Since most passengers earn fewer miles from flying than ever before, buying miles has become a new way to level the “miles millionaire” playing field. Anyone can buy miles- frequent flyer or not, and there are times when it can make brilliant sense to do so. British Airways miles have some excellent uses, especially on airline parters (here’s a great post on that), and thanks to a limited time sale- you can buy them for just 1.1 (Euro) cent per piece, especially amazing for Brits…
The Deal
Vente Privee is a French deal site. We’ve recommended them as one of the best “free” membership clubs for saving on hotels, since they run very limited time flash sales- which can represent savings of over 50%. The French version of the site is offering a sale on British Airways Avios (miles) for 1.1 euro per piece. You can buy up to 100,000 miles, in quantities of 2,000, 8,000 20,000 or 35,000. 35,000 miles would run 399, which equates to £355. Details below.
When This Makes Sense
Unless you’re using miles for short flights without substantial taxes or upgrades to business class– it rarely makes sense to buy British Airways miles for British Airways flights. Buying British Airways miles to use on British Airways partners can be amazing though. For example, First Class on airlines like Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines and others is just 40,000 points one way– for flights up to 2,000 miles. Those flights can run $1000’s- so paying £400 is phenomenal. This is a personal decision- so be sure you know you’ll have a use for the miles which will save you money.
How To Buy Up To 100,000 Miles For About A Cent A Piece
Simply log on and register for the French version of Vente Privee here. You can then make your purchases. You’ll receive your Avios quickly. We think this is solid offer, which could be very lucrative for many of you. Do some math, figure out your upcoming travels and see if there’s an opportunity to benefit from this deal, which ends October 19th, by the way…
HT: LoyaltyLobby
*Fewer
I understand that you may be getting some £ from BA, but that should not blind you from the fact that BA has one of the worst hard and soft products on their business class offering (many 3rd world country’s airlines hard products are definitely miles ahead of the BA ‘love your strange neighbour seats’)+ their avios programme is beyond rubbish with the multiple devaluations (apart from short haul flights in US and EU). Maybe the only redeeming factor is quick status with tier points and the one world advantages.
you need to give an address in France for billing purposes and therefore no American or English person can buy the miles. Is there a way around that, short of knowing someone over there?
Yep! Any french post code will do. Register for the site, use a french post code (pick a hotel in paris) and then order from there. cheers.
Good luck trying to make this work.
Vente Privee site doesn’t work in the Firefox browser.
Registration needs to be done in French
So does ordering.
And then you need a phone number in valid French phone number to get to the payment screen
@VR. Yawn – boring. Bash BA go on see if anyone cares. Gilbert’s point is that Avios are good to use on partners. Did you even read the article?
@Evan. You are right. the partner usage is better in certain categories (dependent upon £ price of the ticket). I do understand that Gilbert is saying that using them on BA is a waste. So yes I take back my rant!
Still, for flights under 2000 miles at 40k a pop is ridiculous compared to just buying AA retail miles for $1300 and go 13 hrs in FIRST from India to Tokyo via Abu dhabi on Etihad (see his newer article). Problem is their partner charts are also generally rubbish apart from low taxes. Realistically avios are only good for short haul EU/US travel to position from LHR for cheap business class deals on various other airlines via the continent.