Convert 20,000 Starpoints Into 31,250 British Airways Avios

Dan, thanks for all the great info.

If it costs 80k to fly roundtrip to Israel on United and only 60k on Air Berlin without fuel surcharges, why do you recommend United? Is it because it is easier to collent united miles?

@Anon:
United flies nonstop and is partners with 2 other airlines with nonstop service from North America. Plus dozens of other Star Alliance airlines.

Air Berlin doesn’t always have flights between NYC and TLV, you will need to be flexible.

It this a “worth-it” transfer if my goal is to book a round trip ticket to Israel? Right now I have about 115,000 Starwood points between a few of my cards. Is there any way to use this for a business class ticket or two?

Also, how would search for the Air Berlin availability using Avios?

Will redeeming Starpoints (or Ultimate Rewards Points) for Avios push off the expiration of my current Avios for another three years?

@newdanfan:
It’s worth it if it’s available for your travel dates.
You can try to find dates on BA.com though that may not be easy.
Next week I’ll try to break down some better search options.

@reuvenhunt:
Yes. Any earning or burning will extend your entire account for 36 months.

@Dan: This will sound like a stupid question, but I don’t know where to search from. Where do I select that I’m searching for flights with Avios, and how do I select Air Berlin?

@newdanfan:

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/26854

You can’t select Air Berlin, either it shows up or it doesn’t.

However even if it doesn’t it may still be an option…stay tuned.

For NYC-Miami, what is the best option? What about FLL or PBI?

What’s the link?

I’m still confused – I can’t figure out how to search for an awards Avios ticket, and I can’t seem to find the option to search for partner airlines. What am I missing?

Living in Seattle, I recently booked 2 r/t tickets with UR points via BA for 25k Avios(ea) to Hawaii. My family loves Hawaii and transferring our SPG points with this promo is very tempting.

are round trip to miami cheaper or is it just double the one way?

I’ll be travelling from NY to miami at the end of Jan. If I transfer points today, will the transfer complete in time for me to book awards tickets?

HOW DO I BOOK THOSE ROUNDTRIP TICKETS TO HAWAII, WHEN I GO ON THEIR HOMEPAGE (BRITISH AIRWAYS) AND DO A SEARCH THEY SAY THERE ARE NO FLIGHT FROM NYC TO HAWAII??

I tried looking up a sample avios flight from newark to toronto midweek in march, and it was not cheap at all. 13950 Avios + $ 409.16 for three tickets.

Whats the deal?

@newdanfan
Follow the link that Dan posted in comment #7 and read the comments on that post. Alot of good info there. Dan answered all the commenters’ questions thoroughly.

I just transferred 20k points only gave me 25k
I see the link says 25% more for hotels.
For SP only 5k bonus
What did I do wrong?
How can I get the extra points now?

@newdanfan:
Did you read this post?
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/26854
You don’t have to add partners anymore, they’re there by default.

@BostonGuy:
Double.

@Dave:
The Starpoints will post on time, but I’m not sure exactly when the bonus will post.

@BRITISH AIRWAYS MEMBER:

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/26854

Note that there are no nonstops on BA partners between NYC and Hawaii so you’ll probably need to search for NYC-Los Angeles and then book Los-Angeles-Hawaii separately.

@AVIOS:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/26854

@tll:
20K Starwood gives 25K BA.
BA will later add a 25% bonus on top of that within 4-6 weeks.

Ok, thank you! Has anyone tried to get BA to post the bonus miles sooner?

not worth it, on ba.com u can get points to top up for a trip for 1.3. spg points are worth at least 2 cents each

@tt:
This is a total 56.25% bonus.
If you value BA at 1.3 cents each then this getting a value of 2.03 cents from Starpoints.

Is that incredible? No. But that actually does surpass the 2 cent value that you gave them.
And you need some BA to be able to buy more at 1.3 cents. And there situations where BA will be worth 13 cents each, I’ve done that myself with them.

Dear Dan

Thank you very much for the trip from chicgo to tlv it work out well the fliht wasnt that comfortable but i guess it was fine thank a lot

can you tell me how to get cheap tickets to tlv from eaither newark jfk or philp with miles i would realy appreciate it

realistically how long does it take for the starpoints to show up in my ba account? I tried calling spg and they were not very helpful

@ba fan:
2-14 days.

If I’m short 4500 SPG points, does it makes sense to buy them ($157) so I can reach the 20,000 mark and get the bonus BA points?

@MCDT:
AMEX will let you borrow points if you have an active card.
Otherwise maybe open a Starwood business card?

I am trying to book flights for the Summer (the end of June coming back in August) but it seems like the reward calendar on BA.com doesn’t go that far out. Do you know if the number of Avois needed for a flight from JFK to Israel increases during the Summer?

Or you can just keep your starwood points and use them at the Dead Sea and stay 16 nights…..lets see. 16 nights x $300 = $4800

Dan, is there a fee to transfer?

Hey Dan
I have about 35k spg and will be traveling in the south soon. Is it better to keep my points towards a hotel or to transfer for my flights?and also I Travel often from NYC to Montreal so is it a good deal?

Dan I would like to know whats my best bet to get to Israel with approximately 85,000 sapphire points? i’m sorry for posting here I wasn’t sure where to post.

I don’t travel often, I think I’ll be selling my SPG points soon at 1.8 cents. First question- bad move? Second- If I transfer and sell the BA points Ill get more money?

Man i just sew this post… a day late!

will this deal be back ontime for Tishrai?

to book the Air Berlin ticket to israel