lostfly

Not sure if this is the new policy that affects everybody or only inactive accounts, but I couldn't buy avios:

Called EC and they couldn't help me saying that this seems to be a new policy. One agent suggested me to transfer AMEX rewards, but he wasn't completely sure if it will work. Anybody else has this problem or knows more details?

dsf

It's been that way for at least 4 years, eg see the Ts and Cs quoted here Need a quick way to get some (even just 1!) Avios points

Prospero

Yes, this is the case, as documented in the EC's conditions of use

lostfly

I see. Thanks. Then I misunderstood the agent.

My problem is that I can't solve it by transferring point, neither by combining Avios. I tried and the transfer succeeds but they are shortly removed as expired. I understand that this is because my account was inactive for several years.

So the main question is if I can transfer from Amex rewards. If that doesn't work I might need to cancel the account and create a new one? That won't let me buy Avios, but it would let me transfer from Amex, I guess?

BA6501

You can buy something from the e-store, that would reset the clock on your account.

fruitcage

lostfly

Thanks, that probably will work I guess. But according to the e-store Avios might take a month to post. Or usually don't take that much?

Are you sure about that? Note again that my problem is not the 36 months expire clock. My problem is that my account was inactive for several years and then I cannot even transfer or combine avios. I've been told explicitly that transferring from Amex won't change the "inactive" status and that in a few months my account would probably be cancelled. If I understood correctly, only buying Avios or flying would restore the "active" status.

The transfer from AMEX MR might still succeed and Avios might be available to use. Agents were not sure about that, if the system will remove the Avios (as it does if I attempt to combine Avios) or not. But seems that in the best case it won't change the status of the account.

tobsw

MilesLife - download the app, and do a daily check in. After 7 days checking in, you get some free miles/point. BAEC is a partner.

pauldb

Not sure, but I also think it will work in that a credit from Amex will be "earning" avios rather than "transferring" avios (between avios accounts). I'd certainly be confident enough to risk the minimum 1000 MR points.

lostfly

I solved the issue because finally they restored me the Avios that I combined from Iberia Plus but were removed automatically by the system. Once having at least one Avios I could purchase Avios myself. Transferring from AMEX MR might have been worked indeed. But I decided to play safe to be sure that my account would be restored to an "activate" state.

Thanks again everybody.

GundamWing01

within the iberia website it says:
9. The Buyer must also have been a holder of the Iberia Plus card for at least 3 months or have a balance of more than 0 Avios.

i wonder if the rules are different from BA vs IB?

great to hear they restored the avios. i believe thats very rare. almost always, i read stories where nobody would help.

also, when did you see the error message? even before attempting to buy? or right after you had pressed the "Buy" button? im interesting in buying avios and got to the final "Pay Now" screen. but my balance is also 0 and i see no error message yet. my account is new and was set up a few months ago. past 90 days. I had found your post just in time. now im trying to figure out the best way to transfer points. or maybe im still able to buy even though my account is 0? since my account is new? just want to make sure i dont run into pts expiring.

carrotjuice

Understandably, this is an old thread resurrected. And Mileslife has been defunct for a while.