Avios is a well-known factors forex, utilized by quite a lot of frequent flyer applications, together with British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Membership, and Aer Lingus AerClub.
The Avios forex offers you fairly a little bit of flexibility, since you may switch the rewards between among the collaborating loyalty schemes without charge. It’s value understanding the candy spots of every program, so you may determine below what circumstances it is best to redeem rewards by way of a specific program, slightly than transferring them to a different “taste” of Avios.
I’ve written prior to now about one of the best makes use of of British Airways Govt Membership Avios and one of the best makes use of of Iberia Plus Avios.
Aer Lingus’ Aer Membership frequent flyer program might be the least talked about Avios rewards program, so on this publish I needed to take a short have a look at redeeming Avios with this forex. Underneath what circumstances do you have to redeem Avios by way of Aer Lingus AerClub? Are Aer Lingus redemptions cheaper by way of AerClub than by way of different applications?
earn Aer Lingus AerClub Avios
Even if you happen to’re not an Aer Lingus frequent flyer, there are many methods to rack up Aer Lingus AerClub Avios:
Fundamentals of redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios
Let’s discuss a bit about below what circumstances it is smart to redeem Avios by way of the Aer Lingus AerClub program, slightly than by way of different Avios currencies. To very broadly summarize the takeaway:
- If you wish to redeem for journey on Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus AerClub and British Airways Govt Membership sometimes have the identical award pricing, although AerClub is typically cheaper
- For redemptions on all companion airways, switch rewards to one of many different Avios currencies (particularly British Airways Govt Membership) to maximise worth
Earlier than we have a look at redemption choices, let me cowl just a few fundamentals of Aer Lingus AerClub Avios:
- Aer Lingus AerClub Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity, so it’s worthwhile to earn or redeem Avios in that timeframe to maintain them energetic
- Aer Lingus AerClub helps you to change or cancel an award as much as 24 hours earlier than departure, for a charge of €42.50 per passenger per reserving; inside that timeframe, award tickets can’t be modified or canceled
- If you wish to redeem Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on-line, you are able to do so at this hyperlink
Redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on Aer Lingus
The perfect use of Aer Lingus AerClub Avios is for award bookings on Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus AerClub has a zone primarily based award chart for these bookings, with off-peak and peak pricing (relying on the day of the yr, in keeping with different Avios applications). Beneath you could find the Aer Lingus AerClub award chart.
As is the case with different Avios currencies, Avios pricing is per phase. So you may count on to pay the next variety of Avios for transatlantic flights on Aer Lingus to the USA (Aer Lingus operates some transatlantic flights out of Dublin, Manchester, and Shannon):
- Transatlantic flights to the Northeast and Midwest of the USA price 13,000-20,000 Avios in financial system, or 50,000-60,000 Avios in enterprise class
- Transatlantic flights to the remainder of the USA price 16,250-25,000 Avios in financial system, or 62,500-75,000 Avios in enterprise class
The excellent news is that the surcharges on these awards are actually gentle, so it is a nice Avios redemption possibility, particularly in comparison with journey on British Airways.
So, if you wish to redeem for journey on Aer Lingus, how does Aer Lingus AerClub and British Airways Govt Membership award pricing examine?
Properly, for many markets, you’ll discover that pricing is just about equivalent. For instance, a one-way off-peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from Dublin to Philadelphia prices 50,000 Avios plus precisely $169.10 in taxes and costs with every program.
Nevertheless, in some circumstances you’ll discover that pricing is definitely decrease by way of Aer Lingus AerClub than by way of British Airways Govt Membership. For instance, take a one-way off-peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from San Francisco to Dublin. This prices 62,500 Avios plus $163.30 in taxes and costs by way of Aer Lingus AerClub.
In the meantime the identical award would price 90,000 Avios plus $158.70 in taxes and costs by way of British Airways Govt Membership. So whereas it’s just a few {dollars} cheaper, you pay much more Avios.
Generally there are simply quirks with the 2 applications that I don’t have an evidence for. For instance, take a one-way peak Aer Lingus enterprise class award from Boston to Shannon. This prices 60,001 Avios plus $141.30 in taxes and costs by way of Aer Lingus AerClub. I’m unsure the place that further Avios comes from, however…
In the meantime the identical award would price 60,000 Avios plus $1,002.30 in taxes and costs by way of British Airways Govt Membership. I’m unsure why this system decides to impose big surcharges particularly on this route, but it surely does.
In order you may see, in nearly all conditions you’re both simply as properly off redeeming by way of Aer Lingus AerClub, or higher off. So if you will redeem on Aer Lingus, it’s all the time value doing a side-by-side comparability of pricing, after which you may transfer round Avios as wanted.
Redeeming Aer Lingus AerClub Avios on companion airways
If you wish to redeem Avios on any airline apart from Aer Lingus, you’re higher off transferring your Aer Lingus AerClub Avios to a different taste of Avios. Typically talking:
Backside line
Aer Lingus AerClub is a program that doesn’t get a lot consideration, despite the fact that it companions with some main transferable factors currencies. There’s no want to review this program in nice element. What it is best to perceive, although, is that AerClub often has one of the best award pricing for journey on Aer Lingus, at the least amongst Avios currencies.
So if you happen to’re considering of redeeming Avios on Aer Lingus, it’s at the least value checking AerClub pricing, because it could be higher than British Airways Govt Membership pricing. For all different redemptions, you’re greatest off utilizing one other Avios forex, like British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus, or Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
What’s your tackle the Aer Lingus AerClub program?