Originally Posted by
BAHumbug
Don't forget as well that unlike many FF schemes BA Avios do not expire if there is any activity within 3 years, so even for slower earners it is possible to save miles for the pointy end of the plane.
Most North American programs allows accumulation of miles in perpetuity. The window to keep miles active may be smaller (2 vs. 3 years), but BA is most certainly not alone in not forceably expiring miles. The likes of EK and EY are in the minority here.
Originally Posted by
BAHumbug
I would like to see the option where BA allowed you to use extra Avios to 'pay' for BA's own surcharges.
AF/KL used to allow this option before getting rid of it, apparently because it was little used. My opinion is that since the last award chart change (prior to Avois), BA redemption rates have been higher than most other carriers anyhow. Many of those carriers don't charge YQ. If I'm already paying more on BA than I would on another carrier for redemptions, why would I want to pay EVEN more to bring the cash outlay to the same level as that other carrier? It just makes no logical sense.
Originally Posted by
HIDDY
Look upon it as a tax for using miles.
Miles are so easy to come by nowadays (Chase being one example) that one shouldn't complain.....especially those using 2-4-1's.
This is what I don't understand. Why would you willingly pay a higher redemption rate AND a 'tax' on that rate, when you could very easily find a 'tax-free' redemption at lower rates on other carriers, who have just as many outstanding miles sitting on their balance sheets? Seems like perfectly good grounds to 'compain' for me.
When compared to rates on other carriers, 2-4-1s and MFUs are really the ONLY redemptions on BA now that will provide you with a comparable cent/mile (or pence/mile) redemption value. And of course, the joker if you are GGL.