Changes to Avios / TP credit for Gold Upgrades via travel agents
Mar 26, 2019, 1:10 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
I’m not affected but I do feel the retrospective adjustment is a bit tough on anyone relying on the past custom and practice to get to a new status or renewal if flights fall between now and 8 April/May.
Mar 26, 2019, 2:09 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
I think I first benefitted from this in 2003/4 so it must be one of the longest lived loopholes in the BA universe. While disappointing to see it go I can hardly blame BA for changing it. Do I wonder what triggered it, beyond getting to the top of the to do list for someone in a continuous improvement team.
Mar 26, 2019, 2:13 am
#19
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
if the selling class is adjusted back to the underlying pre-upgraded level which seems to be happening in many cases won’t it credit as the business selling class to MPC?
Mar 26, 2019, 3:01 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SYD
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH D, QFF, EB
Posts: 404
It is loophole which has been nice while it lasted but have been expecting this to be closed. I have not counted on the extra TP for status levels previously, this is likely to be the first year where the points difference would make a difference to me.
When you consider the impact this will have on IAGs bottom line they are scraping for the cost savings.
When you consider the impact this will have on IAGs bottom line they are scraping for the cost savings.
Mar 26, 2019, 3:35 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,895
I'd never used this "benefit" and wasn't really aware it was possible - or had never really thought it through at least.
I guess some on here will be disappointed but I can understand why BA would want to close it down - if 3 x upgrade vouchers were used during the year, it could have meant 420 TPs being over-awarded (more on the super long-hauls). That's not insignificant.
I guess some on here will be disappointed but I can understand why BA would want to close it down - if 3 x upgrade vouchers were used during the year, it could have meant 420 TPs being over-awarded (more on the super long-hauls). That's not insignificant.
Mar 26, 2019, 3:41 am
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Why should there be any impact on travel agencies? People use them not for extra TPs but because there is no reward availability. Being able to redeem these vouchers through travel agencies is the real benefit.
Mar 26, 2019, 3:49 am
#27
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Mar 26, 2019, 3:56 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
However, stepping back, it was always an error and with all errors they come to an end. I doubt it is going to make a significant difference to status earning - GGL/CCRs will still be able to hit this threshold relatively easily without this error working in their favour.
Mar 26, 2019, 4:20 am
#29
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Not much in the grand scheme of things, but the reality does not always align to your black and white world. Yes, many of the people using a TA to process a GUF to open up revenue availability when there is no reward availability as I have done in the past. However, even if there is reward availability, I do know people (including myself) to use a TA to process a GUF into revenue buckets since the small TA charge outweighs the benefit of additional TPs and Avois (both of which have a value, the latter more so).
Mar 26, 2019, 4:27 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
I guess the bright side here is that it will make earning GGL much harder for many people, therefore reducing the number of GGL members. This, in turn, should allow BA to offer a more appropriate level of membership to the people spending the most money with the airline.