I didn't start this post to highlight the inequity's of those getting £12,000 woth of J tickets for £200+ miles, but meant it regarding for the rest of us mortals, who find that after saving a load of miles for a long time, that their value is negated by this charge.

Obviously, as an FT'er - I'm not going to worry too much if I ever do one day get some Bahamas NCW tickets for £200 or £230 a pair, but I would still have a axe to grind for having to pay what is essentially a forced tax for supposedly an optional expense, plus I bare in mind people like my mother - who represents the rest of the real world, in that she has saved points for years now from her local supermarket to get a supposedly free economy Airmile ticket to Madrid or Venice (£0 + tax+ x,xxx miles + agreed to a supposedly cheap hotel deal with Airmiles to go with it.)

I wouldn't want Lyndsay to be bombarded purely with requests as to what would suit FT'ers, but to have us tell her what you all believe would suit BA and the normal paying pax.

To me - this charge means that BA appear to be going down the slippery slope that chartered firms are on - excessive & forced 'optional charges' which make those firms look like nothing less than charlatans & con artists in some extreme cases. Why not be honest and simply include it in the general ticket fares if their reservations dept., & BA, needs more revenue?