BAWorld Traveller Plus - worth theAvios?
WorldTraveller Plus (WTP), BritishAirways’Premium Economy offering available on long-haul flights, tends to receive mixed reviews when it comes to usingAvios to book them.The first question everyAvios collector usually asks when they’re considering booking this cabin class is - is it worth theAvios? (it’s considerably more than standard economy). Or should they just plump for Business Class seats instead if they have enough points available?
It really depends on what is important to the traveller and how he values that benefit. That being said, there are some good value options for Premium EconomyAvios reward seats. Here we take a look at what to expect, according to travellers, as well as times it might make sense to opt for Premium Economy
Airport Check-In
Although you won’t receive access to a dedicated check-in, you’ll benefit from an extra baggage allowance - you can check in two bags weighing up to 23kg each per passenger
This is a big bonus for families, especially those with younger children. Priority boarding is another favourable draw for parents - enabling them to get the kids on board and settled with plenty of time prior to taking off. Premium Economy priority boarding typically means you’ll be in Group 3 of 9, so whilst you’re not right up there at the front of the queue, you’ll still notice a speedier walk to your seat.
Do you get Lounge access?
Unfortunately, Premium Economy doesn’t give you access to BALounges.You have to make do with the standard departure facilities pre-flight. It’s not all bad, however Terminals typically offer a good range of places to eat, drink or shop before you board the plane, particularly London Heathrow. But be prepared for the hustle and bustle that you usually avoid by heading to the Lounge.
If Lounge access is non-negotiable for you, you can purchase access to one of the airport Lounges.At London Heathrow, you can use ClubAspire Lounges inT3 and T5, where you can enjoy complimentary snacks, beers, wines, soft drinks and hot beverages, as well as free wifi and comfortable seating areas. Prices start from £35, per adult, for three hours.
Cabin and in-flight experience
This is where you’ll notice the difference between Economy and WorldTraveller Plus Avios reward seats.There is a separate, smaller cabin. With fewer rows, the cabin is quieter and more spacious - the seats are wider too - and it feels more exclusive and comfortable than standard economy. Pranjal Pande says that “I had a lot more legroom in WTPand could get out of my seat without bothering my neighbour”, and JTGenter says that “for many passengers, the main reason to book Premium Economy instead of Economy is the larger seats.And BritishAirways certainly delivers in this regard”.
If you want a pillow and duvet, just ask and the flight attendants are happy to provide them. Premium Economy seats also benefit from the lumbar support, extra legroom and extra reclining ability to make rest and sleep a much more comfortable experience.
You can enjoy your own personal in-flight entertainment system (Screen size 50% larger than Economy), with noise-cancelling headphones, which Pranjal Pande believes “are high quality and a step-up from the earbuds found in Economy”.
As well as in-flight entertainment, you can charge your phone, tablet or laptop using the in-seat charging points. You’ll also receive a stylish amenity kit, including an eye mask, toothpaste, toothbrush and lip balm to freshen up whenever you’d like to.
If your flight is long-haul, you’ll get two meals during your journey, as well as a complimentary drinks service, including cocktails if you’d like to indulge a little. Your main meal will come on a real plate, with silverware, rather than the standard plastic packaging and cutlery you have in Economy. JTGenter says that “BritishAirways provides notably better food and drink service in Premium Economy as compared with Economy”. Dishes available on recent menus include tomato, mozzarella and pesto salad, salmon teriyaki and raspberry cheesecake.
Cost of WTPreward seats - Is it value forAvios spend?
Long haul Economy seats represent poor value forAvios spend, due to the high cash fees and taxes.Avios collectors tend to prefer BritishAirways Business Class reward seats for long haul because they represent excellent value forAvios point spend and travellers can benefit from some great savings on comparable cash seats. However, if you’re flying long haul but don’t quite have theAvios balance to splurge on Business Class, booking Premium Economy reward seats does provide extra levels of comfort for your journey
Whether Premium Economy is worth theAvios spend really depends on the traveller’s needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a bigger seat and more legroom, or need a bigger baggage allowance, or just need greater comfort than provided in Economy, theAvios spend may well make sense to you.
The Points Insider says that “little touches offered on other airlines in Premium Economy, like a welcome drink, use of the premium bathrooms, and better food and drink choices” would be a welcome addition. The LuxuryTravel Diary advises that Premium Economy is worth the extra cost, particularly if you’re taking a long-haul daytime flight, but for overnight journeys, Business Class is the better option because it allows for a good night's sleep.
Although travellers like JT Genter believe that BritishAirways offers one of the best Premium Economy products available, the team at RFF wouldn’t recommend spending more than 50% over theAvios points needed to book the equivalent Economy reward seat when it comes to Premium Economy, or your booking starts to represent poor cash value perAvios point.
The best way to compare the total cost of the Economy and Premium Economy Avios reward seats is to use the general valuation of 1p perAvios.You can calculate the equivalent value for each seat before making a decision.
Let’s use an example from London to Barbados. Using our Search Calendar and Avios calculator we can see that Off Peak Economy seats in September 2023 cost 60,000Avios + £150, equivalent to £750. Off Peak, Premium Economy seats cost 95,000Avios + £330, equivalent to £1280. That’s quite a hike (70%) over the economy seat cost. Premium Economy cash tickets for the same dates cost £1165. Only the traveller can decide whether paying an additional 35,000Avios and an extra £180 is worth it.
If you’d like to see what WorldTraveller PlusAvios options might work for you, you can use our BAredemption finder at rewardflightfinder.com to find BAreward flight availability up to a year ahead, and our search calendar will even tell you how many seats are available. Our tools work like anAvios calculator, they’ll tell you the points you need to book reward seats for your journey. Better still, if you sign up for a Reward Flight Finder membership you can maximise your chances of getting your ideal BritishAirwaysAvios reward seats by setting travelAlerts, and we’ll notify you when your preferred seats are available to book.
Original Source-
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