British Airways lets you use points to buy down the cost of a paid ticket.
Normally points are worth a penny apiece towards airfare. Through May 17, for travel through September 30, you can do 50% better — buying down airfare at 1.5 cents per point.
This offer stacks with the AARP member discount (which knocks $400 off a premium cabin roundtrip).
It does not, however, stack with the Chase co-brand credit card offer of 10% off with promo code CARDOFFERU.
You have to choose whether to use the coupon (if you have an eligible card) or use Avios to buy down the fare.
It was a similar buy down offer last year that was letting people book British Airways premium cabin tickets for ~ $500 out of pocket roundtrip. (And with the stackable mileage bonus for premium cabin travel, people were getting much of the Avios they were using back when they took their flight.)
British Airways First Class
I don’t love 1.5 cents per point, but with this offer you’re still getting paid tickets — which I’ve even upgraded from business to first class using Avios.
(HT: Frequent Miler)
This can stack with that AA bonus, nah?
To you last point, I’ve read that recently fares purchased with avios buy down are not upgrade eligible (this is in the past few weeks). Anyone had this come up?
Can this be used in conjunction with the BA Companion Pass?
@Penny, I don’t see how this can be used with the Companion Pass since the CP is for points only, and the only payment we make to BA is (atrocious) taxes and fees.
However I am wondering—need to do some math here–if this might be a better deal than using the CP.