How We Flew to the Maldives for £75 Using Avios

Introduction: The Start of Our Journey

When we booked the very first flight for our round-the-world trip, we knew it was the point of no return. By committing to the flight, we were finally making our dream a reality, and the best part? We could book our flight to the Maldives for only £75! We had been saving Avios and cash like crazy, but we still couldn’t believe what we were seeing — the total cost of our flight to the Maldives was only the airport taxes, and the flight itself was essentially free thanks to our Avios points.

Normally, this flight would have cost us £600, but by using 30,000 Avios, we saved a massive amount. Here's the breakdown: we used our Avios points to cover the cost of the flight and paid just £75 in taxes each. It felt like a major travel win and an incredible way to kick off our journey!

What Are Avios Points?

We first learned about Avios points through watching travel hacking gurus on YouTube. Travel hacking is a way to travel cheaply using miles and points earned through loyalty programs and travel credit cards. While it's more challenging in the UK compared to the US (where there are more cards available), it’s definitely still possible to make the most of Avios.

Avios points are the loyalty currency for British Airways (and other OneWorld airlines). You can collect them through various high-street outlets, but the real value comes when you combine everyday purchases with an Avios credit card. These points can be a game-changer, especially for long-haul destinations like the Maldives, where flying can be expensive.

Step-by-Step Guide: How We Earned Our Avios Points

  1. Credit Cards
    We primarily earned our Avios points through credit cards, starting with the British Airways American Express card. Angela signed up first, and by using the card for everyday purchases (groceries, petrol, etc.), we quickly met the minimum spend and earned bonus points. We also converted our supermarket loyalty points into Avios.

    The key here is to always pay the bill in full each month; otherwise, you’re just paying interest, which defeats the purpose. After Angela earned the sign-up bonus, Alan signed up using her referral link, so we earned even more points with the referral bonus! We then switched all our spending to Alan's card to reach the minimum spend for his bonus.

    Once we maxed out our American Express cards, we switched to the Barclaycard Avios card to continue earning points.

  2. Flights
    In addition to earning Avios through everyday spending, we also earned points by flying with British Airways and OneWorld Partner airlines during our travels. One thing to note: with Avios, you can only book flights in or out of the UK, but the principle applies to other loyalty schemes as well.

  3. Shopping Portals
    Whenever we needed to make a big purchase (like car insurance or electronics), we would go through the British Airways eStore to earn extra Avios on top of our regular points. It’s a simple but effective way to boost your points tally!

Maximizing the Value of Avios

Booking flights to a dream destination like the Maldives using Avios isn’t just about collecting points — it’s about redeeming them wisely. We booked our flights midweek, which gave us a wider selection of available dates and fewer Avios points were required compared to peak times.

One challenge we encountered was booking under the wrong name, which meant we couldn’t use our Companion Voucher. We had earned a Companion Voucher through Alan's Avios card, but because we booked the flight with Angela as the lead passenger, we couldn’t use it. That was a tough lesson, but one we won’t forget!

Our Experience: Flying to the Maldives for £75

We flew with British Airways in Economy. After being used to budget airlines, it was a noticeable upgrade — the seats were more comfortable, and the overall experience was much better.

The real value came in the savings. Because we spent so little on the flight, we were able to extend our stay in the Maldives to a full month, and our entire trip to the Maldives cost under £1,400! That included all accommodation and expenses. The highlight of the journey? Flying into Malé with the sight of all those stunning atolls appearing out of the ridiculously blue ocean — an unforgettable moment.

Final Tips for Earning and Using Avios Efficiently

If you’re looking to use Avios for long-haul flights like the Maldives, here are a few tips we picked up along the way:

  • Combine loyalty cards with Avios credit cards: Every little bit helps, so link your supermarket loyalty cards and take advantage of any deals that offer bonus Avios.
  • Use shopping portals: Don’t forget to go through the Avios eStore for your online purchases to rack up even more points. We often forgot this and missed out on potential Avios, so make sure you don’t!
  • Pay the bill in full: If you don’t pay off your credit card bill each month, you’re just paying for the flight in advance with interest fees.

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