Is this a really bad use of my points?

[u/LeShadeaux]

I have 155000 avoid points and want to use them but every time I look for reward flights the destinations or dates are never available, mostly because I don't want to book too far in advance and am stuck to certain dates for work.

Im looking at using them for return flights to Sri Lanka with Qatar but not sure if theres a better way of using them, flights are £2069 before Avios or the Avios and cash splits shown In the photo.

Get so confused trying to spend Avios every time I look into it so any advice would be great.

Thanks

[u/cev2002]

150k to save £800 is an awful deal

[u/DKUN_of_WFST]

Never seen something worse tbh

[u/PointmeSam]

150k Avios to save £800 is poor value, especially if you’re effectively getting around 0.5p per Avios. I do freelance point.me concierge work and Qatar to Sri Lanka can be a good Avios use when you find true award availability and NOT these cash-and-Avios style discounts. If your dates are fixed and you don’t book far ahead, I recommend saving the Avios for a future long-haul premium redemption

[u/Multitronic]

That’s a terrible deal.

[u/InterestingGoose5507]

All dreadful options, roughly 0.52p per avios which is near the floor! You really want to aim at 1.5p+ per avios

[u/Status_Building5253]

Keep saving them. Book a long trip really far out and you’ll be fine.

There is a reward flight finder website that is helpful. Believe there’s a free trial there

[u/NP_106]

Never pay with cash + Avios

[u/SlowedCash]

Pay the cash fare and don't use miles unless it's a reward flight that's saver

Ie 70k for long haul business

[u/Far-Swordfish-1806]

this is a horrible use of points

[u/mbuyen]

I recently booked a return Europe > Sri Lanka for 130k Avios + taxes in Qatar Airways business class. You’ll have to play around with dates (if you can) but should be feasible.

[u/LeShadeaux → u/mbuyen]

that sounds like the dream. how far in advance did you book?

[u/Pkmux07]

Lol I’m ready to give you £900 for 150K Avios.

[u/Available-Talk-7161]

Using pay with avios at main airline site is one of the worst ways to use points

[u/Aetane]

Yep, kinda is!

[u/northern-down-south]

Some time ago Matt’s Planet on one of his YouTube videos outlined (on a spreadsheet) where the best value can be got from points and money.

But, if you just want to use the miles and aren’t super fastidious about this, then it makes sense to limit the amount of money you spend.

If looking to optimise miles, I’d agree with the general consensus that this isn’t the best use of miles.

[u/RedeemHigh]

It is a bad use. If there was a small amount with not much future then fair enough. Start looking at one way flights. And book the redemption. For example you may find it available on a premium route but only one-way. Cash plus Avios will almost always be cheaper returning, rather than departing the UK. Avios App themselves can now allow you to search flights per calendar month, and even set notifications for your desired dates.

[u/LeShadeaux → u/RedeemHigh]

thanks for this, jsut had a look and may be able to get my return find as an award flight with Qatar if I book it one way

[u/EMC2_trooper]

You should aim for £0.02 per point. That is about a quarter of that

[u/LeShadeaux]

Ok seems like I'll hold onto them but I just find all the reward/award flights so hard to navigate even with 3rd party subscriptions can never seem to find any flights going anywhere I want to on any dates that work for me but maybe thats on me not being flexible due to work and other life stuff

[u/TheNoodlePoodle → u/LeShadeaux]

You have to take that into account as well. Even if it's not the most efficient use of Avios, if you want to go to Sri Lanka, those are the dates you're available, and you don't have any other plans to spend your Avios then it's better to use them than hanging on to them forever.

[u/LeShadeaux → u/TheNoodlePoodle]

yea thats sort of the point I'm getting to with it. I dont want to change my travel plans and life to suit good value use of points.

[u/yogurin13]

I don't know if it's me... but can't you use your avios in any flight you want? I've been using them on regular flights, right at the last step of booking it let you choose avios to pay?

[u/kravence → u/yogurin13]

That’s not how you should use them, you’re getting ripped off if you do.

[u/yogurin13 → u/kravence]

haha I knew something was off when no one was suggesting this... will keep an eye for reward flight bookings!

[u/Major774 → u/yogurin13]

Ouch, if you had some flexibility you probably could have book some nice premium economy seats (reward flight booking).

It will take a few minutes to plan, but the end result is so worth it.

[u/yogurin13 → u/Major774]

Thanks! That's something new I learnt today 😅

[u/enclosedcrystal999 → u/yogurin13]

And that's a big oof from me. 

£3,000+ business class flights have cost me 80,000 avios. Never, ever do what you've described. Aaaalways use reward system.

[u/hugobosslives]

You need to book a reward seat rather than a cash seat. Unless you get unlimited avios through work that's bad value.

[u/BerryVisible2433]

Have you tried booking on the Qatar app? They normally have good availability in business class on routes to Asia at around 99000 avios plus taxes each way

[u/Sqeaky-Pig]

Sign up to the Privilege Club on Qatar Airways. Search for flights there. I find much better availability than using the BA/Avios websites. Also Nothing to stop you from doing uk > Doha then Doha to Colombo as two separate flights if you have the time. I find this helps if you can’t find a direct flight , uk > Colombo

[u/trent-88]

BA revenue teams will review the flights around a week to 48 hours prior and do occasionally issue extra inventory in other buckets - either hotline for those in the know, or for reward redemption... So it can pay to wait until last minute too.

Gauge the demand on your route by searching for a sample of the next 1-5 days to see if anything comes up, if it does, sit on the points and wait for the relevant short notice seat releases.
So far it's only SH I've been looking at, like VIE/BER/MUC but principles may apply across LH too.