What would you change about Avios?
Mar 7, 2017, 3:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London
Posts: 38
What would you change about Avios?
Hi all,
I have an interview with an Avios-related loyalty company in a few weeks. I'm wondering what people would change about the Avios/BAEC program, what feature you'd like to see introduced etc?
Or any other changes to the general culture of loyalty/frequent flier programs?
Any insights will be much appreciated....
I have an interview with an Avios-related loyalty company in a few weeks. I'm wondering what people would change about the Avios/BAEC program, what feature you'd like to see introduced etc?
Or any other changes to the general culture of loyalty/frequent flier programs?
Any insights will be much appreciated....
Mar 7, 2017, 4:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 499
At risk of cross posting, (see Aer Lingus forum) I would like to see continued expansion of transparency and mobility of points across BA, EI, IB, Avios, etc.
One point of confusion is whether or not membership in Avios comes with joining BAEC, AerClub, etc., as it seems it does but maybe isn't supposed to if you are not a UK resident.
One point of confusion is whether or not membership in Avios comes with joining BAEC, AerClub, etc., as it seems it does but maybe isn't supposed to if you are not a UK resident.
Mar 7, 2017, 5:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I would like airline FFPs to allow award flights to count for status, which is the case in many hotel loyalty programs.
Apart from that the only thing, which is probably a universal gripe, is that points continually devalue and there is a trend of moving to revenue-based earning and revenue-based redemption which I hope Avios does not adopt.
Apart from that the only thing, which is probably a universal gripe, is that points continually devalue and there is a trend of moving to revenue-based earning and revenue-based redemption which I hope Avios does not adopt.
Mar 8, 2017, 12:24 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,598
Avios needs to open up waitlisting for awards/upgrades.
I don't see why BA is doing PUGO only for cash but not miles.
I also don't see why Gold members need to fight for any award seat opening up with the Blue mortals.
Gold Awards for 200% of the miles are overpriced - LH and SQ do this for much less.
I don't see why BA is doing PUGO only for cash but not miles.
I also don't see why Gold members need to fight for any award seat opening up with the Blue mortals.
Gold Awards for 200% of the miles are overpriced - LH and SQ do this for much less.
Mar 8, 2017, 1:04 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
More redemption availability. Pretty much every flight I have tried to book with Avios other than short haul to Europe from London has been unavailable - both on BA and IB.
Mar 8, 2017, 1:12 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Middle of Nowhere
Programs: Lowly BAEC Bronze, VS, IHG Platinum, HHonors Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 231
It's this for me too. With Avios especially, it's the reward flight availability which makes it unattractive compared to other FFPs (in my case Virgin Atlantic Flying Club).
Mar 8, 2017, 4:51 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London
Posts: 38
I agree with most of this - particularly improving the atrocious availability.
Personally, I'd love to see some sort of system where elite members are offered last minute (24-48hrs) seats for a reduced avios price. I think this could work for the FFP's if they limited these redemptions to economy/premium economy. These seats would otherwise go unsold, and this method potentially reduces the amount of avios that the elites are redeeming in business/first (ie. classes that give Avios the worst value for money, and conversely the customer best value per point)...
Personally, I'd love to see some sort of system where elite members are offered last minute (24-48hrs) seats for a reduced avios price. I think this could work for the FFP's if they limited these redemptions to economy/premium economy. These seats would otherwise go unsold, and this method potentially reduces the amount of avios that the elites are redeeming in business/first (ie. classes that give Avios the worst value for money, and conversely the customer best value per point)...
Mar 8, 2017, 6:45 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC, VS, Marriott, HH, Hertz PC
Posts: 270
I would love to see a system much like the Gold Priority Reward for Gold members but open to other tiers as well whereby you could choose to pay double (or more) Avios to book the flight. Obviously there are good reasons why it wouldn't work on short-haul but perhaps opening it up on long-haul close to departure wouldn't be the worst idea.
Mar 8, 2017, 7:36 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC, VS, Marriott, HH, Hertz PC
Posts: 270
Passengers could use Avios that they know they will earn back from the flight anyway (on a cash ticket) to offset the cost of seat etc
Mar 8, 2017, 7:47 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,619
I would get rid of that stupid Avios.com thing and merge the whole thing onto one platform. Avios.com is a marketing scam anyway, because the points rarely if ever post anyway, especially from outfits like Flybe. Consequence: I don't use Avios.com any more.
Mar 9, 2017, 1:06 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London
Posts: 38
I believe that they have plans to merge everything together this year to create a "bank" of some sort.