Are you a yay or nay to Avois subscriptions

[FlyingFiona]

I'm considering signing up a to BA's Avios subscription and would be keen to hear others opinion of and experience with it.

I'm also keen to hear how people with 0 points got their first points in order to be eligible for the subscription (I am thinking of just buying something from a store listed on the BA mall and having it sent to someone in the UK as a gift.) Finally which currency did you elect to pay the subscription in?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'm considering signing up a to BA's Avios subscription and would be keen to hear others opinion of and experience with it.

I'm also keen to hear how people with 0 points got their first points in order to be eligible for the subscription (I am thinking of just buying something from a store listed on the BA mall and having it sent to someone in the UK as a gift.) Finally which currency did you elect to pay the subscription in?

I took a subscription two years ago when they first introduced them. Took the "Traveller" subsciption when it was GBP455 and Liz Truss was trying to last longer than that lettuce (so the exchange rate was very favourable for a few weeks). It was way cheaper than the other currencies at the time although I had to sign up with my old London address. It's been fine; the points arrive each month as expected.

I got my first 1.000 Avios from a promotion QR were running a few year back: they gave you 1,000 Avios just for joining their program.

 

[FlyingFiona]

I got my first 1.000 Avios from a promotion QR were running a few year back: they gave you 1,000 Avios just for joining their program.

Oh darn, that promo completely passed me by!

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[PrezRegan]

I got my first avios by buying something from the store, from memory it was a gift card so I didn't even need to worry about it getting delivered somewhere.

BA recently adjusted the prices so now the cost seems pretty much on par across the different currencies with only a small difference - it used to be that everyone not paying in GBP got royally shafted but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

 

[QF_Flyer]

I got my first 1.000 Avios from a promotion QR were running a few year back: they gave you 1,000 Avios just for joining their program.

I remember these, I created accounts for OH and I when QR were giving 5,000 Qpoints for signing up (before the Avios days); figured worst case I could move them to ALL, but it worked out quite nicely.

Re OP's question, I've had a BAEC account for many, many years (before Avios even existed, when they were imaginatively called BA Miles...), so "activating" the account wasn't a problem, but I remember having to do it for IB, a transfer from a credit card, e-Rewards or anything else usually does it, it could even be possible by just buying 1,000 Avios (but I'm not sure).

As for the subscription, it's still good value (generally, always check the cash price vs the Avios price), but the price (pence per Avios) is now closer to 1p per Avios on the highest tier package, when it was around 0.7p before being devalued (made more expensive, you still get the same amount of Avios). Purchasing the subscription was also significantly cheaper in GBP than USD/EUR initially, but that's levelled out somewhat now (I *think* GBP is still better value, but it's a lot closer and exchange rate fluctuations will impact that).

 

[Jacques Vert]

Purchasing the subscription was also significantly cheaper in GBP than USD/EUR initially, but that's levelled out somewhat now (I *think* GBP is still better value, but it's a lot closer and exchange rate fluctuations will impact that).

IIRC, the initial offer was around the time Liz Truss trashed the pound and purchasing in GBP was way better than the alternatives.

 

[QF_Flyer]

IIRC, the initial offer was around the time Liz Truss trashed the pound and purchasing in GBP was way better than the alternatives.

Ha! That would make sense. I know the EUR/USD options were vastly inferior, wasn’t exactly sure why!

 

[jbmemories]

So, what is the current best option (and currency) for an Avios subscription here in AU/NZ?

With these Avios points- what are some good redemptions people have made?

 

[Jacques Vert]

Oh darn, that promo completely passed me by!

Thanks for your feedback.

If you have some Amex points you could always transfer 500 points to 250 QR Avios, and then transfer them to BA at 1:1.

 

[I love to travel]

Can someone recommend a good article for starting out when buying avios. I have 20000 points in my BA account and looking to buy some miles to try and piece together a RTW airfare on points,

@JessicaTam have you bought them?

 

[JessicaTam]

From memory @AFF Editor wrote an article and @Mattg subscribes.

I don’t (but probably should) so I don’t have any direct experience.

 

[andye]

Not sure if this is the sort of thing you are after

How does Avios Subscription work? Buy Avios from 0.99p

Launched in late 2022, Avios Subscription is an interesting way of buying a regular supply of points. A recent price rise has made it less interesting.

www.headforpoints.com

 

[Mattg]

Can someone recommend a good article for starting out when buying avios. I have 20000 points in my BA account and looking to buy some miles to try and piece together a RTW airfare on points,

@JessicaTam have you bought them?

This covers the basics from an Australian perspective:

How to Buy & Redeem British Airways Avios

Avios is the currency of the British Airways Executive Club program.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Notyourbag]

Renewed 200,000 for £1,789 (looks like they honour the legacy rate for the adventurer subscription)

Given my redemption sweet spot is QR Q Suites which opens up weeks ahead of Velocity and given zero availability with QFF it's a no brainer on getting value for money.

 

[bussyboy]

I'm very tempted to take this up in order to unlock QR Qsuites and fly the new BA A380 F in 2026...

Question for those who have been keeping track, are there expectations this may go the way as the *ahem* loyalty/status tier changes recently announced and therefore the value not realised??

 

[Mattg]

I'm very tempted to take this up in order to unlock QR Qsuites and fly the new BA A380 F in 2026...

Question for those who have been keeping track, are there expectations this may go the way as the *ahem* loyalty/status tier changes recently announced and therefore the value not realised??

Nobody really knows, unfortunately.

I've just booked a QR J redemption BER-DOH-MEL which was available and still 90,000 Avios (plus around $600 in taxes/charges). This is for travel later this year. These redemptions have continued to be available for some time, but that doesn't necessarily mean they still will be in 1-2 years.

Personally I'm happy (so far) that I took a punt with an Avios subscription almost 2 years ago.

 

[QF_Flyer]

I'm very tempted to take this up in order to unlock QR Qsuites and fly the new BA A380 F in 2026...

Question for those who have been keeping track, are there expectations this may go the way as the *ahem* loyalty/status tier changes recently announced and therefore the value not realised??

Unlikely in the short-mid term, in my opinion, since they've just destroyed their program on the earning side, the redemption side /might/ be safe for a while, but who knows.

There's also AY/QR (and IB, but that's a horrible program to try and use) that you go move the Avios to and book - QR are likely to align with BA, but AY may not. Of course this is all speculation. I'm still collecting Avios, for now at least.