#919885 by Eggtastico
11 Apr 2016, 14:18
Any beginner tips on collecting avios?

I will look to swap my CC over when my Virgin Black anniversary is up (I have want the PE upgrade vouchers first!)
Then I want to start collecting Avios, as I think I would like to start travelling East.
Already got a bunch of Tesco points ready for conversion (Do they do the bonus for Avios like Virgin?)
I am aware of the Avios shopping portal.
One thing I am confused about is the Avios & BA Exec club.
What is the difference? As this will influence my first credit card.
I really want the 2 4 1 voucher - so that is also a consideration for the credit card.
#919887 by marshy11
11 Apr 2016, 15:30
Am doing the same. Have just qualified for my 2-4-1 voucher but don't have enough avios yet.

Head for points is a great site, sign up to their emails.

On your points above I would say
1. DON'T transfer your Tesco points until you need to (ie. when there is a bonus).
2. Use the 365 portal for everything you can (it's not as widely offered as Virgin's one but you can still accrue miles for shopping). I check 365 and the Avios E-portal to see what's on offer. https://www.avios.com/gb/en_gb/collect/ ... ctNavTitle
3. Open an Avios and a BAEC account. You can move points between the two and the Avios account is good for picking up miles from other partners. Read the Avios university over at H4P.
4. If you have a partner, make sure you churn the cards which can be churned and refer your OH. Open, collect, cash-in and close. Rinse and repeat. It's not possible with all cards but again H4P explains what you can and can't have. I've just had a referral on here for the Gold Amex. Now we've started on that one we will churn it between us. We've done the BA Platinum, which is the £10k spend to release the 2-4-1 voucher. It's valid for 2 years (and you must keep the card during this time) and now we need to build up the BAEC Avios to get maximum value from it. Aiming on a longhaul F.

Don't forget Topcashback - pour your money into Clubcard rewards and then into Avios/BAEC.

https://www.avios.com/gb/en_gb/collect/ ... collectNav is a boring way to get you started with 600 avios (you can go on to earn more but I lose the will to live with their surveys).

But it is costly. I've been reading too many of Sealink's TRs and without realising I was on the BAHolidays site. Booked a weekend in Milan for a great rate. Told myself the Avios we gained from the booking is worth it. :blush:
#919889 by SNOMO
11 Apr 2016, 16:26
Get a Shell petrol card to collect Avios.com Avios & pay with BA AMEX card to collect BAEC Avios - double bubble & they are always having bonus add on's .
#919890 by Eggtastico
11 Apr 2016, 16:34
Thanks - I already use Headforpoints.

Also for shopping Topcashback lets you convert to Tesco & to Avios - so I always check the reward & decide which portal to use.
I have exchanged £40 cashback into Tesco Clubcard points already.
I get my fuel for Tesco - is Shell better for collecting?
I can see its 20 points for every 20 litres.
Think 250 clubcard points for 600 miles is better value.

Churning is my plan.

I already have the 600 bonus miles from a survey :oD

I also have KLM/Air France points I need to look into!


Just need to get my mentality switched from collecting V to Avios - seems there are more complicated ways to collect Avios.
V miles are easy, as its limited to where/how you can collect them.
#919891 by Bretty
11 Apr 2016, 18:06
I think you've got it worked out Eggtastico. I've switched to Avios as there are routes I want to fly that VS don't cover anymore. I love VS, but I'm okay on miles, between me and my OH we have over 300,000 and more to come from upcoming flights. Like Marshy, I'm aiming for a longhaul F using the 2-4-1 voucher, and am just about to get that, but still a few Avios shy of what I need, but getting there. If you decide on applying for an Amex Gold I'm happy to arrange that or BA Premium Amex. Likewise the Lloyds Premium Amex available from Avios.com which has a small bonus if you're referred, but otherwise doesn't. It has other advantages in that there are no FX fees, but best of all it is double Avios per £ spend for first 6 months.

My current card collection looks something like this:
VS Black Amex & Visa
Lloyds Premium Amex & Mastercard - and my partner now has it to collect another bonus
BA Premium Amex
Amex Gold - my partner has it currently and I have supplementary card. This card is for churning and I'm due to reapply in a few weeks

I don't mind annual card fees as the rewards are worth it for me, and let's face it, the banks / credit card companies have got to make some money somehow, especially with the recent interchange fees being capped.

Shop through Avios e-Store and BA Gate 365 and occasionally I double dip - for example there is no Hilton shopping link in either Gate 365 or Avios e-Store (but if you go direct from BA Exec Club you just get the option to add your BAEC number to collect Avios as well as HHonors points). So I have my HHonors account set to HHonors and Avios (you can set it just for Avios if you wish), then I shop via VS Shops Away and also collect 6 miles per £.
#919892 by mallin
11 Apr 2016, 18:18
One thing Bretty do not know if you have received a letter from Lloyds about your Avios card changes in some T & C's as we go to Vegas twice a year and use my card for no FX fees, they have changed this to any Casino charges whatever they may be, food and lodging etc you will not earn any Avios and they will charge you 3% on every transaction.

Had a look at all the other cc that offer Avios and they all have the same clause in them, ( don't know whether this has something to do with the EU) very miffed so have decided to cancel my Lloyds Avios cards and just pay the BAPP percentage fee. Linda >-(
#919896 by Cocobay7
11 Apr 2016, 19:01
Bretty wrote:I think you've got it worked out Eggtastico. I've switched to Avios as there are routes I want to fly that VS don't cover anymore. I love VS, but I'm okay on miles, between me and my OH we have over 300,000 and more to come from upcoming flights. Like Marshy, I'm aiming for a longhaul F using the 2-4-1 voucher, and am just about to get that, but still a few Avios shy of what I need, but getting there. If you decide on applying for an Amex Gold I'm happy to arrange that or BA Premium Amex. Likewise the Lloyds Premium Amex available from Avios.com which has a small bonus if you're referred, but otherwise doesn't. It has other advantages in that there are no FX fees, but best of all it is double Avios per £ spend for first 6 months.

My current card collection looks something like this:
VS Black Amex & Visa
Lloyds Premium Amex & Mastercard - and my partner now has it to collect another bonus
BA Premium Amex
Amex Gold - my partner has it currently and I have supplementary card. This card is for churning and I'm due to reapply in a few weeks

I don't mind annual card fees as the rewards are worth it for me, and let's face it, the banks / credit card companies have got to make some money somehow, especially with the recent interchange fees being capped.

Shop through Avios e-Store and BA Gate 365 and occasionally I double dip - for example there is no Hilton shopping link in either Gate 365 or Avios e-Store (but if you go direct from BA Exec Club you just get the option to add your BAEC number to collect Avios as well as HHonors points). So I have my HHonors account set to HHonors and Avios (you can set it just for Avios if you wish), then I shop via VS Shops Away and also collect 6 miles per £.

Hi,
Newbie here so please be patient.
Can you explain in a little more depth how you collect HH points and avios at the same time through shopping. I took a look in my baec account and went to their shopping portal but I couldn't find anything related to HH?
How do you collect 6 miles per £ via VS shops away?
Thanks
#919897 by Cocobay7
11 Apr 2016, 19:09
SNOMO wrote:Get a Shell petrol card to collect Avios.com Avios & pay with BA AMEX card to collect BAEC Avios - double bubble & they are always having bonus add on's .

I switch between Shell petrol as no Tesco garage anywhere near me and Texaco for points.
Shell you get points but the amount is halved when converted into Avios per quarter but sign up for the shell motorist app if you can as they send you regular bonus point offers. The last two months I have received 100 bonus shell points for purchasing a min of 15 lites of fuel. I do the min required then awaiting for the month to expire on that offer I fill up at Texaco getting points towards the Virgin Atlantic redemption (1000) miles min requirement, you need the Texaco motorist card available from any Texaco garage which gives you also 1p off every litre of fuel.
#919900 by Eggtastico
11 Apr 2016, 19:51
Cocobay7 wrote:
SNOMO wrote:Get a Shell petrol card to collect Avios.com Avios & pay with BA AMEX card to collect BAEC Avios - double bubble & they are always having bonus add on's .

I switch between Shell petrol as no Tesco garage anywhere near me and Texaco for points.
Shell you get points but the amount is halved when converted into Avios per quarter but sign up for the shell motorist app if you can as they send you regular bonus point offers. The last two months I have received 100 bonus shell points for purchasing a min of 15 lites of fuel. I do the min required then awaiting for the month to expire on that offer I fill up at Texaco getting points towards the Virgin Atlantic redemption (1000) miles min requirement, you need the Texaco motorist card available from any Texaco garage which gives you also 1p off every litre of fuel.



you can collect clubcard points at Esso garages
http://www.esso.co.uk/loyalty-program
#919903 by Bretty
11 Apr 2016, 21:27
mallin wrote:One thing Bretty do not know if you have received a letter from Lloyds about your Avios card changes in some T & C's as we go to Vegas twice a year and use my card for no FX fees, they have changed this to any Casino charges whatever they may be, food and lodging etc you will not earn any Avios and they will charge you 3% on every transaction.

Had a look at all the other cc that offer Avios and they all have the same clause in them, ( don't know whether this has something to do with the EU) very miffed so have decided to cancel my Lloyds Avios cards and just pay the BAPP percentage fee. Linda >-(

I had something recently but didnt pay too much attention. I've prepaid my Vegas hotel with a different card, but of course there's extras like room service. I'll look into it a little further. Thanks for the heads up.
#919904 by Bretty
11 Apr 2016, 21:34
Cocobay7 wrote:
Bretty wrote:I think you've got it worked out Eggtastico. I've switched to Avios as there are routes I want to fly that VS don't cover anymore. I love VS, but I'm okay on miles, between me and my OH we have over 300,000 and more to come from upcoming flights. Like Marshy, I'm aiming for a longhaul F using the 2-4-1 voucher, and am just about to get that, but still a few Avios shy of what I need, but getting there. If you decide on applying for an Amex Gold I'm happy to arrange that or BA Premium Amex. Likewise the Lloyds Premium Amex available from Avios.com which has a small bonus if you're referred, but otherwise doesn't. It has other advantages in that there are no FX fees, but best of all it is double Avios per £ spend for first 6 months.

My current card collection looks something like this:
VS Black Amex & Visa
Lloyds Premium Amex & Mastercard - and my partner now has it to collect another bonus
BA Premium Amex
Amex Gold - my partner has it currently and I have supplementary card. This card is for churning and I'm due to reapply in a few weeks

I don't mind annual card fees as the rewards are worth it for me, and let's face it, the banks / credit card companies have got to make some money somehow, especially with the recent interchange fees being capped.

Shop through Avios e-Store and BA Gate 365 and occasionally I double dip - for example there is no Hilton shopping link in either Gate 365 or Avios e-Store (but if you go direct from BA Exec Club you just get the option to add your BAEC number to collect Avios as well as HHonors points). So I have my HHonors account set to HHonors and Avios (you can set it just for Avios if you wish), then I shop via VS Shops Away and also collect 6 miles per £.

Hi,
Newbie here so please be patient.
Can you explain in a little more depth how you collect HH points and avios at the same time through shopping. I took a look in my baec account and went to their shopping portal but I couldn't find anything related to HH?
How do you collect 6 miles per £ via VS shops away?
Thanks


Hiya. Go to HHonors and enter your FF number and opt to collect miles and HH points, they partner with a few airlines so you can collect either Virgin FC or BA Avios. In addition to that when I book I go through Virgin Shops Away portal to Hilton which gives 6 miles per £, so I'm getting VS miles and Avios and HH points in one go.
#919916 by Cocobay7
12 Apr 2016, 07:40
Eggtastico wrote:
Cocobay7 wrote:
SNOMO wrote:Get a Shell petrol card to collect Avios.com Avios & pay with BA AMEX card to collect BAEC Avios - double bubble & they are always having bonus add on's .

I switch between Shell petrol as no Tesco garage anywhere near me and Texaco for points.
Shell you get points but the amount is halved when converted into Avios per quarter but sign up for the shell motorist app if you can as they send you regular bonus point offers. The last two months I have received 100 bonus shell points for purchasing a min of 15 lites of fuel. I do the min required then awaiting for the month to expire on that offer I fill up at Texaco getting points towards the Virgin Atlantic redemption (1000) miles min requirement, you need the Texaco motorist card available from any Texaco garage which gives you also 1p off every litre of fuel.



you can collect clubcard points at Esso garages
http://www.esso.co.uk/loyalty-program

Thanks, no Esso garages near me also so that option is out of the question. Thanks
#919920 by Cocobay7
12 Apr 2016, 08:44
Bretty wrote:
Cocobay7 wrote:
Bretty wrote:I think you've got it worked out Eggtastico. I've switched to Avios as there are routes I want to fly that VS don't cover anymore. I love VS, but I'm okay on miles, between me and my OH we have over 300,000 and more to come from upcoming flights. Like Marshy, I'm aiming for a longhaul F using the 2-4-1 voucher, and am just about to get that, but still a few Avios shy of what I need, but getting there. If you decide on applying for an Amex Gold I'm happy to arrange that or BA Premium Amex. Likewise the Lloyds Premium Amex available from Avios.com which has a small bonus if you're referred, but otherwise doesn't. It has other advantages in that there are no FX fees, but best of all it is double Avios per £ spend for first 6 months.

My current card collection looks something like this:
VS Black Amex & Visa
Lloyds Premium Amex & Mastercard - and my partner now has it to collect another bonus
BA Premium Amex
Amex Gold - my partner has it currently and I have supplementary card. This card is for churning and I'm due to reapply in a few weeks

I don't mind annual card fees as the rewards are worth it for me, and let's face it, the banks / credit card companies have got to make some money somehow, especially with the recent interchange fees being capped.

Shop through Avios e-Store and BA Gate 365 and occasionally I double dip - for example there is no Hilton shopping link in either Gate 365 or Avios e-Store (but if you go direct from BA Exec Club you just get the option to add your BAEC number to collect Avios as well as HHonors points). So I have my HHonors account set to HHonors and Avios (you can set it just for Avios if you wish), then I shop via VS Shops Away and also collect 6 miles per £.

Hi,
Newbie here so please be patient.
Can you explain in a little more depth how you collect HH points and avios at the same time through shopping. I took a look in my baec account and went to their shopping portal but I couldn't find anything related to HH?
How do you collect 6 miles per £ via VS shops away?
Thanks


Hiya. Go to HHonors and enter your FF number and opt to collect miles and HH points, they partner with a few airlines so you can collect either Virgin FC or BA Avios. In addition to that when I book I go through Virgin Shops Away portal to Hilton which gives 6 miles per £, so I'm getting VS miles and Avios and HH points in one go.

Thanks for your reply! So do they equally split the amount of points earnt between HH and avios or virgin if you select the duo option?
I'm trying everything to earn purely HH points or V to convert to HH so looking for all ways of earning HH points.
#919922 by pjh
12 Apr 2016, 09:12
Cocobay7 wrote:Thanks for your reply! So do they equally split the amount of points earnt between HH and avios or virgin if you select the duo option?
I'm trying everything to earn purely HH points or V to convert to HH so looking for all ways of earning HH points.


If you're referring to the MyWay option within the HHonors scheme you'd be better off opting for Points & Points rather than Points & Miles;

- the former will give you 15 HHonors points per USD1 spend
- the latter will give you 10 HHonors points per USD1 spend plus 1 airmile. 1 airmile translates to 1.5 HHonors points in transfer, and only when you have 10,000 airmiles.
#920000 by Maximus
15 Apr 2016, 02:19
It is worth opening an Iberia account as they use Avios also and sometimes you can get better deals crediting Avios to your Iberia account rather than your BAEC or Avios account withsome companies (Accor for one). Your can then transfer betweek Iberia/ Avios/ BAEC on the Avios website, so open an account for all three.
Virgin Atlantic

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