This is another old one I am cleaning up from when I was trying to decide how to book our flights to MCO (Orlando) for December. We ended up paying cash on Southwest. We were able to get it for $1424 for all 4 of us, direct, and Southwest includes 2 free bags each!
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DEN to MCO (Orlando): 1546 miles
With a direct flight this would fit in the 10K each way bucket for British Airways Avios. Cutting 5K each from the rest of the carriers that are generally 25K (or a total savings of 20K for the family). I guess the question is whether there are fuel charges and whether the miles are worth using here given the cost of the flights.
That said, I need it direct though because the two lower levels are 4500 and 7500 and these would add up to more if combined. Sadly American does not fly direct DEN-MCO, but are all showing connections. Connecting through DFW is 641 miles crow flies followed by 985, resulting in 24K points. Mostly equivalent point wise and not direct. This Denver Avios Map was helpful here.
Turns out that Avios flights "within the Americas don’t have YQ to pass on" according to here.
The ITA matrix is only showing direct flights for United and Frontier.
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I wonder whether Southwest shows up in the ITA Matrix, given it obviously has direct flights and I wasn't seeing them here. It doesn't show up in Google Flights and they are running off a similar system. I wonder why not.
It is funny to read my analysis of the Avios points above since it will all be mute soon. Avios is increasing their within the US points required to be 7500 for the cheapest category and going up from there.
Hugs,
Jen
Yeah, that avios increase is super annoying, even though I never actually used the low rate.
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