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Because it is a distance-based award program, of the best uses for British Airways Avios is to redeem them for expensive short-haul flights on partner airlines like American that start at just 4,500 Avios each way. And with winter showing few signs of letting up across much of the country, I thought I’d remind you that American offers flights to a wide array of Caribbean destinations from Miami (as well as a few from New York and Dallas) that lie within the first two distance ranges of the Avios award chart (up to 650 miles and 1,151 miles) – meaning there are plenty of roundtrip awards to destinations at the 9,000- and 15,000-Avios level.

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For each of these flights, we looked into schedules ranging from late March to early June in order to confirm that there was actual award availability on flights. We mostly found economy availability, unless otherwise noted.

Each itinerary is listed by:

Point of US origin
Destination name and airport code
Frequency
Any special notes about availability
Amount of Avios + cash needed to redeem a roundtrip award flight in Economy, Business or both (as noted)

Miami-Freeport - just 9,000 Avios and $91.
Miami-Freeport – just 9,000 Avios and $91.

MIAMI
4,500 Avios each way (650 miles)

MIA – Freeport, Bahamas (FPO)
4 daily flights, Tuesday-Sunday
3 daily flights, Monday
Award Price: 9,000 + $91

That same flight would cost you $412.
That same flight would cost you $412.

MIA – George Town, Bahamas (GGT)
1 flight, 3 x week
1 additional flight on Saturdays
Limited availability in Economy
Award Price: 9,000 + $52

MIA – Grand Cayman Island (GCM)
2 flights, 4 x week
1 flight, 3 x week
Award Price: 9,000 + $84.60

Miami to Grand Cayman - just 9,000 Avios and $85
Miami to Grand Cayman – just 9,000 Avios and $84.

MIA – Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
3 daily flights
Award Price: 9,000 + $111.49

MIA – Marsh Harbour, Bahamas (MHH)
1 daily flight
1 additional flight on Saturdays
Award Price: 9,000 + $52

MIA – Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
9 daily flights, Wednesday-Sunday
8 daily flights, Monday-Tuesday
Award Price: 9,000 + $92

MIA – Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
3 daily flights
Award Price: 9,000 + $103.56

Fishing boats on the shore of Eleuthera, Bahamas - Photo by Melanie Wynne
Fishing boats resting on the shore of Eleuthera, Bahamas – Photo by Melanie Wynne

MIA – North Eleuthera, Bahamas (ELH)
1 flight, 3 x week
Award Price: 9,000 + $52

Miami to Turks & Caicos for 9,000 Avios + $85.
Miami to Turks & Caicos for 9,000 Avios + $85.

MIA – Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS)
2 daily flights
Award Price: 9,000 + $85

The same flights would cost $547.
The same flights would cost $547.

MIAMI
7,500 Avios each way (1,150 miles)

MIA – Aruba (AUA)
1 flight, 3 x week
Award Price:  1,5000 + $67.50

Robert
Placencia, Belize – Photo by Melanie Wynne

MIA – Belize City (BZE)
2 flights, 3 x week
Award Price: 15,000 + $59.25

MIA – Bermuda (BDA)
1 flight, 3 x week
Award Price: 15,000 + $63.25

MIA – Port au Prince, Haiti (PAP)
3 daily flights
More availability in Business Class than Economy
Economy Award Price: 15,000 + $96.49
Business Award Price: 30,000 + $96.49

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic - Photo by Melanie Wynne
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – Photo by Melanie Wynne

MIA – Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic ( POP)
1 flight, 3 x week
Very limited availability in Economy
Business: 30,000 + $102.60

Miami to Punta Cana in business class for 30,000 Avios and $122.
Miami to Punta Cana in business class for 30,000 Avios and $122.

MIA – Punta Cana, Dominican Repubic (PUJ)
3 daily flights
Very limited availability in Economy
Business: 30,000 + $102.60

The same ticket would cost $939.
The same ticket would cost $939.

MIA – St. Thomas (STT)
3 daily flights
Award Price: 15,000 + $10

MIA – San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
6 daily flights
Award Price: 15,000 + $5

MIA – San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
1 daily flight
Award Price: 15,000 + $20

Colorful street art in San Jose, Costa Rica - Photo by Melanie Wynne
Colorful street art is found all over San Jose, Costa Rica – Photo by Melanie Wynne

MIA – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)
3 daily flights, Tuesday-Sunday
2 daily flights, Monday
Award Price: 15,000 + $102.60

MIA – San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
3 daily flights
Award Price: 15,000 + $45.51

DALLAS (DFW)
7,500 Avios (1,150 miles)

DFW – Cancun (CUN)
6 daily flights
Award Price: 15,000 + $73

Screen Shot 2014-03-12 at 1.35.24 PM

DFW – Cozumel (CZM)
1 daily flight
Award Price: 7,500 + $249.76

That same DFW-CUN itinerary is $518.
That same DFW-CUN itinerary is $518.

NEW YORK (JFK)
7,500 Avios (1,150 miles)

JFK – Bermuda (BDA)
1 flight, 3 x week
Award Price: 15,000 + $63.25

10,000 Avios (2,000 miles)

JFK – San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
3 daily flights
Award Price: 20,000 + $5

Get to San Juan for 20,000 Avios and $5 roundtrip.
Get to San Juan for 20,000 Avios and $5 roundtrip.

So if you’re feeling a chill, now might be a great time to break out those Avios and book a relatively cheap trip to the Caribbean on American. I’m sure there are plenty of other great routes with availability as well, so if you find some other good deals, please share in the comments below!

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

 
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More Things to Know
  • 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios after you spend $10,000 total on purchases within your first year from account opening for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios.
  • Earn a further 25,000 bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 total on purchases within your first year from account opening for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios.
  • Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
  • In addition to the bonus Avios, you will also get 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
  • Chip Technology allows you to use your card for chip based purchases in Europe & beyond, while still giving you the ability to use your card as you do today at home.
Intro APR on Purchases
N/A
Regular APR
17.74% - 24.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Recommended Credit
Excellent Credit

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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