Using airline miles and credit card points to fly internationally for almost free is one of the best travel hacks. Recently, I experienced this firsthand when I flew from Mumbai to Colombo on SriLankan Airlines by redeeming Avios points. What would normally cost around ₹25,000 in cash ended up costing me just 9,000 Avios plus about ₹2,000 in taxes even when i booked just few days before.
Here’s my complete experience of booking and flying this flight using Avios.
IndusInd Avios Credit Card – The Offer That Started It All
At the start of the year, IndusInd Bank launched an exciting welcome offer on its Avios credit card, offering 40,000 Avios as a welcome bonus. As someone who loves luxury travel using points and miles, I immediately applied for the card and got it approved.
While researching how to use Avios efficiently, I discovered a sweet spot redemption:
A one-way flight between Mumbai and Colombo costs only 9,000 Avios + taxes when booked through Qatar Privilege Club.
When I checked the cash fares for the same dates, the tickets were priced around ₹25,000, making this redemption extremely valuable.
Booking the Flight Using Avios
Interestingly, my IndusInd welcome bonus Avios had not yet been credited at that time. Since I didn’t want to miss the redemption opportunity, I decided to transfer my American Express Membership Rewards points to Qatar Privilege Club.
The transfer ratio was 2:1, meaning:
- 18,000 Amex points = 9,000 Avios
After transferring the points, I booked my SriLankan Airlines flight from Mumbai to Colombo directly through the Qatar Airways Privilege Club portal.
Flight cost:
- 9,000 Avios
- Approximately ₹2,000 in taxes
For an international flight, this is an incredible deal.
Flight Details
Route: Mumbai to Colombo
Airline: SriLankan Airlines
Redemption: Qatar Privilege Club Avios
Points Used: 9,000 Avios
Taxes: ~₹2,000
Departure Time: 3:30 AM
Web Check-in Experience
The web check-in process was very convenient. I was able to check in easily using the Qatar Airways app, which manages Avios partner bookings as well.
While selecting seats, I noticed that only aisle seats were available for free during online check-in, so I chose one of those.
Airport Experience at Mumbai Airport
Since the flight was scheduled to depart at 3:30 AM, I arrived at Mumbai International Airport (Terminal 2) late at night.
Check-in and Immigration
The check-in process with SriLankan Airlines was smooth and efficient. The staff were polite and helpful.
After completing check-in, I used fast track immigration, which saved a lot of time.
Lounge Access – Adani East Wing Lounge
After immigration, I headed to the Adani East Wing Lounge.
I was able to access this lounge complimentary using my American Express Platinum Charge Card.
Spending time at the lounge before an early morning flight is always a great way to relax. I enjoyed some food and refreshments while waiting for boarding.
Boarding and Aircraft Experience
After spending a few hours at the lounge, I headed to the boarding gates.
The flight was delayed by about 30 minutes, but boarding started soon after and was well organized.
Once onboard, I quickly settled into my seat.
Cabin and Seats
The aircraft cabin was clean and well maintained. However, the seats were not very spacious, and the legroom felt slightly limited, which is common for short-haul regional aircraft.
The aircraft used for this route did not feature any seatback infotainment screens, which is quite common on short-haul regional flights. There was also no onboard Wi-Fi or streaming entertainment available during the flight. However, since the flight duration between Mumbai and Colombo is only around 2 hours, the lack of an entertainment system did not make much of a difference.
SriLankan Airlines Cabin Crew – Exceptional Hospitality
One of the highlights of this flight was the excellent cabin crew service.
Sri Lanka is known for its warm hospitality, and the cabin crew truly lived up to that reputation.
Every crew member was:
- Extremely friendly
- Very polite
- Attentive to passengers
Their professionalism and warmth made the flight experience much more enjoyable.
Meal Service
Even though the flight duration is relatively short, a proper meal was served onboard.
The meal was delicious, and what made it feel premium was the use of steel cutlery instead of plastic, which is becoming rare on short international flights.
It added a touch of elegance to the experience.
Arrival in Colombo
Since the flight duration between Mumbai and Colombo is quite short, we arrived in Colombo around 6:30 AM.
The landing was extremely smooth, and the aircraft touched down gently at Bandaranaike International Airport.
Within minutes, we were taxiing toward the terminal.
Overall Experience Flying SriLankan Airlines Using Avios
This was my first Avios redemption flight, and it turned out to be a fantastic experience.
What I Loved
- Incredible redemption value (₹25K ticket for 9K Avios)
- Smooth booking through Qatar Privilege Club
- Friendly and professional SriLankan Airlines cabin crew
- Tasty onboard meal with steel cutlery
- Comfortable and clean cabin
Things That Could Be Better
- Slightly tight legroom in economy
- Limited free seat selection options
- Infotainment system
Final Thoughts
If you collect Avios points, the Mumbai to Colombo route on SriLankan Airlines is one of the best sweet spot redemptions in Asia.
Spending just 9,000 Avios for an international flight that would otherwise cost around ₹25,000 is an excellent value for points enthusiasts.
For anyone holding Avios-earning credit cards or transferable points like American Express, this route is definitely worth considering.
This flight also marked my first Avios redemption, and it was a memorable experience.
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