Redemptions

Some people feel that it is size that matters; I think it is how you use it. I am, of course, talking about your miles and points balance.

I know of people who have Avios balances of over 500,000 – it is enough for return First Class flights to Australia, or would pay for your weekly commuting from Nice to London for a year. Yet if you don’t use then, what is the point of having them?! They are only worth something when you spend them.

I think it is far more important to think about how the points have been used. I wrote a post about this at the beginning of the blog, but feel that this might be better placed here so it can be updated as and when.

Here, then, are the redemptions I have made so far since my first in April 2013, last updated July 2020.

Flights

  • LHR-ABZ-LHR = 9,000 Avios
  • LHR-EDI-LHR = 9,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-IAD // JFK-LHR in First = 120,000 Avios plus a BA Amex 2for1 voucher
  • ABZ-LHR-GLA = 4,500 Avios
  • 2 x GLA-LHR-BHD = 9,000 Avios
  • LHR-SIN-SYD-CBR-MEL-DXB-LHR with SIN-SYD in First = 149,000 Avios
  • LHR–DUB–LHR in CE = 15,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-NCE-LCY with LHR-NCE in CE = 15,000 Avios + Cash
  • LHR–FCO–LHR in CE = 25,500 Avios
  • 3 x LHR–NCE– LHR in CE = 36,000 Avios plus a BA Amex 2for1 voucher
  • 2 x CPH–LHR–SFO–LHR–CPH in CE/CW = 60,000 Avios part-pay for £1000 off
  • 2 x LHR–CPH = 9,000 Avios
  • CPH–LHR in CE= 9,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-NCE-LHR = 30,000 Avios part-pay for £300 off
  • LGW-JER-LGW in CE = 15,000 Avios part-pay for £150 off
  • JER-LGW-AMS-LGW-JER in CE = 15,000 Avios part-pay for £150 off
  • LHR-SOF-LHR in CE = 34,000 Avios
  • LHR-CPH-LHR = 9,000 Avios
  • CPH-LHR-MAN-PHL-LAS-JFK-LHR-CPH = 35,000 Avios part-pay for 1787DKK off
  • 2 x LHR-MAD in Business = 25,500 Avios
  • 2 x LHR–NCE– LHR in CE = 18,000 Avios plus a BA Amex 2for1 voucher
  • 2 x LHR-IAD-LHR in First = 160,000 Avios plus a BA AmEx 2for1 voucher
  • 2 x LHR-INV-LHR in CE one way and Economy the other = 27,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-NCE-LHR  = 16,000 Avios
  • 3 x LHR-GVA = 13,500 Avios
  • 3 x GVA-LHR = 27,000 Avios (Gold Priority Reward)
  • 2 x LHR-MAH in CE = 30,000 Avios
  • 2 x MAH-LHR = 30,000 Avios (Gold Priority Reward)
  • 3 x LHR-NCE = 12,000 Avios
  • 2 x LCY-NCE = 9,000 Avios
  • 2 x NCE-LGW in CE = 18,000 Avios
  • 1 x NCE-LGW = 4,500 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-HKG-CNS-SYD-CBR//MEL-PER-DOH = 240,000 Avios
  • 2 x CBR-MEL = 9,000 Avios
  • 2 x DOH-LHR in CW = 120,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-INV-LHR = 18,000 Avios
  • 2 x LHR-TLS / GVA-LHR = 9,000 Avios plus a BA AmEx 2for1 voucher
  • 3 x LHR-INV-LHR in CE = 35175 Avios
  • 3 x LHR-INV in CE = 29925 Avios
  • 3 x ABZ-LHR-TLS in CE 18900 Avios plus a BA AmEx 2for1 voucher
  • 3 x GVA-LHR in CE = 18900 Avios
  • 4 x LHR-NCE-LHR (one way in CE) = 28350 Avios plus a BA AmEx 2for1 voucher
  • 1 x INV-LHR-AGP in CE = 
  • 1 x UUA LGW-GVA = 6,500 Avios
  • 1 x LHR-INV = 5,000 Avios

 Hotels

  • 3 nights at The Williard InterContinenal, Washington DC = 80,000 points + $140 + Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 2 nights at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand = Ambassador 2for1 certificate
  • 4 nights at The Mark Hopkins InterContinental, San Francisco = 50,000 points + Ambassador 2for1 certificate + Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 2 nights at The Monterey InterContinental, California = 100,000 points
  • 1 night at the San Francisco Airport Crowne Plaza = 40,000 points
  • 1 night at the Dublin Airport Crowne Plaza = 30,000 points
  • 2 nights at the Manchester Airport Crowne Plaza = 60,000 points
  • 1 night at the Crowne Plaza, Bruges = Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Express, Belfast = 40,000 points
  • 5 nights at The Westin Grand Central, New York = 48,000 SPG points
  • 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Express Wakefield = 30,000 points
  • 1 night at the Holiday Inn, Brentford = 30,000 points
  • 1 night at the InterContinental – London The O2 = 45,000 points
  • 1 night at the Holiday Inn, Brighton = 30,000 points
  • 5 nights at The Williard InterContinenal, Washington DC = 120,000 points + Ambassador 2for1 certificate  + Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 1 night at the Holiday Inn Express Flagstaff, Arizona = 30,000 points
  • 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza, Essex  = 40,000 points
  • 1 night (2 rooms) at the Sofitel Luxembourg Europe = 6,000 Accor Le Club points for €120 discount.
  • 1 nights at the Staybridge Suites London = 40,000 points
  • 1 night at the Crowne Plaza Madrid Airport = 25,000 points
  • 1 night at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona = 50,000 points
  • 1 night at the Waldorf Astoria Cavalieri = Hilton Barclaycard free night voucher
  • 3 nights at the InterContinental Hong Kong = Ambassador 2for1 certificate + Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 1 night at the InterContinental Melbourne = 55,000 points
  • 1 night at the Holiday Inn Watford = 25,000 points
  • 1 night at the InterContinental Bucharest = 25,000 points
  • 1 night at the Pullman Toulouse Airport = 4,000 Accor Le Club points for €80 discount.
  • 1 night at the InterContinental London O2 =  Barclaycard Free Night certificate
  • 2 nights at the Oxford Spires Voco – 74,000 points
  • 1 night at the H Hotel LAX = 48,000 points

Other

  • 2 tickets in a VIP Box at the O2 for Justin Bieber = 25,000 SPG points

Totals

  • 142 flights
  • 53 nights
  • 1 sold out concert with VIP experience
  • 1,525,250 Avios
  • 73,000 SPG points
  • 969,000 IHG points
  • 98,000 Hilton Points
  • 10,000 Accor points
  • 6 x IHG Free Night certificates
  • 4 x Ambassador 2for1 certificates
  • 7 x BA Amex 2for1 vouchers
  • 1 x Hilton Free Night certificate

Do get in touch if you need any help in finding and booking a good redemption.

I would be interested to hear about your best redemptions too!