FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Any way to move from BAEC to Iberia Plus (not Avios transfer)

Jan 30, 2024 | 4:02 pm

#13

ftrichard

Join Date: Dec 2014

Location: Lisbon

Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Platinum, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite

Posts: 2,508

Quote:

Originally Posted by csycsycsy

I thought BAH double TP is only UK/US residents?

If you will be flying J LH then requalifying for OWS on IB/BA is not a problem.
If you fly W/PE then IB+ earns more % of qualification points needed
eg MAD-HKG in W on CX earns 500/2250, same 500/2250 as J on QR MAD-DOH
You can also earn qualification points on Level. Full list here
https://www.iberia.com/es/iberiaplus/partners/flights/

IB+ Oro phone line is default Spanish, I rarely have to wait for an agent.
Typical 5min wait if you then ask the first agent for an English speaking agent.
On short haul equipment, J seats stops at row 6, 7 onwards are the 'ironing board' seats.
If the curtain is set in front of 6, then those biz seats are sold as economy but marked as "XL", which are not free for OWS, including IB+ Oro.
However, when calling in I've been able to get them for free.
Don't know if they would have also given them out for free for other OWS.
Don't know if BA treats their own Silvers better than other OWSs, including IB Oros.

Dunno if Iberia Cards/Santander/Amex will offer you a card/account if resident in Portugal, have to call them and ask....
But you can get the TAP ones?

Thanks for the additional insight. I do maintain a UK address, bank accounts, mobile phone number, credit record etc. even if I have no intention of actually living there again. In any case, the BAH double tier point offer is only mildly interesting as I should break the back of qualification with an annual LIS-BKK/KUL return on QR.

Once I'm settled, I will ask Amex Spain about getting a EUR Platinum card because they do not issue them in PT however nothing on line suggests they will issue them to addresses out of Spain. I would happily pay the annual fee of a EUR Amex Platinum card wherever it is issued because a lot of my spend will be in euros. I will not pay for a GBP Platinum Amex because of the 3% forex fee that would apply to 100% of my purchases. That's why I don't use my Avios Barclaycard for non-GBP spend. The 3% forex fee effectively means you're buying the Avios. Yes, TAP has its own credit cards but they accrue TAP FF points - not Avios - and currently I'm a *A Gold FF with TK which I'm likely to remain until 2029 (or at least 2027). Investigating the migration from TK and understanding the arcane qualification rules about TAP's FF programme is a discussion for another day. Currently, TK has low re-qualification requirements for non-Turkey residents which is quite attractive to maintain *A Gold as I focus travel on OW despite moving permanently to Lisbon (which I guess is reflective of TAP's reputational failure). Hence my questions about Iberia Plus vs BAEC.

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