Avios Devaluation Analysis Roundup & Why I Disagree With Some Bloggers

View From the Wing – The Huge British Airways Avios Devaluation Coming April 28 That Won’t Affect Savvy Frequent Flyers At All – Perhaps the best overall explanation of the changes top to bottom ending with the assertion that most U.S. based members who use Avios for shorthaul travel on domestic partners are still doing pretty good.

Travelsort – New British Airways Avios Devaluation – A good summary with specific examples of redemptions that have increased in value. My only problem is that most of the mentioned redemptions weren’t particularly good values.

Milevalue – New. Worse Avios Award Chart – This blogger contends that the devaluation doesn’t effect any of the best Avios redemptions including business class flights under 2,000 miles. I tend to agree with his viewpoint, since the only Avios redemptions I have ever made won’t go up in price.

Travel Codex – Avios Devaluation Will Largely Affect Business and First Class  – A good summary of the changes along with a look at how it effects people with the Travel Together Ticket.

The Lazy Travelers Handbook – Avios Devaluation–for Real, This Time! – Another positive outlook contending that British Airways for the most part left the program’s sweet spots in tact.

Frugal Travel Guy – Hold Off on Amex to British Airways Transfers — BA Announces Significant Rewards Program Devaluation Effective April 28 – The author never really mentions why you should hold off transferring Amex points to Avios. He does mention the few decent business class redemptions that will increase (although if you add in connecting flights then they aren’t a good value), but fails to really focus on the short distance economy redemptions and why they are still among the best values anywhere.

Conclusion

Whenever big news like this comes, we all tend to get worried. I still contend that this is about as good a scenario as was possible for U.S. based members of the Executive Club. Our absolute best value was economy redemptions on partner carriers in the U.S. and those stuck around.

I personally am glad that the news came out before the end of the 40% American Express transfer bonus, since it allows me to better gauge how many points to transfer over. Unlike Miguel from Frugal Travel Guy, I won’t be holding off on my transfers. I have other points currencies for premium cabin travel and will reserve my Avios for short distance economy redemptions.

Thanks to every blogger I linked to here for sharing your opinion. Whether I agree or not, I’m happy your posts helped me see a few new angles and look at the bigger picture!