Is BA about to devalue Avios?
Aug 25, 2014, 12:47 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,217
Can't quite book yet but thinking of doing so ASAP. Anyone know what the affect will be if I book now and change dates in a few months?
Aug 25, 2014, 12:53 pm
#108
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,473
I don’t know what the fuss is all about. These have been the same Avios amounts for Oneworld redemptions through IB Plus since 2011. (I have printouts).
Surely they are not competitive, but there have been no changes at all.
Back in November 2011, what IB Plus did was maintain their own distance bands for Oneworld redemptions and simply adjust x15 the original IB Plus Point amounts, therefore, causing such disparities. (Even though the amounts shown are for return trips, compulsory for Oneworld redemptions under IB Plus)
My guess is that whoever first stated that this had been a devaluation simply hadn’t studied or compared the chart before and assumed they were the same as BAEC and that now an increase had taken place.
Surely they are not competitive, but there have been no changes at all.
Back in November 2011, what IB Plus did was maintain their own distance bands for Oneworld redemptions and simply adjust x15 the original IB Plus Point amounts, therefore, causing such disparities. (Even though the amounts shown are for return trips, compulsory for Oneworld redemptions under IB Plus)
My guess is that whoever first stated that this had been a devaluation simply hadn’t studied or compared the chart before and assumed they were the same as BAEC and that now an increase had taken place.
Excellent.
And.....relax.
Aug 25, 2014, 12:59 pm
#109
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 580
Here is a Twitter tweet related to this from British Airways that I found from the Above the Wing site https://twitter.com/British_Airways/...93907118501889
I am curious about whether the tweet, and its tone, impacts people's view regarding whether there will soon be changes to the Avios program.
I am curious about whether the tweet, and its tone, impacts people's view regarding whether there will soon be changes to the Avios program.
Aug 25, 2014, 1:03 pm
#110
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,473
Here is a Twitter tweet related to this from British Airways that I found from the Above the Wing site https://twitter.com/British_Airways/...93907118501889
I am curious about whether the tweet, and its tone, impacts people's view regarding whether there will soon be changes to the Avios program.
I am curious about whether the tweet, and its tone, impacts people's view regarding whether there will soon be changes to the Avios program.
Aug 25, 2014, 1:17 pm
#111
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
I don't get it. One person is saying there is no devaluation because these reward levels have been the same since 2011 - yet there's a handful of bloggers and FFers out there all confirming that this devalution is recent. What gives?
Aug 25, 2014, 1:22 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
An interesting observation that I had regarding Iberia's award chart and BA's award chart, is that Iberia has the lowest level redemptions 0-600, and second lowest 601-1000, whereas BA has 0-650 and then 651-1149 for the first two levels.
This is of particular importance to me, because I happen to use the second tier redemption for flights to LAX (just over 1000 miles for me).
Does anyone think that the award chart tiers will change to match Iberia's, too?
This is of particular importance to me, because I happen to use the second tier redemption for flights to LAX (just over 1000 miles for me).
Does anyone think that the award chart tiers will change to match Iberia's, too?
Aug 25, 2014, 1:27 pm
#113
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
An interesting observation that I had regarding Iberia's award chart and BA's award chart, is that Iberia has the lowest level redemptions 0-600, and second lowest 601-1000, whereas BA has 0-650 and then 651-1149 for the first two levels.
This is of particular importance to me, because I happen to use the second tier redemption for flights to LAX (just over 1000 miles for me).
Does anyone think that the award chart tiers will change to match Iberia's, too?
This is of particular importance to me, because I happen to use the second tier redemption for flights to LAX (just over 1000 miles for me).
Does anyone think that the award chart tiers will change to match Iberia's, too?
Aug 25, 2014, 2:01 pm
#114
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 109
My thoughts exactly. Seeing the Oneworld redemption chart for the first time may come as a shock, as it is really poor value. On top of that, tickets must be RT, no changes, no refunds…
IB Plus really never bothered to adjust their Oneworld chart with the new distance bands, they simply multiplied by 15 (conversion rate IB Points/Avios, Nov 2011) and only modified distance bands for IB Group redemptions to resemble those of BAEC.
Here are the first 3 lines of the OW chart pre-avios Nov 2011(IB Points).
Sorry, wasn't able to indent, (is there a way to paste a table from word?)
Oneworld
TABLA UTILIZACIÓN DE PUNTOS (ida y vuelta)
DISTANCIA REAL EN MILLAS
First Class * Business Class Turista
(0 - 600) 3.800 2.500 1.300
(601 - 1.000) 4.700 3.200 1.600
(1.001 - 2.000) 5.900 3.900 2.000
IB.com has 2 slightly different charts for OW and AA.
The only difference I can see being:
AA Chart - Business Class 0-600: 2500 IB Points x 15= 37500 Avios.
OW Chart – Business Class 0-600: 2500 IB Points x ¿?= 35500 Avios (I think this is a typo)
Aug 25, 2014, 2:26 pm
#116
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Though it would be nice to hear firsthand from anyone that actually priced out an AA award with IB Avios anytime between November 2011 and July 2014.
Aug 25, 2014, 2:32 pm
#117
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,213
Posting on behalf of Travellair, the IB Plus Partner redemption chart prior to the Nov 2011 revamp:
Aug 25, 2014, 2:43 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
I just found this in an FT thread from 2005:
As for a Oneworld-award the price seems to depend on the amount of miles your journey covers. AGP-MEX direct is 5678 miles, and AGP-MAD-LHR-MEX (for example) would be 6582 miles. Most routings would fall into the 5,001 - 8,000 mile category, which costs 3200 points in Tourist (economy) class.
... which corresponds to the above, and to the 48,000 quoted on the new table.
So nothing happened ....?!
Here is the thing. You cannot book OW redemptions online with IB, never could. And as they were non refundable, no-one did. So no-one knew the rates.
As for a Oneworld-award the price seems to depend on the amount of miles your journey covers. AGP-MEX direct is 5678 miles, and AGP-MAD-LHR-MEX (for example) would be 6582 miles. Most routings would fall into the 5,001 - 8,000 mile category, which costs 3200 points in Tourist (economy) class.
... which corresponds to the above, and to the 48,000 quoted on the new table.
So nothing happened ....?!
Here is the thing. You cannot book OW redemptions online with IB, never could. And as they were non refundable, no-one did. So no-one knew the rates.
Aug 25, 2014, 2:56 pm
#120
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
BUT - isn't the publication/adjustment of the new IB chart forecasting something else coming? There's got to be a reason for it! Perhaps it's as simple as the introduction of online redemptions with IB...perhaps something more across the board. I still smell something fishy...