beachfan

lax-jnb one way in F was 135k now is 150k

LTN Phobia

The way I tend to view things is that in most cases, things balance out if I take a long-term view. Short-term, it may hurt a little bit depending on the circumstance though. Besides, pain is reasonably easy to forget

As you say, increased TP earnings will help to offset some redemptions have become more expensive by letting me go faster to Gold once I switch over the programme (and indeed the latest changes to BAEC have not put me off changing over to it).

amolkold

Meh. I'll be honest. I was one of those US folks who hopped on the 100K gravy train. Spent 40K for a one-way J with stopovers in LIM and IPC on the way to SCL to visit a friend, and 40K in J for that friend to fly SCL-IPC-SCL in J (50K today).

I'm closing my BA Visa but only because I have no use for it. Even if I spent $30K on it, which I won't, I usually just fly by myself to visit others. It's mainly just not wanting to spend $95 than the "stick it to BA" reason.

I'm going to put 9K down for intra-SA flights and use UR/MR points transfers for redemptions that look good to and work for me -- 37.5K HKG-BOM one-way in F on CX on the tail end of a AA LAX-HKG award or maybe 120K for a JFK-LHR-MAN return weekend trip in F to finally visit Old Trafford & the lounges I've heard so much about.

The world hasn't ended but it is a bit darker for a west coast USAer like me. C'est la vie dans le jeu de points et miles. I've enjoyed my flights on BA (BCN and BOM trips from LAX) and I hope these changes help them improve even more.

bernardd

What is however hard, and feels distinctly like a kick in the nuts is when you choose a scheme, do the travel, collect the miles, then suddenly find your plans tossed casually out the window by an arbitrary devaluation designed to favor another customer profile.

FWIW I agree with the general sentiment. Non-stop US domestic travel up to half the continent is less miles, though I would not have used miles on such a trip. If you have to make a connection (AA is a hub & spoke carrier for heaven sake!) it hurts.

Apart from that, everything else I want to looks like it costs at least 18% more (AUS-DFW-LHR) and in some cases more like 40 or 50%.

In all it's much as I had been expecting and, as henky says, makes a nonsense of the 97% "unchanged or better" number BA were banding about.

Paulchili

+1
In my case it is often more than 40 or 50% increase in the flights I would normally book (long haul J/F awards). It is better for some short haul US flights (SFO-LAX) that I would normally not use miles for.
I will "dispose" of my few remaining Avios in the best way possible but not make an effort to get more (free or otherwise) as it makes no sense for my pattern of redemptions.
Adios Avios
Generally, I like the new site though (too bad I won't be using it much)
Now I am waiting for AA to match BA

T8191

Paulchili, bernardd ... and a couple of others as well.

It is Doomsday, and I'm sorry things have proved so painful for you. I really do mean that.
I know I've been somewhat rude in recent weeks, but you reap what you sow

I feel even worse, since I have benefitted substantially through reduced Avios requirements for upgrades [the only way to go], increased TPs and [to my surprise] retention of the 100% Avios bonus for Silver members. I was really expecting the latter to dip to 75%.

However, I expect we'll all still be alive next Thursday.

Best wishes for your future travels with your carrier of choice. ^

scwam

Glad I listened to myself instead of the one who mocked me. My needs to go to PVG & PEK are now 1.8x and more often 2x as much now. As I thought I would have used up that 100k on 1 coach with today's points.

Paulchili

Is this your "Resignation speech"? (see my post #1477 above).
I expected more considering how much time you had to prepare it
Yes, I hope to be alive next Thursday and I am getting ready to book my first EY F award for Dec 2012 with AA miles
Good luck with Avios.
Adios

T8191

All the best to you too ... fly happy ^

I'm booked for holidays in Jan and May already ... just waiting for the next juicy BA Sale to the East Coast [MFU to CW] in Sep 2012.

_nate

It's hard, yes, and a little unfortunate, really:

"24.1. British Airways may modify, withdraw, amend or add to any Services or other offers or arrangements or impose any requirements or restrictions relating to the use of Services or Awards. British Airways will give as much advance notice as practicable of such action to Members. Current information is set out on ba.com."

As much notice as practicable doesn't quite include "none at all".

swiss_global

I must confess I had relatively low expectations after the first changes were announced. However, today's announcement are really much worse than expected.

As Continental European resident, having no business whatsoever in London/Madrid/Helsinki, I can basically only fly Oneworld in transit to overseas destinations. I made my Gold Tier with usually 3 long-haul flights in CW plus the connection in CE from ZRH. Now, I will need 5 long-haul flights including connections in CE. I know, BA interprets it as "4 long haul plus some intra european flying" - but I have no chance for "intra-European flying" on Oneworld ... But also redemption went up from my part of the world. So absolutely no improvements, just massive disadvantages.

I expect that the next step will be a cut in frequency of connection flights, as BA will certainly experience much lighter loads from Continental Europe. A very high percentage of the C class pax always were BAEC Gold and I guess they will all turn their back and walk away now ...