Maximize Your Points: Book Cheap American Airlines Flights with Avios
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Using Google Flights to Find Non-Stop Flights
- Pre-Searching Award Availability on Qantas
- Comparing Dates and Searching on British Airways
- Transferring Points and Making the Booking
- Another Availability Search Method: Built Rewards
- Conclusion
Introduction
🛫 Finding the best way to book a flight can be overwhelming, especially when it involves multiple airlines and loyalty programs. In this article, we will explore how to use British Airways Avios to book an American Airlines flight to New York City. We will guide you step by step through the process, explaining the reasoning behind each decision. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of how to maximize the value of your points and secure a great deal on your flight. So let's get started!
Using Google Flights to Find Non-Stop Flights
✈️ The first step in our process is to use Google Flights to search for non-stop flights from your departure city to New York. By filtering for non-stop flights and selecting American Airlines as our preferred airline, we can narrow down the options and focus on the most convenient and cost-effective routes. This approach is particularly important when using British Airways Avios, as they charge based on the distance traveled. So, let's start by searching for non-stop flights from Austin to New York in May.
Pre-Searching Award Availability on Qantas
📆 To further refine our search, we can use Qantas to pre-search award availability and determine which dates have the highest chance of securing a flight using British Airways Avios. Qantas is part of the One World Alliance, which includes British Airways and American Airlines, making it an excellent tool to assess availability. By selecting the flexible date option and entering our preferred travel dates, we can review a calendar displaying ribbons that indicate award availability on specific dates. This step can save us time and hassle later on when searching for availability on the British Airways website.
Comparing Dates and Searching on British Airways
🗓️ Armed with the knowledge of available dates from Qantas, we can now compare them with the non-stop flight options we found earlier on Google Flights. By aligning the dates and cross-referencing them, we can pinpoint the best options for booking through British Airways. For example, if we found non-stop flights from Austin to JFK on the 9th and 14th of May, we would focus our search on those specific dates on the British Airways website. While the entire process may not always be as straightforward, with some hunting and pecking required, it is worth the effort for the potential savings.
Transferring Points and Making the Booking
💳 Once we have confirmed the flight availability and chosen our desired dates, it's time to transfer our points from the relevant loyalty program to British Airways. This step may vary depending on which bank or credit card program you use, but the process is typically straightforward and can be completed online. After transferring the points, which usually takes around 15 minutes to reflect in your British Airways account, you can proceed to book the flight using your Avios. Simply enter the flight information, select the desired non-stop flights, provide passenger details, and complete the booking.
Another Availability Search Method: Built Rewards
💰 As an alternative to Qantas, you can utilize Built Rewards, a credit card company that offers its own travel program with multiple transfer partners. By creating an account and logging in, you can access their travel tool, which searches through 12 different programs to find available flights. This can be helpful in double-checking availability and exploring additional options. While there is a small fee for their more advanced features, the basic search tool provided by Built Rewards can be quite useful, especially for those new to the world of points and miles.
Conclusion
✈️ Booking a flight using British Airways Avios to fly with American Airlines to New York City doesn't have to be a complicated process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can navigate the various tools and search methods available to secure the best value for your points. Remember to always compare non-stop flight options, pre-search availability, and transfer points before making the final booking. With a little bit of planning and research, you can make the most of your loyalty program rewards and enjoy your trip to the Big Apple!
Highlights
- Find non-stop flights using Google Flights and filter for the preferred airline.
- Pre-search award availability on Qantas to determine the best dates for booking with British Airways.
- Compare dates and search for availability on the British Airways website.
- Transfer loyalty program points to British Airways before making the booking.
- Consider using Built Rewards as an alternative search method for additional options.
FAQ
Q: Can I use other credit cards to transfer points to British Airways Avios?
A: Yes, many major banks and credit card programs allow you to transfer points to British Airways, including Chase, American Express, Capital One, and CityBuild.
Q: Are non-stop flights always the best option when using British Airways Avios?
A: Yes, British Airways charges by distance, so non-stop flights tend to offer the best value in terms of points required.
Q: Is searching for award availability on Qantas necessary before searching on British Airways?
A: While it's not mandatory, pre-searching on Qantas can save time and help identify available dates before diving into the British Airways search.
Q: How long does it take for transferred points to reflect in my British Airways account?
A: Transferred points usually appear in your British Airways account within 15 minutes, allowing you to proceed with the booking.
Q: Can I use Built Rewards as a primary search tool for all my flight bookings?
A: Built Rewards is a helpful tool for comparing options and assessing availability but may not include all airlines or match 100% with other loyalty programs.
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