October 7, 2020 - BA's 50% Off Avios Redemption Sale

With COVID wrecking havoc on aviation and airlines around the world, a great way to entice people back into the sky is with a sale. But this isn't a typical fare sale. It is a redemption sale. Air Canada had a similar one a few months back over the summer, but BA seemed a lot more attractive as it applies to all their flights.

Many years ago before the rest of Hong Kong realized BA's redemption rates were cheaper than Cathay's Asia Miles for many regional routes on Cathay metal, I had obtained a local credit card that accumulates Avios. At the time, the bank offered a hefty 8000 avios sign-up bonus. Since then, much of my spending went to that card and a steady stream of avios went into my account each month.

A night ago, I received an email that redemptions would be discounted up to 50% in any cabin. This limited time offer is valid for travel until end of June 2021, and you have to book before October 13, 2020.

Avios redemption rates are generally grouped into peak and off-peak, and obviously off-peak is cheaper. Below are some examples of just what a great deal this is for both long-haul and short-haul one-ways and gauge your appetite for non-essential tourism.

Transcontinental Long-Haul
Routing
Travel Period
Economy Class - Discount
Business Class - Discount
HKG/BKK-LHR
Off Peak
9,750
37,500
Peak
15,000
45,000
LHR-JFK
Off Peak
6,500
25,000
Peak
10,000
30,000
LHR-SFO
Off Peak
8,125
31,250
Peak
12,500
37,500
LHR-SYD
Off Peak
16,250
62,500
Peak
25,000
75,000
Europe
LHR-CDG
Off Peak
6,375
10,688
Peak
6,750
11,625
LHR-FCO
Off Peak
8,250
14,438
Peak
9,000
16,125

To put this into perspective, a Hong Kong - London roundtrip redemption in Economy is less than 20,000 avios, the typical price for a short-haul trip to Tokyo with 1/3 the travel time. Transatlantic also looks like a steal as well. These are incredibly wonderful deals.

Intra-Europe didn't seem as attractive. A trip to Paris is only marginally cheaper than going further to Asia. Notice that the engine also prices the kangaroo to Sydney with a Singapore stopover at only 16,250 avios, but Business is much pricier. If you can tough it out in cattle class all the way, you will only be 32.5k avios poorer roundtrip. But there are many risks to consider. With COVID being so unpredictable and a vaccine still some time away, do consider whether you really need to travel for tourism, the quarantine requirement, and even entry restrictions for foreign passport holders.

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