Changes to redemption prices on partner airlines eff 30 May 2019
Apr 29, 2019, 5:19 pm
#77
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
By asking the right way, I was able to figure out what the changes are. They are loaded up into BA reservation agents' computers so I just had to list out some specific routes in order to get the pricing, and cross-check them on multiple airlines.
Here's the new chart - you saw it here first.
Here's the new chart - you saw it here first.
Apr 29, 2019, 5:22 pm
#78
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
As other said, these changes don't look that bad. I don't know why they just didn't publish the new chart.
Apr 29, 2019, 6:23 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 714
I didn't bother with longer distance award pricing, my agent was losing patience with my queries and the pricing already isn't very good on long haul awards. My focus was on popular Alaska Airlines and American Airlines routes from Seattle and LAX, cross checked with some Sri Lankan and Cathay routes of similar distance.
Apr 29, 2019, 6:31 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
I didn't bother with longer distance award pricing, my agent was losing patience with my queries and the pricing already isn't very good on long haul awards. My focus was on popular Alaska Airlines and American Airlines routes from Seattle and LAX, cross checked with some Sri Lankan and Cathay routes of similar distance.
anyway what i dont understand is how their computers were loaded with the May 30 pricing? why would anyone be able to book at those rates before May 30?
normally these devaluations tend to leave economy rates alone and destroy J/F redemptions, but BA tends to already be rather overpriced (compared to competitors) with regard to premium cabins, especially on partners where there is no 'off peak', and especially when there is fuel surchages. i can't imagine premium redemptions getting much worse. and the rest of their pricing seems rather in line with everyone else, though i can see them raising the 4,500/7,500 economy band as you had seen.
Apr 29, 2019, 6:32 pm
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
At least this gives people considering making a booking, time to do so with the current rates
Apr 29, 2019, 8:17 pm
#83
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Qantas Gold, Virgin Australia Platinum, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 90
Apr 29, 2019, 8:55 pm
#84
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL & CCR
Posts: 600
.Test the market’s reaction and see what you can get away with, access the potential churn of customers to other FF programs or competing airline alliances before you finalize how hard you’ll bring the devaluation hammer down.
Let the penny drop slowly and split the negative reactions over two press cycles to dilute it out. Make it more palatable than a sudden halving of the worth of something held by your customers.
I’d anticipate an positive ‘fluffy’ announcement about new routes or improved first class, centenary celebrations around this news, sandwiching good around bad news to further dilute out the negative PR effect.
Apr 29, 2019, 10:16 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,721
Do AS flights to Hawaii and Mexico price domestic F seats on the C or F chart? If the former at 2x points then they are still a decent option. not so much for the 4x pricing.
Really my major concern is not with the short haul flights (which are still cheaper than many of the alternatives) but the sweet spots like NA to SA. Will these have bogus "fuel surcharges" now?
Really my major concern is not with the short haul flights (which are still cheaper than many of the alternatives) but the sweet spots like NA to SA. Will these have bogus "fuel surcharges" now?
Apr 30, 2019, 12:23 am
#86
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
I doubt there would be any improvement. I would fully expect US flights to continue to be priced starting at band 2 even for band 1 distances so the shortest routes would become 9000 avios in Y rather than 7500 now.
Apr 30, 2019, 2:43 am
#87
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
The smart and sleazy way to communicate...
Test the market’s reaction and see what you can get away with, access the potential churn of customers to other FF programs or competing airline alliances before you finalize how hard you’ll bring the devaluation hammer down.
Let the penny drop slowly and split the negative reactions over two press cycles to dilute it out. Make it more palatable than a sudden halving of the worth of something held by your customers.
I’d anticipate an positive ‘fluffy’ announcement about new routes or improved first class, centenary celebrations around this news, sandwiching good around bad news to further dilute out the negative PR effect.
its similar to PESO and like any dodgy currency devalues wildly every few years.
Apr 30, 2019, 5:56 am
#90
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Antwerp
Programs: Quite a few...
Posts: 72