Originally Posted by
HIDDY
Because they are a business out to make money and they know people will pay extra in order to fly with them.
If I want to pay extra to fly with BA I wouldn't bother with miles I would just buy a ticket straight out.
If I earn miles I expect to be able to use them with out the people who gave them to me trying to fleece me. By charging what they do for taxes and fees (which are mostly BA invented charges, not third party or government taxes) it is a fiddle. Plain and simple for most to see.
To pay for something which I have previously been led to be a low cost option just because it is BA than I would be pretty naive or at least misguided believing that BA are the only international mid-class airline in the world worth travelling. Most regular international flyers know that not to be true.
Today I checked with AA and they offered Iberia flights from MIA direct to Barcelona on points for only $37.50 plus the telephone booking fee of $25 for the entire return trip for the same points. In comparison the same telephonist offered me a BA flight via LHR for $338 . Then I asked about MIA to LHR only and the same flight (without the Spanish leg) was $536 for the same points.
Mmmmmm.