BA Executive Club Avios changes

[moa999]

Seems BA decided that QF's simpler fairer changes were a great idea.

If anything they have gone even further:
BA restructures Executive Club - Business Traveller

 

[Princess Fiona]

Bit sad that the babybus JFK-LCY is having its Tier Points reduced

 

[dajop]

I wonder if these changes will flow through to AAnother FF program. I can't imagine there will still be 100% earn on discount economy to AAdvantage when the fares only earn 25% or 50% in BAs own program.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I wonder if these changes will flow through to AAnother FF program. I can't imagine there will still be 100% earn on discount economy to AAdvantage when the fares only earn 25% or 50% in BAs own program.

Indeed. This is my main concern as well. I always thought that AA/BA had some kind of partnership that allowed this. All we can hope is that if AA does shift they don't effect future bookings.

 

[andye]

They seem to have adopted a different approach to QF:
They have kept the partner SC earn stable (unlike Simpler & Fairer).
Points earn mostly decreased except with flexible fares (and especially for OWS)
Quite big increase in points required for redemption for long-haul
Free connecting flights from regional airports to/from London for European redemptions gone (I found this quite a handy use of Avios to engineer a London stopover to/from Europe cheaply)

BAEC still seems quite a reasonable way of getting OW status if you fly on a variety of OW airlines and can do 4 BA flights. American earn/burn now even better by comparison but for how long?

 

[JohnK]

The simple reason for these drastic changes everywhere (Qantas, Aegean, BA etc) is earning status has become too easy.

Simply put we are getting way too many benefits for very small outlays. The boundaries need to change. It needs to become tougher.

 

[TonyHancock]

The simple reason for these drastic changes everywhere (Qantas, Aegean, BA etc) is earning status has become too easy.

Simply put we are getting way too many benefits for very small outlays. The boundaries need to change. It needs to become tougher.

Interestingly BA is opting to remove the "cheap fare rort" route to status.

 

[JohnK]

Interestingly BA is opting to remove the "cheap fare rort" route to status.

And I am guessing most airlines including Qantas will follow suit.

 

[drron]

Basically all FF programs are changing.As a lot know I have been a fan of Aadvantage for a long time because of their burn rates.In the last 12 months that has changed.International J or F milesAAver awards have virtually disappeared on AA metal.The AAnytime awards are at a worse burn rate than QF.You can still get milesAAver awards on partner airlines but how much longer will that last.
These changes at BA might see BA disappear for milesAAver awards.

 

[dajop]

Basically all FF programs are changing.

Yes. These days if flying long haul in discounted economy, the best approach is simply to choose the combination of fare/timetable/product to suit.

These changes at BA might see BA disappear for milesAAver awards.

Certainly in premium cabins. Unless AA "enhances" their redemption tables, which I wouldn't be surprised to see.

 

[drron]

Certainly in premium cabins. Unless AA "enhances" their redemption tables, which I wouldn't be surprised to see.

They have enhanced their redemption tables without telling anyone.Premium cabin milesAAver awards are only available 1-2 weeks out from travel internationally.So if wanting to plan award travel further out on AA metal it has to be an AAnytime award at much higher rates.EG-NRT-DFW which is 62,500 in F as a milesAAver is 175000-200000 in F as an AAnytime award.
In the last 6 years we have used 4-6 F milesAAvers between Japan and US each year for both myself and mrsdrron.Never had a problem booking 9-12 months out.For the last 9 months I haven't seen 1 of those awards that far out.

 

[Isochronous]

They seem to have adopted a different approach to QF:
They have kept the partner SC earn stable (unlike Simpler & Fairer).
Points earn mostly decreased except with flexible fares (and especially for OWS)
Quite big increase in points required for redemption for long-haul
Free connecting flights from regional airports to/from London for European redemptions gone (I found this quite a handy use of Avios to engineer a London stopover to/from Europe cheaply)

BAEC still seems quite a reasonable way of getting OW status if you fly on a variety of OW airlines and can do 4 BA flights. American earn/burn now even better by comparison but for how long?

Keeping partner earn means BAEC retains its key beneficial feature. I will still be moving over from QFF I think.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Given this and other recent devaluations (Qantas, Aegean, United, Delta) I've closed any direct earn credit cards (or 'forced earn' in QFF's case). No point being locked into one airline program which all of them prove seem to be willing to 'enhance' on a regular basis.

 

[serfty]

Didn't take em long on FT .... "Downfall" gets another interpretation:

Originally Posted by gldfinger
...by popular demand, someone else impacted by the changes to Executive Club:

[video=youtube;lLe5aKSYgjM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLe5aKSYgjM[/video]

 

[anat0l]

If you fly plenty of paid First or Business class, you don't really lose in this set of changes. That usually means you are a high Gold or otherwise GGL (or even GGL+CCR).

The increase in Avios paid (potential) probably doesn't offset the raised cost of redemptions, but if you're purchasing premium fares then are you really burning Avios for those awards?

 

[RooFlyer]

They have enhanced their redemption tables without telling anyone.Premium cabin milesAAver awards are only available 1-2 weeks out from travel internationally.So if wanting to plan award travel further out on AA metal it has to be an AAnytime award at much higher rates.EG-NRT-DFW which is 62,500 in F as a milesAAver is 175000-200000 in F as an AAnytime award.
In the last 6 years we have used 4-6 F milesAAvers between Japan and US each year for both myself and mrsdrron.Never had a problem booking 9-12 months out.For the last 9 months I haven't seen 1 of those awards that far out.

Dr.ron do you know if US to Caribbean destinations falls under 1-2 weeks category, or the longer window. I've been having a bit of a trawl recently and can't tell, not being used to 'normal' SaaVer availability

 

[drron]

Haven't looked at the Carribbean but certainly the case to South America.I have been watching GYE-DFW for a few months and I am yet to see a MilesAAver award in J and only rare in Y.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. Am trawling LAX to various Caribbean ports now .. there seems to be lots of availability in Business/First MileSsAAver, but all 3 segment flights, and all with a short overnight leg, say 1am to 5am!

Its an optional 'Go and check out [Caribbean country] on my way back home in 2-3 weeks', so might just keep trawling for the next week or so.

 

[tyrolean]

Every cutting is bad, but not as bad as LH did to their own frequent flyers.

BA did not touch the earnings in C and F, as well as the partner Status Credits (especially in Premium classes).
Only deep discount eco and Silvers (Sapphires) suffer.

But they really improved the award availability.

I remember the times, where you got nil, zilch points on any discounted economy booking class!

 

[Foreigner]

Pretty happy with their search engine for reward flights using Avios. I didn't intend to fly BA but the searches provided enough routing options and availabities to enable me to book Europe in business class using DM. Searches over several days led to my receiving survey this morning.