Avios points

[gavroche]

Does anyone use them? I found out it is cheaper to buy your tickets direct from the airline than using Avios. With Avios, they add on all sorts of charges and taxes which makes it more expensive. Same with hotels, so what can they be used for otherwise? Can we exchange them for goods instead? I think it was a lot easier and more straightforward when it was air miles.

 

[ianrauk]

I use them just to get money off flights and pay for upgrades rather then use them for reward flights.

 

[vickster]

Yep I've used them for premium cabin long haul flights. Wouldn't bother in Europe / uk

 

[wonderloaf]

Just used a bundle of them for a holiday in Barcelona for myself and Mrs W, my sister and her hubby. We booked them about a year ago and although didn't save a massive amount it was better than losing them .... paid for quite a few rounds of sangria!

 

[Rasmus]

The UK has very steep departure taxes, so short haul reward flights are not good value. Some people resort to booking long haul flights from somewhere else in Europe (Oslo is apparently particularly popular) and then getting a separate cheap economy ticket to get to the start point.

 

[Beebo]

I took my wife up the Shard for her 40th birthday.
I think it cost me about 15,000 points but it saved me a £450 hotel room, which i would not otherwise have paid good money for.
You can also buy wine from their wine club.

 

[DCLane]

I use them for cinema vouchers. Nothing else.