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You can now redeem Avios to fly to one of the world's most remote airports

Feb. 27, 2025
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3 min read
Jamestown in St Helena valley
You can now redeem Avios to fly to one of the world's most remote airports
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One of the world's most remote airports is now more accessible thanks to one of the easiest points and miles currencies to earn.

St. Helena Airport (HLE), located 1,200 miles off the coast of Africa in the British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, receives only one weekly departure and one weekly arrival year-round. The service is provided by South African regional carrier Airlink, which is based in Johannesburg.

Previously, travelers could only redeem United MileagePlus miles on Airlink, and at the time of publication, no award seats to or from St. Helena were available through United Airlines.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can now redeem Avios to book Airlink flights, including this unique route, following Qatar Airways' purchase of a 25% stake in Airlink.

This service originates at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) once weekly and stops at Namibia's Walvis Bay International Airport (WVB). The return journey from St. Helena to Johannesburg is nonstop.

Airlink also operates a limited seasonal nonstop service from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to HLE on a handful of Christmas and New Year's dates.

Map showing flights from St Helena Airport
FLIGHT CONNECTIONS

With only weekly service available for most of the year, passengers should be prepared for a 60-minute or one-week visit to this remote island.

Round-trip cash fares in economy class are usually around $1,000 per person. You could also redeem 36,000 Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios plus 4,383.75 South African rand (about $237) in fees, taxes and surcharges. Unlike United's MileagePlus program, Privilege Club shows economy award seats available on this route.

QATAR AIRWAYS

Redeeming Qatar Avios to St. Helena would give you a redemption value of almost 2.1 cents each, far higher than our February 2025 valuation of 1.4 cents each.

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Avios are one of the easiest currencies to earn, with more transfer partners than United MileagePlus. You can earn Qatar Avios by transferring Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Points transfer to Qatar at a 1:1 ratio.

Alternatively, you can transfer Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards Points and Wells Fargo Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 rate. Link your British Airways account to your Qatar Airways account, and the combined Avios balance will show in both, allowing you to book Airlink via Privilege Club.

Related: 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways

Bottom line

Visiting the remote St. Helena Airport is truly a once-in-a-lifetime AvGeek experience. Cash fares have traditionally been high at $1,000 round-trip in economy, and award availability is currently unavailable when redeeming United miles.

The new partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club means anyone with Avios can book flights to and from St. Helena. Thanks to the number of programs that have adopted Avios (and the mechanism to move Avios from program to program), this currency is easy to earn and redeem.

Featured image by ROSN123/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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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.