Does anyone understand Avios points

[LaurieFairyCake]

I have 71000 points - I've never tried to book something so I'm trying to see what it means

So if I go on British airways and try for example to book 2 returns to New York it says these flights cost £3000. I assume try to use my Avios points and it tells me that I need to buy 12,000 more Avios points

Which is only about £300

Now, does this mean the WHOLE trip return is only going to cost me £300?

Is it really true that my 71,000 Avios points are pretty much worth 2 returns to New York ?

I have literally no idea how this works

No, sadly you have to pay the taxes and surcharges. For economy this is probably £300 cash each. So it's not worth it unless you are booking at a peak time.

Hi, you can use the points to reduce the cost of your flight. You can also get a reward flight using the avios, not sure whether you’d get to NY with 71000. With the reward flights, there are only so many and you have to pay for the taxes on top.

Why doesn't it tell me that?

Ugh - it's trying to get me to buy the points and then go back and book the flights but I don't want to do that unless I KNOW the full cost !

I need to know exactly how much it is to see if it's worth it

I use avios regularly - 83,000 avios plus £300 junk fees for two flights sounds about right for two off peak flights to NYC.
When you select the flights and it gives you a price that will be the final price including all the fees

I just had a look, and a trip in September, economy over a Saturday night would be 100000 Avios plus £200 in taxes. Economy flights on the same days/times are £1259 in total, I could take £300 off that by using 66000 Avios. I could make the flights cheaper by just doing handluggage and fiddling with the days

So in your example you would get two returns for your Avios plus £500 (so half price)

Sorry I misread - if it’s £300 to buy 12,000 miles - junk fees will be extra. It should give you a figure when you select the flights?

I know but it's making me buy the points FIRST

So I won't get the actual cost until I've spent money on points - which I don't want to do as if it's £500 on fees/taxes etc I wont go

Just look up one return. Then double the taxes and the miles you would need for two.