Quick points: Save on fuel surcharges by booking awards through partners

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Beginners in the points and miles space might assume that they should always transfer credit card points to the program of the airline they’re flying on. However, thanks to airline alliances and partnerships, there are plenty of times when you’d be better off transferring credit card points to a partner program and booking the flight you want there.

In this edition of Quick Points, we’re discussing how you can pay lower fuel surcharges by booking awards through partners. There are a number of programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles and United MileagePlus that don’t impose surcharges at all. But today we’ll focus specifically on long-haul British Airways awards and see how you might be better off transferring your points to and booking your flights through Cathay Pacific Asia Miles than British Airways Executive Club.

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Background

(Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

In addition to already high U.K. Air Passenger Duty fees, British Airways tacks hefty fuel surcharges onto its transatlantic flights. These fees and surcharges are charged at a fixed rate based on the cabin in which you’re traveling. Business and first-class passengers pay higher fees than economy class passengers.

It’s not uncommon to see one-way premium cabin awards on flights originating from the U.K. with at least $700 in taxes, fees and surcharges. Of course, that’s in addition to all of the miles that you’re redeeming.

While there’s no way around the U.K. Air Passenger Duty fees, you can leverage the Asia Miles program to book premium British Airways awards and partially avoid British Airways’ fuel surcharges.

Let’s run through a round-trip example in each cabin and see whether you’re better off booking through Asia Miles or British Airways Avios.

Economy: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Heathrow Airport (LHR)

British Airways Executive Club

Miles: 40,000 Avios. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $651.33.

(Screenshot courtesy of britishairways.com) sia Miles

Miles: 54,000 Asia Miles. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $626.

Verdict: Book with British Airways to save 14,000 points.

(Screenshot courtesy of book.asiamiles.com)

Related: A review of British Airways’ A350 in economy

Premium economy: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to LHR

(Photo by Caroline Tanner)

British Airways Executive Club

Miles: 80,000 Avios. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $984.57.

sia Miles

Miles: 86,000 Asia Miles. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $825.

Verdict: It depends. Book with Asia Miles to save $160, or book with British Airways to save 6,000 points.

Related: A review of British Airways World Traveller Plus on the refurbished 777

Business class: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to LHR

British Airways Executive Club

Miles: 150,000 Avios. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $1,984.57.

(Screenshot courtesy of britishairways.com) sia Miles

Miles: 150,000 Asia Miles. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $1,150.

Verdict: Definitely book with Asia Miles.

(Screenshot courtesy of book.asiamiles.com)

Related: Reviewing British Airways’ business class on the 787-9

First class: Dulles International Airport (IAD) to LHR

(Photo by Nicky Kelvin/The Points Guy)

British Airways Avios

Miles: 160,000 Avios. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $1,784.57.

sia Miles

Miles: 174,000 Asia Miles. Taxes, fees and surcharges: $787.

Verdict: Definitely book with Asia Miles.

Related: A Review of British Airways first class on the A380

Earning Asia Miles

You can transfer points to Asia Miles from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards. If you’re new to the points and miles world, you can quickly earn these types of rewards by picking up cards such as the following:

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly or on American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar; 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings with American Express Travel; 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees.)American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you use your new card to make $4,000 in purchases in your first six months of card membership. Earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants, 4 points per dollar (on up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 per dollar) at U.S. supermarkets, 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or on American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. ($250 annual fee; see rates and fees.)Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 ThankYou bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 3 points per dollar on air travel, hotels and at restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets; and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. ($95 annual fee)Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. ($395 annual fee.)

Bottom line

While you might be better off booking British Airways economy flights with British Airways Avios, as we begin to move into more premium cabins, the Asia Miles program becomes a clear winner. Despite there being no way to fully avoid taxes and fees on British Airways-operated flights, Asia Miles can offer as much as $1,000 in savings on select flights.

Some of the Asia Miles bookings will require slightly more miles, but if your goal is to spend as little possible out of pocket, Asia Miles is your go-to for long-haul premium British Airways award flights.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.

Featured photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy.

By: Kyle Olsen
Title: Quick points: Save on fuel surcharges by booking awards through partners
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/ba-fuel-surcharges-asia-miles/
Published Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000

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