Originally Posted by
BAHumbug
In case scenario 2 is not clear to you, BAEC's terms and conditions are freely available, they are not locked in a safe in the basement of the town council. It is perfectly possible for the customer to work out in advance what the Vendor is going to charge for services. If the customer chooses not to do that and then complains, well caveat emptor.
In any case, as I've said more times than I care to think, if you do not like the way BAEC redemptions work then choose another frequent flyer program - it's not like there's a shortage of the wretched things. Vote with your feet. As long as people continue to use it (BAEC) and are happy with the value they are getting from the program BA will not change. Whinging on an IBB is going to change precisely nothing.
I don't really mind the lecture and the condescension because I actually agree with this. I've been earning and redeeming with BA since 1998 when I first joined the BAEC. I get good value, IMO, using Avios for AA flights between LA and NY (where our son attends college) and also on BA metal TATL. We've done a number of trips in J and even a couple now in F, as we love to fly BA when we visit the UK and Europe. I'm well aware of Ts and Cs of the BAEC. And yes, if people don't like the price of the added YQ when patronizing BA for redemptions, they should go elsewhere.
Even as a fan of BA, what I find worthy of a good gripe is the notion that BA adds fuel surcharges and taxes to partner redemptions for fuel and taxes that it's not responsible for and, regardless of any transparency in the Ts and Cs, spins the charge as a cost recovery in order to make it seem more legit. Yes, it does it simply because it can, IMO. Most people are either like me, fully informed but nonetheless happy with the overall value to be had from the program, or innocently ignorant of how it all works, and just willing to pay because, as you say, that's just what it costs.