The Best Avios Redemptions for 2023
Find a list for the best avios redemptions in 2023 with British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and other oneworld partners in Business or First class.
With the introduction of Reward Saver redemptions, other possibilities arose to spend your avios with greater value, which we try to cover here.
Additionally, we only show you redemptions which are actually available, leaving out the “theoretical” ones where literally no availability exists.
Content
- Iberia Business Class to and from the US
- British Airways Business class Europe to North America and vice versa
- American Airlines Business Class flights within North America
- JAL Business class from Helsinki to Tokyo
- Qatar Airways European cities to Doha
- Business class Europe to London and vice versa without any surcharges
- JAL FIRST class flights to/from Japan
- Business class São Paulo to London with no surcharges.
- SriLankan Business class from Colombo to Male
- Domestic First class within Japan without surcharges
- Qantas Business class flights within Australia
- Cathay Pacific or JAL Business class flights within Asia
Best Avios Redemptions for 2023
Iberia Business Class to and from the US
Transcontinental business class flights with Iberia are on the top of the list for flight redemptions.
You will avoid the high taxes and fees and do not need too many avios.
New York, Boston and Chicago are all available from Madrid for 34,000 avios one way in business class, and with around 140€ in fees and taxes only.
Miami is available for 42,500 avios in Business class (off-peak season).
To search for availability, you can simply use Iberia’s website and look for flights. Usually, only 2 free seats are available per flight, with luck a few more seats.
British Airways Business class Europe to North America and vice versa
While this might not be the best redemption in terms of value, availability is very very good and surcharges are very low. So if you have many avios to spent, you can use them here easily.
Between London and North America and vice versa you will pay, depending on the distance of the flight, the following:
- Off Peak: Between 80’000 and 90’000 avios and up to 225€
- Peak: Between 90’000 and 105’000 avios and up to 225€
If you add an intra European flight to that, you have to add up the amount of avios that flight would cost you. The taxes and surcharges will not change.
American Airlines Business Class flights within North America
Business class flights within the US, called Domestic first class, are another good way for avios redemptions in 2023, as the taxes are very low.
Here’s a distance table on how many avios you would need for flights in business class.
Flights under:
- 650 miles will cost you 12,500 avios.
- 1,150 miles will cost you 16,500avios.
- 2,000 miles will cost you 22,000 avios.
- 5,000 miles will cost you 38,750 avios.
For example: New York to Miami, Chicago, Dallas… will cost you only 16,500 avios in domestic First Class (business class) one-way.
JAL Business class from Helsinki to Tokyo
Helsinki is your cheapest option to fly non-stop to Japan out of Europe.
For 77.250 avios and only 305€ fees and taxes, you can fly in Business class non-stop on Japan Airlines, one-way.
Qatar Airways European cities to Doha
From Europe to Doha with Qatar Airways, you have the possibility to fly in QSuites one-way for only 43’000 avios (off-peak season) and only over 100€ in surcharges. Many originating airports are available, here are some examples:
- From Brussels: 103€
- From Amsterdam: 129€
- From Germany: 133€
Remember that from some East European countries, Qatar Airways is not using Long Haul aircraft, so you risk to not have lie flat seats on your flights.
Business class Europe to London and vice versa without any surcharges
If you have many avios to spare, this is a great option to fly in Business class literally for free. Have you earned at least one avios during the last 12 months, you can take advantage of Rewards Saver, and use your avios very flexible.
A Round trip in European Business class with BA will cost you 30’000 or 40’000 avios + 1€ in surcharges (off-peak season), depending on the length of your flight.
JAL FIRST class flights to/from Japan
JAL fly first class to the following destinations in the US: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
And to the following destinations in Europe: Frankfurt, London and Paris.
The avios cost is between 103’000 & 144’250. Taxes are not that bad with around 350€. Furthermore, Business class is not much cheaper with +-90’000 avios.
Business class São Paulo to London with no surcharges.
As it is forbidden to surcharge taxes on award flights departing from Brazil, a flight from São Paulo to London with British Airways can be considered a bargain due to the taxes which are very low. Off-peak season you will pay 100’000 avios with only 9€ or 84’000 avios with only 110€ in taxes.
SriLankan Business class from Colombo to Male
It is hard to find availability for award flight to Male. However, one workaround might be to fly to Sri Lanka and continue your journey from there. Availability is excellent in Business class for this short flight and will cost you only, 12500 avios but 147€ in taxes.
Domestic First class within Japan without surcharges
Japan Airlines has a really nice domestic first class. The avios cost is rather high with 24’000 avios needed, however surcharges are negligible and this is a cheap and luxurious way to travel within Japan.
Be advised there is a glitch on the BA website. In the search mask, only Economy is shown for these flights, however when you have to select your flight, only FIRST is available.
Qantas Business class flights within Australia
If you need flights within Australia, Avios redemptions with Qantas are a very good way of using your avios.
From Sydney to Perth, you need 34’900 avios, and you will pay only 27€ in surcharges.
Cathay Pacific or JAL Business class flights within Asia
From and to Tokyo or Hong Kong, you have endless redemptions options for shorter or longer flights within all of Asia, with low surcharges.
Here are 2 examples.
From Tokyo to Hanoi, over 6 hours flight, you will only need 38750 avios & 156€ taxes.
From Hong Kong to Beijing you only need 25’000 avios and 60€ in taxes.
If you know of any other great avios redemption in Business or First class, you can let us know and we will update the list.
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