    As a follow up – like I said, I always found the 7500 Avios flights on AA elusive. Bloggers (not just Lucky) blogged about them, but I rarely found Avios useful for flights here in the US. I did, however, get great value out of Avios flying Aer Lingus intra-Europe. And BA Club Europe as well – LCY to DUB for 17500 Avios, etc.

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