I think you need business class for going to Africa. Haha.
QR QSuite should be the top option. AA miles cost you the least as well as no YQ. However QR's own program sees a lot more seats. QR uses the same Avios system as BA, and these 2 programs are freely transferred between each other.
For sure you know BA is transfer partner of 4 flexible currencies, with Chase and AMEX often have 20 to 30% transfer bonus.
We have a less than 2 hours flight from LHR this Spring and I decide to redeem business for only 15K Avios + $1 - reason? We may need to wait at LHR for close to 4 hours or we just make the departure - all depends on how the ship clears Immigration and Custom at Southampton. Business class ticket has lounge access. For a 4 hours wait, the lounge access is very very useful. Redeeming coach would be 9250 Avios, for an additional <6K Avios to ensure lounge access at either T3 (multiple Oneworld airlines) or T5, BA itself only, it is well worth the cost.
