🗺️ The repositioning trick: I saved 25,500 Avios on one trip

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to another edition of our Tuesday travel insights. Today, I'm excited to share a clever booking strategy I recently used when planning a trip for a family member. This approach could potentially save you both money and points on your next journey.

🗺️ The Power of Repositioning

Have you ever found yourself staring at a flight booking page, discouraged by the high costs in both cash and points? Well, I recently utilised a technique that might just be the game-changer you've been looking for.

Here's the situation: I was planning a trip for a family member from London (LHR) to Lima, Peru. As many of you know, booking award flights out of London can be particularly expensive due to the high taxes and fees. I was determined to find a way to make this trip more affordable without compromising on comfort.

To do this, I used the concept of repositioning. Here's how it works:

1. Instead of booking a direct flight from London to Lima with Avios, I first looked for an affordable cash ticket from London (LHR) to Madrid (MAD). These short-haul European flights are often reasonably priced.

2. Then, I used points for the longer, typically more expensive leg from Madrid (MAD) to Lima.

The result? A significant saving in both money and points compared to booking the entire journey as one ticket from London!

A Real-World Example

Let's look at a concrete example of how this strategy works for a London to Lima round-trip:

1. Direct booking (London to Lima):

   • 71,750 Avios + £332.39

2. Repositioning strategy:

   • Cash flight (London to Madrid): £78 (round trip)

   • Award booking (Madrid to Lima): 46,250 Avios + £157.30

Total savings:

• 25,500 Avios (35.5% reduction)

• £97.09 in cash (29.2% reduction)

As you can see, this approach not only saves a significant amount of Avios but also reduces the cash outlay. Plus, you get the added benefit of a potential stopover in Madrid!

Why This Strategy Works

• Short-haul flights within Europe are often inexpensive when booked with cash.

• You end up using fewer points for just the long-haul segment compared to the entire journey.

• The total cost (cash + points) frequently comes out lower than booking the entire trip with either points or cash alone.

• Most importantly, you avoid the high taxes and fees associated with award flights departing from the UK.

Things to Consider

While this strategy can be very effective, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Allow ample time between flights. Remember, you're essentially booking two separate trips, so build in some buffer for potential delays.

• Check baggage policies if you're flying with different airlines.

• Always compare the total cost (including taxes and fees) with traditional booking methods to ensure you're getting the best deal.

The Takeaway

Travel doesn't have to drain your bank account or your hard-earned points. With a bit of creativity and flexibility, you can stretch your travel budget further than you might have thought possible.

Have you tried repositioning before? Or do you have any questions about how to make it work for your next trip? Feel free to reply to this email - I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Final Words

Until next time, happy travels and happy saving!

P.S. Stay tuned for more personal strategies in future Tuesday editions. There's always something new to learn in the world of travel!

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Bye for now!