30% more Avios when you convert Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

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Chase Ultimate Rewards has launched a promotion in which it’s offering a bonus on points transfers to the three key Avios-issuing airlines – British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus – so anyone who wasn’t able to take advantage of the Amex transfer bonus that ended yesterday now has a second chance to boost their account balance(s).

This latest Chase promotion is offering a 30% bonus on transfers to BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus and runs through to the end of the month, so unless you have a pressing need for some Avios, there’s no need to make any hasty decisions.

In fact, before you decide whether or not to transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to one of the Avios-issuing airlines, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Don’t give up flexibility

Ultimate Rewards points are a considerably more flexible currency than Avios and are less susceptible to devaluation, so unless you have a short-term need for Avios and you can see that awards are available, you probably shouldn’t be converting Chase points into Avios.

Which loyalty program?

Avios can be transferred out of the British Airways Executive Club into Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus, Finnair Plus and the Qatar Airways Privilege Club (as long as your accounts have been open for a minimum of 90 days and have seen some activity) so it may not matter which airline program you transfer points to.

If, however, you’re not in a position to transfer Avios between the airlines, it’s worth remembering that Aer Lingus and Iberia can often offer better redemption options than British Airways with Iberia in particular, often adding lower surcharges to its awards. Check the cost of your desired awards across all airlines before initiating a transfer.

Short haul will often offer the best value

Some of the better Avios redemption options are on short-haul routes that don’t attract high taxes and surcharges, and this remains the case despite recent devaluations.

The surcharges that often get attached to long-haul bookings can make it highly uneconomical to use Avios instead of cash (especially if you’re only thinking of booking an Economy Class fare), so make sure you compare the cash cost of a fare with the Avios + surcharges cost before deciding that an award that you’ve found is one that you’d like to book.

Caution is a good thing

Don’t convert Ultimate Rewards points into Avios without a solid plan for how you’re going to use those Avios because (a) there may be another devaluation before you get a chance to use your newly created Avios or (b) a better use for your Ultimate rewards points make become apparent before you have a chance to use your Avios (and that could be aggravating).

Bottom Line

A 30% bonus for transfers to the British Airways Executive Club can be a very nice deal if you really need some Avios or if you use Avios frequently, but it’s not a deal that everyone should be jumping on.

If you have a plan for the Avios you generate via this conversion bonus you probably won’t go wrong, but make sure you think things through and don’t transfer points on a whim – you’ll be much better off with a stockpile of Ultimate Points than you’ll be with a large Avios balance.