The Aer Lingus AerClub is currently offering a 50% bonus on purchasing Avios, their frequent flyer points. This promotion allows customers to buy Avios and redeem them for award flights. While some may initially view these offers as worthless, they can actually provide substantial savings, as I discovered when I used the bonus to book first and business class tickets to Australia.
It’s important to note that airlines frequently run bonus Avios promotions. For example, in March 2023, Aer Lingus offered a 45% bonus for a limited time, followed by British Airways offering a 40% bonus. These bonus periods typically occur three or four times a year, with 50% being the highest bonus percentage offered. It is advisable to only purchase Avios during these bonus periods to maximize savings.
The current 50% bonus offer from Aer Lingus is available until 23:59 on Monday, 29 January 2024. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have an Aer Lingus AerClub account and can purchase Avios on the airline’s website.
One key advantage of Avios is that they can be transferred between different airline loyalty programs. For example, Avios points from Aer Lingus can be transferred to British Airways and Iberia, and British Airways Avios can be transferred to Qatar Airways. This flexibility allows customers to access award seats on partner airlines within the oneworld alliance, such as Finnair, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
When considering purchasing Avios, it is recommended to check the availability of award seats for the desired travel dates. Once available seats are found, customers should compare the number of Avios required for redemption with the cash price of the same flights. By calculating the cost of purchasing Avios and comparing it to the cost of booking a reward flight, customers can determine if they will make a saving by buying points.
In terms of the purchasing process, Avios points are typically credited to the customer’s account instantly. Transferring Avios between accounts also happens instantly. This quick processing time allows customers to book their desired flights promptly.
To illustrate the potential savings, I purchased return business class flights on Qatar Airways from Dublin to Doha for €1,200 using Avios, compared to the normal cash price of €4,600 for the same ticket. This example showcases the significant discounts that can be achieved through purchasing Avios.
In conclusion, taking advantage of the Aer Lingus AerClub’s 50% bonus offer on purchasing Avios can be a wise strategy for those planning to book award flights. By comparing the cost of purchasing Avios with the cash price of flights, customers can determine if they will make substantial savings. Additionally, the ability to transfer Avios between different loyalty programs opens up a wide range of partner airlines for award flight redemptions.