American Express Membership Rewards - BA Executive Club Joining MR in All Markets or Only Some?

Just received an e-mail today from ICC that BA Executive Club has joined MR and that ICC $ cardholders can use 150,000 MR points to redeem a U.S.-London award in BA FIRST.

Is this new development only for the ICC and possibly UK market? Or is BA Executive Club joining MR across the board for U.S. cards and other MR markets?

Here's a copy of the text I received:

British Airways is now part of the Membership Rewards programme, meaning if you are an Executive Club member you can transfer your points into BA Miles. And the more points you transfer, the more BA Miles you can use towards reward flights and upgrades on British Airways as well as oneworld™ airline partners across the globe. 1 Membership Reward point is equal to 1 BA Mile.

For example, with 150,000 Membership Rewards points you could fly return First Class from London to New York*.

I did not receive an email about that nor can I find anything on the website.

The two most used programs when I fly are miles and more AND Executive club.

Only in those markets where either a) BA does not have a credit card agreement with another provider (so Germany is out, where there is a Visa) or b) where Amex doesn't have an exclusive agreement with another airline or c) where BA and Amex can be bothered.

Is that for IDC or IEC? Or both?

Hope this is good in the USA. If anyone fonds out more, be sure to post.

Cheers

It would be nice if it extended to the USA, but no such luck yet. I know the UK Charge Cards just added BA - they have had access to an AMEX Credit program for some time. Seems like the access may be expanding. Too bad Jumeirah is no longer partnered with them.

I doubt it'll come to Canada either since Aeroplan has a monopoly on such things.... shame too BA would be a really great addition

I feel everyone's pain but don't quite understand the issue.

I live in NJ and Continental is the easiest airline to fly. But my personal experience is that either the flights are too cheap to use points or for my long haul flights, it is almost impossible to get standard rewards.

I barely use my Centurion and add very few MR points each month. Instead, I use my Starwood AMEX almost exclusively. I realize that this doesn't help those with lots of accumulated points, but if you really want BA, then switch to the Starwood card and get a nice 25% bonus on redemptions (20K SP=25K BA miles). Or even better, I usually transfer them to Cathay Pacific's AsiaMiles and get my BA flights even cheaper!

Or even better, I usually transfer them to Cathay Pacific's AsiaMiles and get my BA flights even cheaper!

How is that?

How is that?


AsiaMiles works on mileage to determine the number of miles required for a rewards ticket. Most airlines use zones or continents. So, for example, on most airlines, California to London would be the same number of miles as New York to London, even tho the distance is much less.

For NY to Europe, AsiaMiles has a lower redemption schedule than British Air, so you can fly on the BA airplane for fewer miles than those flying on the BA Executive Club. Seemed pretty daunting getting ready to try it for the first time, but it's really pretty easy. The biggest issue is that some of the Cathey reps are pretty hard to understand, and you can be on hold for a very, very long time. But in the end, it's worth it.

The schedule has changed as all airlines have devalued, but a few years ago we flew First Class on BA for 90,000 AsiaMiles, while BA wanted 150,000 for the same seat! The numbers are different but still a great deal - I think First Class to London is now 120,000!

Go to www.asiamiles.com and sign up for membership. Then mosey around and you will find one of the best deals still out there.

BTW, last summer to Italy, it was 80,000 AsiaMiles for BA Business Class. But since 20,000 Starwood points gets you 25,000 AsiaMiles, the 2 Business Class tickets only cost me 130,000 Starwood points - even better! About 5.4 cents per point.

PS - I learned all about this about four years ago right here on FlyerTalk!

Thanks for the info...good post.
HR

It would be nice if it extended to the USA, but no such luck yet. I know the UK Charge Cards just added BA - they have had access to an AMEX Credit program for some time. Seems like the access may be expanding. Too bad Jumeirah is no longer partnered with them.

Some levels of the International Currency Card continue to have a partnership with Jumeirah and their Sirius loyalty program.

Is that for IDC or IEC? Or both?
It appears that the program applies to both IDC/IEC

It appears that the program applies to both IDC/IEC

What is your source? I have not yet seen this on the IDC website.

What is your source? I have not yet seen this on the IDC website.

The only source I have seen is the e-mail IDC sent me. I have it quoted in my initial post on this thread if you would like to see the text.

Only in those markets where either a) BA does not have a credit card agreement with another provider (so Germany is out, where there is a Visa) or b) where Amex doesn't have an exclusive agreement with another airline or c) where BA and Amex can be bothered.

BA is a new MR partner in Germany. It started a couple of months ago and Amex have only recently promoted conversion via mailings.
The conversion ratio is 5 MR : 4 BA miles in Germany.