What Surprising Routes Offer the Best Avios Value?

When you book flights with Avios, you unlock access to some of the most unexpectedly valuable redemptions in the frequent flyer world. While many travelers focus on obvious routes, the real magic happens when you discover hidden gems where your Avios stretch much further. This guide reveals the surprising routes that deliver outstanding value when you avios book flight, helping you travel farther while spending fewer points.

The Hidden Gems of Avios Redemptions

Avios operates on a distance-based award chart, which creates some fascinating sweet spots that differ dramatically from traditional airline programs. When you learn how to book flights with avios strategically, you can exploit these quirks to your advantage. Some of the best values come from routes you might not initially consider.

Short-Haul Flights Within Asia

Many travelers don't realize that Cathay Pacific flights booked through Avios offer tremendous value for short hops around Asia. For example, you can book flights with avios between Hong Kong and Taipei for just 4,500 Avios each way in economy class. Considering these flights typically cost 

150−

150−200, you're getting about 3-4 cents per point in value - far above average.

Japan Airlines also offers excellent redemptions within Asia when you avios book flights. Routes like Tokyo to Seoul or Osaka to Shanghai often cost just 7,500 Avios each way, representing similar outstanding value.

European Connections You Wouldn't Expect

While many focus on transatlantic Avios redemptions, some of the best values exist within Europe. Iberia's route network offers particularly good deals when you book flights with avios. For instance:

• Madrid to Casablanca for 6,500 Avios
• Barcelona to Algiers for 7,500 Avios
• Lisbon to the Azores for just 4,500 Avios

These routes frequently cost €100-€200 when paying cash, making your Avios worth 2-3 cents each - an excellent return.

Unexpected Long-Haul Sweet Spots

While Avios are famous for short-haul value, there are some surprising long-haul routes where booking a flight with avios makes perfect sense.

Middle East to Africa Routes

Qatar Airways offers some remarkable deals when you avios book flights between Doha and various African destinations. Routes like:

• Doha to Nairobi (7.5 hours) for 25,000 Avios in economy
• Doha to Cape Town (9.5 hours) for 30,000 Avios in economy

These represent excellent value considering the flight durations and typical cash prices. Even better, Qatar Airways imposes minimal fuel surcharges on these routes.

South America's Hidden Opportunities

Iberia's network to South America contains some surprising values when you book flights with avios. The Madrid to Buenos Aires route often has good availability at the 34,000 Avios level in economy. More interestingly, secondary routes like:

• Madrid to Montevideo for 30,000 Avios
• Madrid to Asunción for 32,000 Avios

These flights typically cost 

800−

800−1,200, making your Avios worth nearly 3 cents each.

The Best Ways to Book These Hidden Gems

Now that you know about these surprising routes, here's how to book flights with avios to access them:

Use the Right Avios Program

Remember that British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways all use Avios but have slightly different pricing. Always check all three programs before booking:

• Use British Airways for Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines flights
• Use Iberia for their own flights and some oneworld partners
• Use Qatar Airways for their extensive African and Asian network

Timing Matters

Many of these surprising sweet spots have limited availability. To successfully avios book flight on these routes:

• Search 330+ days in advance when awards first open
• Be flexible with dates by a few days in either direction
• Consider mid-week flights which often have better availability

Combine with Positioning Flights

Some of these great deals work even better when you add a short connecting flight. For example, you could:

1. Book a cheap cash flight to Madrid
2. Then use Avios for the long-haul segment to South America
3. Potentially add an intra-continental Avios flight at the destination

This approach lets you maximize value from your Avios while keeping overall costs down.

Why These Surprising Routes Offer Such Good Value

The exceptional value on these routes when you book flights with avios comes from several factors:

Distance-Based Pricing Works in Your Favor

Avios charges based on flight distance in bands, so slightly shorter routes in a band can offer outsized value. A 1,200-mile flight costs the same as a 1,450-mile one, but the shorter flight gives you better value per mile.

Lower Demand Means Better Availability

These secondary routes often have more award availability precisely because fewer people think to search for them. When you learn how to book flights with avios on these less-obvious routes, you'll find awards when popular routes are sold out.

Minimal Fuel Surcharges

Many of these surprising sweet spots have low or reasonable surcharges, unlike some transatlantic routes where fees can eat into your savings.

Start Exploring These Hidden Avios Opportunities

Now that you know about these surprising sweet spots, it's time to put your Avios to work. Remember that the best values often come from routes you wouldn't initially consider. By expanding your search beyond the obvious choices when you avios book flights, you'll discover a world of incredible redemptions that let you travel farther for fewer points.

The key is to think creatively, be flexible with your routing, and always check multiple Avios programs for the best deal. With this approach, you'll consistently find outstanding value that makes your Avios balance work harder for your travel dreams.

Happy hunting for those hidden Avios gems! Your next amazing redemption might be on a route you've never considered before.