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Redeem Avios for 1.5 Cents Each on Paid British Airways Bookings

May 13, 2016
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3 min read
British Airways A380 First Class featured
Redeem Avios for 1.5 Cents Each on Paid British Airways Bookings
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British Airways just announced a new promotion for using British Airways Avios to offset part of the cost of British Airways bookings. Rather than getting the standard 1 cent per Avios savings, now through May 17, you'll save 1.5 cents per Avios.

Save more and have the option to apply more Avios than the standard Avios Part Payment option.

Even better, this promotion allows you to apply more Avios to your booking than normal. The standard Avios Part Payment option only allows you to apply 7,500 Avios to save $75. For the next week, you can apply up to 15,000 Avios to save $225 off economy tickets and up to 30,000 Avios to save $450 off business and first-class tickets.

Just make sure to book by May 17 for British Airways or American Airlines flights for travel now through September 30.

Is It Worth It?

Get 50% more value out of your Avios when you apply them to a booking during the next week.

In the latest monthly valuations, TPG estimates the value of Avios at 1.5 cents each. We base this valuation off the value you can expect from a flight redemption. Using Avios during this promotion saves you exactly 1.5 cents per Avios, so it would seem to be equal to our valuation.

However, when applying Avios to partially pay for a booking, you'll still earn award and elite-qualifying miles — vs. using Avios for award flights, where you won't earn miles. That means you'll save 1.5 cents and earn miles with the Avios Part Payment option, rather than just saving ~1.5 cents per Avios.

Applying this savings to paid fares is especially valuable this week, as British Airways and American Airlines are running some excellent promotions on paid fares.

Combining Promotions

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Save $850 off a Club World or First class booking by combining the $400 savings from the AARP promotion with $450 in savings from applying Avios.

Save even more by combining this promotion with other promotions currently being offered.

If you're an AARP member, you can save $65 per person off economy tickets and $400 per person off Club World (business class) or First class tickets. Also, if you're crediting your flights to American Airlines and flying before July 31, you'll earn 2,000 (economy) to 25,000 (business/first) bonus miles per round-trip if you've registered for the current AA promotion.

However, you can't combine this Avios Part Payment Promotion with the Chase British Airways Visa Signature Card 10% savings promotion code (when flying on British Airways marketed and operated flights). That means there's no advantage to flying in those outdated and crowded British Airways Club World seats, so grab a seat in American Airlines' amazing 777-300ER business class instead.

Do you plan on utilizing Avios during this promotion?

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  • $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.
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  • 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.
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
4 / 5
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.
4XEarn 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.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

  • 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.