If you've been sitting on a stash of Avios waiting for the right moment, this week might be it. We're looking at First Class availability to North America at off-peak rates, strong economy deals across multiple long-haul routes, and a Hyatt redemption that's genuinely hard to beat at 5.3 cents per point.

The London departure market is lighting up right now - multiple cabins, multiple routes, all at off-peak pricing. Let's get into it.

Before we dive in, here's your weekly trivia question. The answer is hiding at the bottom of the newsletter...

British Airways Avios prices London to Chicago First Class at 68,000 points off-peak. But what is the peak rate for the same route?

Scroll to the bottom for the answer - and there's a reason it matters for your booking strategy this week.

Route: London Heathrow (LHR) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) on British Airways - First Class (Club World First)

Points cost: 68,000 Avios one-way at off-peak pricing

Available dates: Mar 3, 4, 5, 6 (next week) and Mar 9 (in two weeks)

Availability: Medium - don't wait around on this one

Here's why this is the deal of the week: off-peak First Class to North America at 68,000 Avios is a genuinely solid rate. The peak price jumps to 80,000 Avios - that's a 12,000 Avios saving just by travelling in early March instead of later in the season.

Cash prices for First Class on this route regularly hit the £3,000-£4,000 mark, which means you're looking at outstanding value per point. British Airways First features fully flat beds, dedicated cabin crew, and the iconic Concorde Room lounge access at Heathrow if you're a BA Executive Club Gold member.

How to book: Search on the British Airways website using your Executive Club Avios balance, or search this route directly on AwardTravelFinder. Note that taxes and fees apply on top of the Avios cost for BA-operated flights.

UK readers - Smart With Points has a great breakdown of how to maximise your Avios earning on UK credit cards if you need to top up your balance before booking.

All of these are off-peak Avios rates with high availability unless noted. Great options if you want to stretch your points further or test a new route before committing to a premium cabin.

27,500 Avios one-way | British Airways | Availability: High

Dates: Mar 1 (this Sunday), Mar 2, 3, 4, 5 next week

27,500 Avios one-way | British Airways | Availability: High

Dates: Mar 1 (this Sunday), Mar 2, 3, 4, 5 next week

27,500 Avios one-way | British Airways | Availability: High

Dates: Mar 1 (this Sunday), Mar 2, 3, 4, 5 next week

38,500 Avios one-way | British Airways | Availability: High

Dates: Mar 3, 4, 5, 6 next week - plus Sunday Mar 8

55,000 Avios one-way | British Airways | Availability: High

Dates: Mar 3, 4, 5 next week - plus the weekend of Mar 7-8

That Sydney economy rate is genuinely strong for the distance involved. If you'd rather pay cash on any of these routes, Friday Flight Deals tracks cheap cash fares weekly and regularly spots sub-£500 returns to the US.

Two standouts this week before we get to the full list in the premium section.

Program: World of Hyatt | ~20,000 points/night | Value: 5.3 cents per point

This is one of the best value redemptions in the entire Hyatt portfolio right now. A resort in the Coachella Valley for just 20,000 points per night is outstanding, and at 5.3 cents per point you're getting a return most people only dream about from a hotel redemption.

Program: Marriott Bonvoy | ~80,000 points/night | Value: 6.8 cents per point

The top Marriott value in this week's list. A private island resort in Phuket at 6.8 cents per point is exceptional for Bonvoy - a program that doesn't always deliver this kind of return. The 5th night free benefit applies here too, which stretches that value even further.

See all hotel redemptions - full breakdown by program is in the premium section below.

Top hotel award values this week:

Unlock 10+ more hotel redemptions across all major programs with Premium.