Did BA pull all 2019 F Avios Availability?
Apr 2, 2018, 7:41 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,966
Aside from first post and unhelpful speculation not adding much I would not necessarily rush to be so concerned about this change. One thing that does strike me is that it probably is a precursor to dynamic pricing and would be an interesting way for BA to dip their toe into the water on this?
I am wondering if there is some way they may want to distinguish premium routes with standard routes - and the premium routes are the ones where dynamic pricing will play a part? Perhaps linked to status? After all Golds and above are likely to have more Avios than lower tier members, so perhaps they might suggest 9 to 12 months out availability for First Redemptions is restricted to Gold and above? This is then tied to dynamic pricing in the sense that perhaps you are willing to pay more to get the seat in advance, reduces avois liabilities and gives BA a good way to get to the end of the year and see if dynamic pricing and route restriction and / or Executive club level restrictions work?
The other reason I suggest it is that it would drive loyalty still and could be touted as a genuine enhancement for higher tier members? Perhaps increase qualification flights from 4 to 6 or 8 for Gold and maybe tier point number but this is a sweetener for those who complain about not getting availability.
Anyway just a thought and wanted to offer something more contrary to the doom and gloom!
I am wondering if there is some way they may want to distinguish premium routes with standard routes - and the premium routes are the ones where dynamic pricing will play a part? Perhaps linked to status? After all Golds and above are likely to have more Avios than lower tier members, so perhaps they might suggest 9 to 12 months out availability for First Redemptions is restricted to Gold and above? This is then tied to dynamic pricing in the sense that perhaps you are willing to pay more to get the seat in advance, reduces avois liabilities and gives BA a good way to get to the end of the year and see if dynamic pricing and route restriction and / or Executive club level restrictions work?
The other reason I suggest it is that it would drive loyalty still and could be touted as a genuine enhancement for higher tier members? Perhaps increase qualification flights from 4 to 6 or 8 for Gold and maybe tier point number but this is a sweetener for those who complain about not getting availability.
Anyway just a thought and wanted to offer something more contrary to the doom and gloom!
So if your hypothesis is true we, the casual flier who will only take up a precious seat on one flight perhaps in our lifetime, are screwed.
Apr 2, 2018, 7:51 am
#107
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
I will probably get flamed for this.....but we are very infrequent fliers who have been saving miles for several years now to fly F on BA to Europe. The miles we collect ( AS and AA) have been losing partners to the point where BA is just about the only airline we can redeem to our final destination. (Athens)
So if your hypothesis is true we, the casual flier who will only take up a precious seat on one flight perhaps in our lifetime, are screwed.
So if your hypothesis is true we, the casual flier who will only take up a precious seat on one flight perhaps in our lifetime, are screwed.
Apr 2, 2018, 8:59 am
#108
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,966
I can't speak for AS but AA has certainly not been losing partners over the past several years. The only relevant partner that you would have lost is AB (assuming that they flew to ATH) but ATH is now available on AA metal as a result of the US merger. Other potential One World routings to ATH besides BA include AY and IB.
Apr 2, 2018, 9:06 am
#109
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,908
Although this is really annoying, I’d wait and see what tomorrow brings before panicking. Maybe they’ll actually tell us what’s going on tomorrow.
Apr 2, 2018, 10:13 am
#110
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 104
Aside from first post and unhelpful speculation not adding much I would not necessarily rush to be so concerned about this change. One thing that does strike me is that it probably is a precursor to dynamic pricing and would be an interesting way for BA to dip their toe into the water on this?
I am wondering if there is some way they may want to distinguish premium routes with standard routes - and the premium routes are the ones where dynamic pricing will play a part? Perhaps linked to status? After all Golds and above are likely to have more Avios than lower tier members, so perhaps they might suggest 9 to 12 months out availability for First Redemptions is restricted to Gold and above? This is then tied to dynamic pricing in the sense that perhaps you are willing to pay more to get the seat in advance, reduces avois liabilities and gives BA a good way to get to the end of the year and see if dynamic pricing and route restriction and / or Executive club level restrictions work?
The other reason I suggest it is that it would drive loyalty still and could be touted as a genuine enhancement for higher tier members? Perhaps increase qualification flights from 4 to 6 or 8 for Gold and maybe tier point number but this is a sweetener for those who complain about not getting availability.
Anyway just a thought and wanted to offer something more contrary to the doom and gloom!
I am wondering if there is some way they may want to distinguish premium routes with standard routes - and the premium routes are the ones where dynamic pricing will play a part? Perhaps linked to status? After all Golds and above are likely to have more Avios than lower tier members, so perhaps they might suggest 9 to 12 months out availability for First Redemptions is restricted to Gold and above? This is then tied to dynamic pricing in the sense that perhaps you are willing to pay more to get the seat in advance, reduces avois liabilities and gives BA a good way to get to the end of the year and see if dynamic pricing and route restriction and / or Executive club level restrictions work?
The other reason I suggest it is that it would drive loyalty still and could be touted as a genuine enhancement for higher tier members? Perhaps increase qualification flights from 4 to 6 or 8 for Gold and maybe tier point number but this is a sweetener for those who complain about not getting availability.
Anyway just a thought and wanted to offer something more contrary to the doom and gloom!
Although nothing would surprise me with BA
Add me to the list of those who would dump the BA Amex and choose to fly with others if this were to happen...would be the end of the miles game for me
Apr 2, 2018, 11:41 am
#111
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 466
When it turns out the guy responsible for updating F reward space everywhere but the Caribbean was on holiday... Here's hoping.
Apr 2, 2018, 12:00 pm
#112
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
Apr 2, 2018, 1:30 pm
#114
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Split between MAN & AKL
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, SkyMiles Gold, Mucci deux fois
Posts: 619
I've been looking for some JFK flights for Jan '19 and notice that out of all the options, most days only have 2 x 747 rotations, the others being 777s.
Is that a normal down gauge I haven't noticed before or is it a sign of a more extensive reshuffling of capacity/fleet and BA haven't finalised F capacity and availability yet?
Is that a normal down gauge I haven't noticed before or is it a sign of a more extensive reshuffling of capacity/fleet and BA haven't finalised F capacity and availability yet?
Apr 2, 2018, 2:02 pm
#116
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central Scotland, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 287
I've been looking for some JFK flights for Jan '19 and notice that out of all the options, most days only have 2 x 747 rotations, the others being 777s.
Is that a normal down gauge I haven't noticed before or is it a sign of a more extensive reshuffling of capacity/fleet and BA haven't finalised F capacity and availability yet?
Is that a normal down gauge I haven't noticed before or is it a sign of a more extensive reshuffling of capacity/fleet and BA haven't finalised F capacity and availability yet?
Apr 2, 2018, 2:47 pm
#117
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
BA Redemption finder is showing "price unknown" for all dates in 2019. I'm not familiar with the tool, so I can't speculate about what it may mean.
Apr 2, 2018, 2:51 pm
#118
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 282
Apr 2, 2018, 5:08 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,872
For Tuesday 12th February from LHR to JFK for example: 7F available on the 8.25, 9.40, 11.20,13.05, 14.00, 16.25, 18.00 and 19.50 ....
Apr 2, 2018, 5:32 pm
#120
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 50
And your point is? Should we just sit here and say nothing? Enjoy it every time it happens? Hmm? Not let the company know how it's customers feel? Be nice if airlines could produce products and services that customers actually want, rather than be forced to take. But then it sounds like you don't care either way, so why do you bother to post anything here?