4,500 Avios (enough for a one way domestic Qantas Economy, or 1/2 a Business Class flight) with ~$90 annual subscription to Sunday Times Travel mag

Sunday Times Travel, a magazine in the UK, is currently offering 4,500 Avios for a 12 month subscription – and this deal works for delivery to Australia too.

If you’re not up to speed on Avios yet, it’s British Airways’ frequent flyer program currency – much more about Avios can be found in our guide here, but in short, a one way redemption between, say, Sydney and Melbourne in Economy is 4,500 Avios, or in Business Class 9,000 Avios.

If delivered to the UK, then Sunday Times travel will costs £32 for a one year subscription (good for a gift) or if delivered to Australia, it’s £49 – which is around $85-$90 depending on your current exchange rate. Not bad for half a short Qantas Business Class flight.

Head for Points has the full lowdown on this deal, and advises:

• I would not order more than one subscription per BAEC (British Airways Executive Club) or avios.com account
• If you have a BA household account there is no reason why you couldn’t order a subscription for everyone in it.
• I’m not sure if you’d get away with ordering two subscriptions for yourself – one credited to your avios.com account and one to your BAEC account

The deal runs until September 30th, and avios are awarded within 28 days.

To get in, use promotional code STTM0916 when subscribing to Sunday Times Travel Magazine here.

I have subscribed, and of course haven’t seen any Avios credit to my BA account yet – but I can’t see any terms that would prohibit overseas account-holders taking advantage of this.

BA Avios and Australian Memberships

British Airways still has a pointless restriction on accounts from Australia and NZ being unable to join their frequent flyer program (Executive Club) and earn Avios, a hangover from the Qantas and BA joint venture days.

In order to join BA Executive Club you’ll need to use an address anywhere other than in Australia or NZ. I’d suggest getting creative – use a friend or family member in the UK, Europe, the US or where-ever else makes sense. You’ll just receive a welcome pack there, and unless you end up earning elite status with BA, that’s about it.