Using Points Tactically – Or How I saved £500 or so.

I’ll be honest – my use of points has been restricted in the past mainly to the odd hotel stay, or the odd redemption around Europe (or the long haul Asia trips).

However, I don’t tend to judge what is a “good” redemption or what is a “bad” redemption.

I’d rather say that value is in the eye of the beholder.

An example: I once redeemed 18,000 Qantas miles for an economy class ticket from Nashville to Chicago for a friend – and I found a lot of value in that (where some might had turned up their noses).

• It saved my friend paying a cash fare of $300 or so at short notice
• I got to see my friend

To me – that was good value for money.

The same can be said of an upcoming trip I have in April to Hamburg. I’m popping over to the Aircraft Interior Expo in April (after umming and ahhing about it for months).

Now, after Honolulu and Chicago, my finances are… drained to be blunt.  Therefore tatical usage of points and miles come into play.

Let’s look at airfare tickets (London to Hamburg).

I’m looking at the early flights to take advantage of the day

Well, if I decide to go from Heathrow, I’ll be looking at a new overdraft at near enough £700. City isn’t that good either, with £400 or so.  Heck -I’ve been known to buy Economy tickets over the pond for £400 or so.

Can I do better with Avios? Oh you betchya.

Tickets and times I want it – all for 9,000 Avios and £35. Can’t argue with that.

Next up was the matter of hotels. And again – points came to the rescue, with me swapping 20,000+$70 IHG points for a Holiday Inn that was coming in at the best part of €270 a night – near enough £200 for a night.

So perceived cost before any other expenses is about £600 so far… for a cash outlay of £80.

Now, there will be things I have to factor into this, including:

• Travel to and forth London
• Local transit costs
• Living expenses
• Haribo Expenses (seriously – first mention of this in the office, and I get told “Bring Back Haribo”).

But £80 for £600 worth of value? That’s pretty reasonable to me…

As I said earlier in any redemption- value is where you find it – and I found a chunk of it here.

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