Rate my redemption: New York to London in British Airways economy, using Avios
Editor's Note
. If you would like our loyalty experts to rate your redemption, please email ben.smithson@thepointsguy.co.uk with a description of what you redeemed your airline, hotel or credit card points or miles for, and why. Please do not include any personally identifying information like passenger name records or passport details.
We bring you tips and tricks to earn and redeem your points and miles every week here at TPG, so you can maximize your travel.
Our team loves hearing success stories about how you're using your loyalty currencies. Unsure if you're getting a great deal from your next redemption?
Why not ask the experts?
Today, TPG UK's own social media superstar Liam Spencer shares his most recent redemption:
In July I'm flying to New York to film a very special video for TPG UK's YouTube channel (stayed tuned!) with a few other members of the team. It will be the first time I've visited the Big Apple since COVID-19 halted travel all the way back in March 2020, so I wanted to give myself a good amount of time to become reacquainted with the city.
I booked a week's vacation in the city following the work trip, with plans for another friend to fly out of London and meet me in NYC. This meant I needed to book a flight back home to London in early August.
After a quick scan on Google Flights, the cheapest nonstop one-way economy fare available was a 422 euro [$519.53] ticket with Delta, and a British Airways flight would have cost 515 euros [$634.03].
Neither of these options was particularly appealing, especially given that I'd built up a fairly hefty balance of over 200,000 points across various programs during the last couple of years, with little chance to use them thanks to the pandemic.
I found excellent award availability with British Airways, and decided to book a one-way ticket from JFK to London Heathrow in World Traveller economy for 30,000 Avios and 46 euros [$56.63] in taxes and fees. This to me felt like a great savings on the cheapest cash price, and also gave me a chance to dip into my points balance for the first time in a couple of years.
How do you rate my redemption?
Ordinarily, I don't recommend redeeming any airline points or miles for long-haul economy flights. This is because the fees, taxes and surcharges can be close to the cost of a normal cash fare. For example, I can see round-trip nonstop flights from London to New York from as low as $453 in off-peak periods.
You could alternatively redeem 13,000 Avios plus $492.45 in fees, taxes and surcharges. This would not be a good redemption as you would be paying more in fees, taxes and surcharges than the cost of a cash fare, plus be parting with 13,000 Avios.
British Airways offers a sliding scale for Avios redemptions like this — you can reduce the cost of your fees, taxes and surcharges by paying with more Avios — this is what Liam did to pay only 46 euros ($56.63) on top of his Avios for his one-way flight.
Related: Why are the fees, taxes and surcharges on Avios redemptions so high?
A quirk of transatlantic flights is that one-way fares are often more expensive than a round-trip flight on the same route and dates. Liam found a one-way BA flight for 515 euros ($634.03), though the price would have dropped to as low as 431 euros ($530.61) if he had booked a New York-to-London round trip, rather than a one-way flight.
Even compared to the $530.61 price, Liam is getting good value from his Avios redeeming the way he did. Using our current valuation of Avios of 1.5 cents each, his 30,000 Avios plus $56.63 in fees, taxes and surcharges would be worth $506.63. Using this to save $530.61, he's getting around 1.7 cents in value per Avios.
He would have achieved slightly better value by paying less Avios and more fees, taxes and surcharges on the sliding scale above, but I recognize Liam is keen to use more Avios as he has a large balance.
Related: The best flights to ease jet lag when traveling to or from London
So, I rate this redemption a smart use of Avios. Just remember to check the price of round-trip cash fares across the Atlantic next time, as you may find them cheaper than one-way.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees