Ten years ago, Mrs.Rat will remember a particular flight: her first in First, a longhaul done on Amex 241. And also because we got married when we got there.

Ten years later, we're doing the same trip for the 10th anniversary: same airports, same class, same 241, almost exactly the same dates...and I happened to stumble across the old ticketing e-mail from ten years ago.

Then: 150k avios+241+£316.20 (which included £30 for using the phone)
Now: 185k avios+241+£1039.10 (no phone fee)

The current YQ of £289.00/person is probably the biggest chunk of that, though the earlier bill didn't break the fees out.

Like everyone on this board, I'm aware that they've been gently chipping away gradually, and grumble about it... but seeing what ten years' worth of gradual chipping turns into, it's striking.

I do hope they stop chipping soon, or we'll have to fly the competition for the 20th...