Originally Posted by
Globaliser
That's why I used the words "vast majority of tickets". The effect from the small proportion of redemption tickets will be correspondingly small. If you want to look for reasons why BA's / IAG's financial performance has been so good (if that's the view you take of it), you'll have to look elsewhere than at YQ.
It all depends on what you call "small".
Every year there is a large number of award flyers on BA. if you multiply that number by a zero YQ or a large YQ, that can result in a "fairly" large impact on BA profits. This is pure profit with no associated cost. Other European airlines, like Air France, also have that policy.
Now one can claim that getting a lot of cash from award pax, allows BA to be more generous in their FFP (e.g. allowing awards with fewer miles)....