Using Stopovers to Save Avios to India

For my final set of examples about how to save British Airways Avios (what they call their frequent flyer miles) we’ll feature India. If you haven’t followed the series, British Airways prices their award flights based on distance. However, I noticed that some flights are actually cheaper if you break up your trip with a stop (it can be as long as you want). This post is giving examples of how you can save Avios by creating stopovers in Europe or Asia on your way to India (or the Indian Subcontinent).

• Introduction
• Using Stopovers to Save Avios to South America
• Using Stopovers to Save Avios Across the Pacific
• Using Stopovers to Save Avios to Europe
• Using Stopovers to Save Avios to India
• Conclusion

India is on the opposite side of the world from the US, so all direct flights should cost 50,000 Avios for economy. For some it may be wiser to go through Asia, some cheaper to go through Europe. It’s pretty easy to decide which way you should go… If you live on the west coast fly through Asia, and if you live on the east coast fly through Europe.

Unfortunately there is only one route to India from Tokyo and that is to Delhi. So if you want a route from the west coast (like Los Angeles) to Delhi, going through Tokyo is an option.

• LAX – NRT = 25,000
• NRT – DEL = 20,000

However it’s not too much more in most cases to route through Hong Kong. From Vancouver it actually ends up being cheaper to anywhere in India.

• YVR – HKG = 30,000
• HKG – BOM = 12,500

Cathay (the airline based in Hong Kong) has routes to all the major cities of India and the most expensive route seems to be 12,500 and there are a few that are 10,000 Avios. Either way, Hong Kong is probably the best stopover point for trips to India from the west coast. Some bordering countries only have routes to Hong Kong… because Cathay is awesome. So if you’re looking to get to Katmandu or Dhaka, it might be your only option.

From the east coast the main routings are through London (on British Airways) but it ends up not saving anything in most cases. There are two flights from Amman (on Royal Jordanian) to India, Mumbai and Delhi. So a flight from New York to Mumbai or Delhi through Amman would cost 42,500 Avios.

• JFK – AMM = 30,000
• AMM – BOM/DEL = 12,500

There are a number of OneWorld partners in Europe but the only other one that has a route to India is on Finnair through Helsinki, which makes sense for a route from Chicago to Delhi. (Although it may be cheaper to route through AMM by 2,500 Avios).

• ORD – HEL = 25,000
• HEL – DEL = 20,000

Seeing the previous post on stopovers to Europe may lay some ground work. It could show you the cheapest way to get to Amman or Helsinki which is only 12,500 Avios away from India. Still, I think the most important thing is knowing how to find the routes and I will go over that again in the conclusion.

Any questions or tips for getting to Subcontinental India?