Avios was formed a year back, and that is when British Airways switched to this new mileage currency. Now, to celebrate a year of the switch, Avios is offering a discount of 25% on long-haul redemptions on the British Airways and Iberia network, in all their cabins (economy, business and first). While Iberia is not servicing India, British Airways serves quite a few bases in India, including Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Now, British Airways is known for passing on the high fuel surcharges on their flights to the passengers. However, a 25% discount should make you feel better. So, BOM-LHR is 25,000 Avios + Taxes/Fuel Surcharge in Y. However, the lesser redemption value would show up as 18,750 Avios + Taxes/Fuel Surcharge, already including the discount into the redemption value displayed.

Long Haul redemptions means, if you had to go to Manchester, BOM-LHR would get 25% discount, but the MAN-LHR segment would be redeemed on full miles. However, if you need to go BOM-LHR-NYC, then on both your segments, you will get the 25% discount.

If you’re planning a trip on British Airways using your Avios, the next six days are the best time to redeem them, with redemption discounts valid for travel up to 31 May 2013. However, you can only book till 19 November 2012 using the 25% discount.

You can find more details here, and the official Terms & Conditions are below:

• You will receive a 25% discount on flight bookings paid for in full Avios and also bookings paid for in Avios & Money.
• For the avoidance of doubt, the 25% discount applies to the Avios only.
• Upgrades after booking are not included in this offer and will not have the 25% discount applied.
• 25% discount does not apply to the taxes, fees and charges which are payable in full on all bookings.
• Taxes, fees and charges shown are estimated and will be higher in other cabins.
• Flights depart London.
• Flights are subject to Avios terms and conditions.
• Bookings must be made between 14/11/12 & 19/11/12 for travel between 14/11/12 & 31/05/13.
• Some flights may have no availability or have very limited availability, particularly during peak periods and periods of high demand.
• The 25% Avios discount on reward flights is only available on British Airways and Iberia operated flights and codeshare flights.
• Flights to and from zones 1, 2 and 3 are not included in this offer, even if the flight is connecting onto a zone 4 and above flight.
• This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

If you are short on Avios, you could be transferring some of your Amex MR or your Citibank PremierMiles for a 30% bonus. I haven’t transferred any as yet, so I am not sure of the time it takes for the bonus 30% to credit to the Avios account. Even if the bonus does not come through before November 19, you could always use it for a later flight. However, the original miles would usually post within 24-48 hours.

Related Posts:

• BA switches from BA Miles to Avios Points as its loyalty currency from November 2011
• Citibank PremierMiles offers 30% transfer bonus on British Airways Avios & 20% on Etihad Guest miles
• American Express offering 30% bonus on transfer to Avios (British Airways!)

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I was just waiting for this to happen in India. American Express has been offering a transfer bonus on British Airways currency Avios for a while now, and different time periods for different countries. I was hoping India was on the map as well, and I just heard that was indeed the case.

For a limited time, till November 30, American Express is offering members who have Amex cards issued in India a 30% bonus on transferring their Membership Reward points to Avios (the mileage currency used for British Airways and Iberia). Usually, 1.6 MR transfer into 1 Avios, but in this case, the redemption level looks better, and you can convert MR into Avios at 1.23 MR = 1 Avios. The minimum transfer needs to be for at least 1200 MR. Do remember, American Express charges Rs. 250 as processing fee towards transfer to airline miles (except for American Express Platinum Card and corporate cards).

How to earn MR?

If you have an American Express card, you are obviously earning MR everytime you swipe your Amex somewhere. American Express Gold Card holders have it pretty good, since they can earn MR for just swiping it 4 times a month for Rs. 250 atleast.

If you don’t have an Amex, the quickest way to earn American Express MR is to get one. American Express runs a promotion via LinkedIn, where it gives a welcome gift to members on approval of the card. For the American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card (Annual fee Rs. 10,000 + taxes), you get 22,000 MR on approval (equivalent to 17,875 Avios). You can also take the Lifetime fee version (Fee Rs. 50,000 + taxes, discounted to Rs. 40,000 + taxes via LinkedIn referral), which gets you 65,000 MR on approval (equivalent of 52,815 Avios). You can check the details of the promotion here, and drop me a line on aj at livefromalounge dot com if you would want to be invited to Amex via my link. [Do not worry, the date is extended till December 31, 2012].

Basically, you have the opportunity to ‘buy’ Avios at less than Rs. 1 per Avios and get a credit card free along. The usual cost of buying Avios is $35 for 1000 Avios and upwards (approximately Rs. 1800 per 1000 Avios).

What are Avios worth?

The best use of Avios is for shorthaul flights which cost only 4,500 Avios + taxes, but India does not get them because BA does not have an India partner yet. However, you can get a one-way flight ticket in Y between India and United Kingdom for 25,000 Avios (and no fees, and redemption availability is usually good!).

If you have plans to travel on oneworld in the near future, I’d say this is a good offer to get in on!

Related Posts:

• Sunday Plastic: The American Express Gold Charge Card
• Now, get an American Express Card at a discount via LinkedIn referrals

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AA, along with its transatlantic JV partners British Airways and Iberia has been offering a bonus mileage program for transatlantic flights on BA, IB or AA for a while now. On the table is the opportunity to earn 25K bonus miles on the first eligible TATL flight, 35K on the second TATL flight and 45K on the third and onwards…The initial promo was valid till end of 2011, but now the offer is extended to 15 March 2012.

As earlier expected, it looks like AA is churning out miles like crazy and making sure it rewards loyal flyers enough to carry them along till they are out of the bankruptcy!

While the opportunity for economy flyers is limited, since it is valid only on full fare economy tickets (booked in Y,B,H) but if you are a business class or a first class traveller, you should scoop these miles right away on your next TATL trip to Europe/UK. Here are all the fare classes which will earn you the bonus miles:

**Includes First Class, Business Class or full-fare Economy Class fares booked in F, A, J, R, D, I, Y, B or H on American Airlines operated flights; on British Airways operated flights, fares booked in First Class, Club World, World Traveller Plus or full-fare World Traveler: F, A, J, R, C, D, I, W, E, T, Y, B or H; on Iberia operated flights, fares booked in Business Class or full-fare Economy Class: J, C, D, R, I or Y.

Do remember, you need to pre register for this offer, and here are more details…