I just got back from India, one of my favorite places! This country, known for yoga, meditation, and bringing out my inner hippie, has always held a special spot in my heart. I spent my days dipping my toes in the Indian Ocean, stretching out my achy back on a yoga mat, and enjoying blissful massages.

The journey from the winding, moody Pennines to Manchester, through London, into Mumbai, and finally to beautiful Goa took about 24 hours. However, the long trip was made bearable thanks to the comfort of business class. We used a British Airways Companion Voucher to book business class flights to India, costing us £1,205.82 (those taxes and fees stung a bit!).

These tickets were originally priced at £4,783.18, so we saved an impressive £3,577.36. Even better, if we had flown economy, it would have cost us £1,433.18, meaning we paid £227.36 less for a more luxurious experience. Now that’s a deal I can get behind!

If you’re looking to build your own AVIOS balance to snag deals like this, check out the Beginners Guide to Collecting AVIOS. Combined with a companion voucher guide, you’ll learn how to get business class flights for less than the price of economy.

For beginners, remember the ABC of AVIOS collection:
– A: Register for AVIOS.
– B: Shop as much as you can online through the AVIOS store (you’ll save money by avoiding those tempting in-store displays!).
– C: Use an AVIOS or AMEX Credit Card for payments (just be sure to pay off your balance each month!).

Follow this strategy, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly your AVIOS points add up.

Here’s a neat little trick if you’re bursting with AVIOS points and excited to use them: flights can’t usually be booked more than 355 days in advance, allowing you to book an outbound flight but not the return flight immediately. You can, however, book the outbound flight using the AVIOS companion voucher and add the return flight later by calling British Airways.

This method is perfect for impatient travelers like me who just can’t wait to secure their seats. After all, if your destination is nirvana, you might as well start the journey in style!

Now, as I pack my bags with some added Indian zen, stay tuned for all the details of my visit to an Ayurvedic retreat in the Ultimate Health Hack coming soon!