Originally Posted by
stifle
That's how it works I think.
I wonder what difference you think there is between making Silver now and after Avios come in — there have been (so far) no announcements regarding tier points that I have seen, and while you'll get (perhaps) NCL-LHR-MAD-AGP return for 30,000 Avios plus £34 in J, you won't get 160 TPs, or any at all.
The difference is the common currency. Airmiles currently earn BA Miles + TP in premium cabins and also in economy when there is no EC redemption availability. Avios points are freely transferrable between the three schemes.
Two corrections to your post ....
1) NCL-LHR-MAD-AGP return in CE is possible now for 30,000 BA miles + taxes etc. but will fall in to Avios zone 3 from NCL as Avios zones are distance-based, i.e. it will be 40,000 + £34 (I make the distance to be 1,300 miles and zone 3 will start between 1134 and 1170 miles according to the LHR-HEL and LGW-PRN already-declared Avios route costings). But MAN-LHR-MAD-SDR-MAD-LHR-MAN very neatly fits in zone 2 (1500 + £27 ET/ 3000 + £34 CE)
2) Yes Avios + TP can be earned from redemptions via Avios (formerly Airmiles). Nicci recently confirmed that there would be no change to the fare buckets Airmiles redemptions fell in to.