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Last Chance to Book International Flights on 59 Routes From the US for Just 6,000 Points

May 29, 2019
•
6 min read
Caribbean Beach
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On May 30, British Airways will be "changing our Avios prices on reward flights" on partner airlines -- meaning now is your last chance to book British Airways partner awards at current rates. While the new award chart isn't confirmed, we at TPG have been able to piece together the puzzle of the new chart here.

One of the great uses of the current award chart is booking American Airlines flights. I recently put together a comprehensive guide to all of the routes where booking AA award flights would be cheaper with British Airways Avios than AAdvantage miles. Sadly, this is all going to change in a few days, so take advantage of these sweet spots now while you can.

Right now is an especially good time to take advantage of British Airways sweet spots as Chase Ultimate Rewards just launched its first-ever transfer bonus. Now through June 16, you'll get 30% Avios more than the usual amount when transferring Chase UR points to British Airways.

On the current BA award chart, nonstop award flights in North America that are 1,151 miles or less in length cost just 7,500 Avios. Combining this rate with that transfer bonus, there are several international destinations where you can fly for just 6,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points each way. That's by transferring 6,000 UR points to get 7,800 Avios, enough for a one-way international flight on some routes. (Remember that you have to transfer points in 1,000-point increments.)

To help you book a last-minute deal, let's go over all 59 of the possible routes that you can book now at this rate, broken up by departure airport:

Charlotte (CLT)

Charlotte-based flyers have six nonstop international options under 1,151 flight miles -- two in Canada and four in the Caribbean. Effective mid-January, these Canadian routes have been reduced to 12,500 AA miles instead of 15,000. The Mexican and Caribbean routes still price at 15,000 AA miles. But all six of these routes are bookable for just 7,500 British Airways Avios until May 30.

  • Charlotte to Toronto (YYZ)
  • Charlotte to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
  • Charlotte to Montreal (YUL)
  • Charlotte to Cancun (CUN)
  • Charlotte to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS)
  • Charlotte to Grand Cayman (GCM)

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

Chicago only has two nonstop routes under 1,151 miles, both between Chicago and Canada:

  • Chicago O'Hare to Toronto (YYZ)
  • Chicago O’Hare to Montreal (YUL)
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Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

There are seven American Airlines routes from Dallas/Fort Worth to Mexican destinations that are under 1,151 flight miles. You can book these flights for 7,500 Avios in economy or 15,000 Avios in first class, instead of 15,000 AA miles in economy or 25,000 AA miles in first. Even better, some options between DFW and Cancun have lie-flat seats in first class.

  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Cancun (CUN)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Cozumel (CZM)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Guadalajara (GDL)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Mexico City (MEX)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Oaxaca (OAX)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth to Cabo San Lucas (SJD)

Los Angeles (LAX)

Los Angeles has just two nonstop options within the distance range. One option is up to Vancouver, Canada, which can be perfect for a skiing or summer getaway,- and the other is down to Cabo:

  • Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada (YVR)
  • Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (SJD)

Miami (MIA)

While most AA hubs only have a few international short-haul options, Miami has 34 of them up to 1,151 flight miles. If you were to book with AA miles instead, these options range from 15,000 to 20,000 AA miles each way during peak periods or 12,500 to 17,500 AA miles each way during off-peak. But all of these routes cost just 7,500 Avios until May 30.

  • Miami to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
  • Miami to Varadero, Cuba (VRA)
  • Miami to Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU)
  • Miami to Havana, Cuba (HAV)
  • Miami to Camagüey, Cuba (CMW)
  • Miami to Holguín, Cuba (HOG)
  • Miami to Grand Cayman, Cuba (GCM)
  • Miami to Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (SCU)
  • Miami to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
  • Miami to Cancún, Mexico (CUN)
  • Miami to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS)
  • Miami to Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
  • Miami to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti (CAP)
  • Miami to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP)
  • Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP)
  • Miami to Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic (STI)
  • Miami to Roatán, Honduras (RTB)
  • Miami to Belize City, Belize (BZE)
  • Miami to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)
  • Miami to San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
  • Miami to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
  • Miami to Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU)
  • Miami to Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
  • Miami to Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)
  • Miami to San Salvador, San Salvador (SAL)
  • Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
  • Miami to Bermuda (BDA)
  • Miami to Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ)
  • Miami to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)
  • Miami to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)
  • Miami to Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands (STT)
  • Miami to San José, Costa Rica (SJO)
  • Miami to Aruba (AUA)
  • Miami to Christiansted, US Virgin Islands (STX)

Philadelphia (PHL)

Most of Philadelphia's international flights are over the Atlantic, but it has four international short-haul options which can be booked for 7,500 Avios:

  • Philadelphia to Bermuda (BDA)
  • Philadelphia to Montreal, Canada (YUL)
  • Philadelphia to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
  • Philadelphia to Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Phoenix (PHX)

Last but not least is AA's southwestern hub Phoenix. Located just north of the Mexico border, it offers four options south of the border that you can book for just 7,500 Avios each way.

  • Phoenix to Cabo San Lucas (SJD)
  • Phoenix to Guadalajara (GDL)
  • Phoenix to Mazatlan (MZT)
  • Phoenix to Puerto Vallarta (PVR)

Bottom Line

For just a couple more days, you can score international flights on 59 different routes from American Airlines hubs for just 7,500 British Airways Avios, or just 6,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to British Airways. However, this just scratches the surface of the possibilities of what you can book with the current British Airways award chart. So, make sure to search, transfer and book a getaway now before the BA award chart changes later this week.

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.