Why you should be making your 2022 Avios reward travel plans right now

Why you should be making your 2022 Avios reward travel plans right now

We all had high hopes at the start of 2022 that after two years of living with a pandemic, things were going to get a little easier.

Just two months into the new year, Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine has had far-reaching consequences.

Whether or not we personally know someone in Ukraine, or are doing our bit by taking in refugees or donating to emergency charities, the war has already touched many aspects of our lives, not only emotionally but also through everyday restrictions and price rises. Travel is no exception, with the rising cost of fuel the most obvious challenge.

If you’re planning to use our BA reward flight finder to book yourself a bargain break in 2022, then sooner is likely to be better. Here are some things to consider.

The cost of fuel Even before the war in Ukraine, we were being warned to expect significant fuel cost rises due to a worldwide post-pandemic supply squeeze. Though the UK is less reliant on Russian supplies than other countries, our fuel prices are still linked to global supply and demand.

Just as we notice an eye-watering difference in filling up our car at the pump, the cost of aviation fuel has risen sharply and this will inevitably be passed on to the customer.

British Airways’ alliance partner Qantas has said it expects average fares to rise by about seven per cent and Delta has estimated it could be more than 10%. With fuel accounting for 30% to 40% of most airlines’ operating costs, it could be even higher.

And because you pay for surcharges on top of your Avios when booking your BA reward flights, any fuel surcharge will be required in cash.

Existing airline fuel contracts will expire in a few months (British Airways has said it bought about 60% of its needs for this year in advance) so it’s best to get your BA reward flights booked before prices rise further.

Flight diversions While diverting around Russian and Ukrainian airspace may seem a relatively small inconvenience, bear in mind that, depending on where you are headed, this could add significantly to the fuel used and therefore the cost of your flight.

Heathrow’s Fees Hike Bringing further misery to flying costs, Heathrow has just hiked its take-off and landing fees. Now the highest charging airport per passenger in the world, it has just hit airlines with a 37% fee increase. This equates to around £30 per passenger for the first six months of 2022, with a review in the summer which will fix landing charges for the next five years. They could go higher.

This is, of course, very unwelcome news for airlines and at least part of that cost will likely be passed on to customers in the coming months. You could, of course, try and avoid Heathrow (check out our BA reward finder for other options) but as it is British Airways’ major hub, it will make your choices for BA reward f much more limited.

Pent up Demand Thanks to lockdowns, the government’s frequently shifting traffic light system and the cost of PCR tests, many of us haven’t travelled for the best part of two years. With most destinations now open and testing restrictions eased, this means there is huge pent up demand to travel th People who kept their jobs and saved on a host of luxuries, including holidays, are now booking bigger and better breaks with their saved cash. The length of holidays is increasing. More flights and hotel nights are likely to be already blocked off by early birds.

Factor in the multiple re-bookings that have hung over into this year as people were forced to cancel travel plans in 2020 and 2021 and it all adds up to one big capacity squeeze. It’s even more important to use tools like our British Airways reward flight to check availability and bag flights quickly.

The cost of living crisis Looking ahead, the price of our weekly food shop, utility bills, and petrol is likely to rise further. Inflation is forecast at 8% by the end of 2022. Rocketing fuel costs impact the cost of food deliveries. Wheat, milk and dairy products will likely also be affected because Ukraine and Russia are responsible for around 30% of the world’s supply of wheat for both human and farm animals’ consumption. If you're able to travel soon it might be a good idea to book before your finances are further squeezed.

Some good news…

The heavy diplomatic sanctions on Russia could prove an unexpected help for UK travellers. Russians’ ability to fly to many destinations is now severely curtailed.

Though they can get around the ban by transiting other destinations, such as Serbia, Turkey or the Middle East, it should put off those in search of an easy fly-and-flop.

Sanctions will also hit many ordinary Russians economically. This should mean large discounts on hotels in Russians’ favourite holiday destinations.

Turkey is the most popular destination with Russians, and that air corridor is still open, but some of their other favourites, such as Thailand, Estonia, Germany and Italy, will prove more tricky for them. Spain, Cyprus and Greece could also have significant extra capacity to fill so worth a look for accommodation deals to team with your BA reward flights.

Another thing to consider is which destinations are not yet open to travellers but are likely to lift restrictions soon. If you can use our British Airways reward flight to tee up a trip to somewhere like Japan, while most people are looking elsewhere, you’re more likely to get a good deal.

Right now, there’s an amazing availability of reward seats on British Airways flights to popular, family friendly European destinations including Menorca, Lanzarote, Cyprus and Greece, especially across the Autumn half term.

Turn your fuel costs to Avios There’s only one good thing to come out of the increased cost of filling your petrol tanks - the extra BA reward flights it could earn you.

Filling up at Esso will give you Nectar points, which can be turned into (link your accounts for easy conversion). Nectar cards can also be used in Sainsbury’s and other retailers.

If you also have an American Express or Barclaycard that earns you it’s worth doubling up by using this for those big fuel spends or the hiked price of your weekly shop, so long as you can pay the balance off monthly to avoid interest.

If your gas and electricity are handled by Sainsbury’s Energy, you will also have some compensation in seeing those Avios-earning Nectar points rise with your bills.

Using the BA reward finder to book your flights If you’re looking to redeem your Avios points on BA reward flights for 2022 you will need to know which services have reward seat availability.

You can check availability of British Airways reward flights for the coming 12 months in one place using our own BA Reward Flight Finder.

New reward seats can be released at any time, so to avoid missing out you can have our BA reward finder working away for you in the background by setting up an Alert on Reward Flight Finder.

Original Source https://rewardflightfinder.com/news-and-advice/why-you-should-be-making-your-202 2-avios-reward-travel-plans-right-now