BA Executive Club

[bertair]

I used to be a member of the BA Executive Club when I was living and working in Hong Kong a few years ago.
I travelled mainly HKG/LHR and built up a number of "Avios" (FF Points) as they are now called.
I used most of them up and when they expired after I had moved to Australia I left BA Executive Club, or my membership lapsed due to the time lag between trips.
My next trip will be with BA and tried to re join the BA EC recently with the intention of earning points from the trip and leave the QF FF programme, but BA do not allow membership for anyone with an Australian address.
I have tried to request BA for an explanation, without success.
I am left wondering if the reason for this is to keep the Qantas FF Programme protected under an agreement reached with BA ?

If it is, I am wondering under Australian consumer law if this could be illegal and something the ACCC could find worth an investigation.?
Do any other airline loyalty programmes block Australian members from joining like BA do?

 

[markis10]

It was probably part of the agreement that set up the JSA, which of course was endorsed by the ACCC over the years.

That JSA of course is history, however that does not mean BA have to once again open up their program to local members.

 

[alieninperth]

If you already had a membership can you not just use that number, assuming the account is meerly dormant, rather than closed.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Use another address ??

 

[burmans]

Use another address ??

In Austria!

 

[amaroo]

If you have no other option for a Non-Aus address MyUS.com - Standard Landing

 

[Mwenenzi]

You can join BA sister ffp IB, Iberia with an Aust address. Both use avois as currency. You can move avios from IB avios to/from avois.com to/from BA avios. Or use a Uk or HKG is you have 1

But in your profile you are in AAdvantage. Why not use that ff for the BA flights?

 

[Formal Hall]

BA doesn't send out membership card until you reach a new status level or request one online, so putting Austria rather than Australia would be fine. Iberia can have differnt earn rates and is even more hopeless a website than BA, so is perhaps best avoided. I agree with the other poster that using your existing AA number would be the best bet, most if not all BA fares earn 100% mileage on AA.

 

[bertair]

You can join BA sister ffp IB, Iberia with an Aust address. Both use avois as currency. You can move avios from IB avios to/from avois.com to/from BA avios. Or use a Uk or HKG is you have 1

But in your profile you are in AAdvantage. Why not use that ff for the BA flights?

Thanks.
Yes, Why did I not think of that ? Doh !!!

Upon checking, I can also purchase additional points and use on any OW Airline I believe. Now to find seats on OW airlines out of OZ.

Still I am curious as to why BA keep Aussies off their FF programme... Are they the only airline that has this barrier ?

A family member living in the US can book QF on line from the US, but Qantas has some sort of programme in their booking system that locks Australia internet addresses out of their US web site, thus forcing us here to pay higher prices than US QF fliers. ACCC investigated Apple recently over this practice, so perhaps they nee dot ask Qantas for a please explain.

 

[markis10]

A family member living in the US can book QF on line from the US, but Qantas has some sort of programme in their booking system that locks Australia internet addresses out of their US web site, thus forcing us here to pay higher prices than US QF fliers. ACCC investigated Apple recently over this practice, so perhaps they nee dot ask Qantas for a please explain.

You can book ex US trips no issue at all on either the local site or by selecting the US

 

[shearsense]

BA doesn't send out membership card until you reach a new status level or request one online, so putting Austria rather than Australia would be fine. Iberia can have differnt earn rates and is even more hopeless a website than BA, so is perhaps best avoided. I agree with the other poster that using your existing AA number would be the best bet, most if not all BA fares earn 100% mileage on AA.

Although the taxes on award bookings with IB are reportedly significantly lower than the same itinerary with EC............. In retrospect I probably would have gone for IB rather than BA

 

[TomVexille]

Still I am curious as to why BA keep Aussies off their FF programme... Are they the only airline that has this barrier ?

VA restricts VFF membership to people residing in Australia and New Zealand

 

[Mwenenzi]

Although the taxes on award bookings with IB are reportedly significantly lower than the same itinerary with EC............. In retrospect I probably would have gone for IB rather than BA

The taxes are exactly the same to the last cent/penny. Carrier imposed surcharges/fees (= profit) can vary
With awards never confuse real taxes with carrier imposed surcharges/fees.

 

[shearsense]

The taxes are exactly the same to the last cent/penny. Carrier imposed surcharges/fees (= profit) can vary
With awards never confuse real taxes with carrier imposed surcharges/fees.

Correct, it was a lazy generic reference to fees (whatever the origin) on award tickets.

 

[Formal Hall]

You can transfer BA points (Avios) freely between IB and BA accounts - so you could always credit to BA and shift the points to IB when you want to redeem.