Flash Avios Sale... devaluation on the cards. ??????
Nov 6, 2019, 11:51 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 95
Few thoughts/questions on this:
1. “This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, promotion or deal, including but not limited to … bookings made with any other vouchers, travel class upgrades and any British Airways staff friends and family offers (for example, Hotlines).”
This makes it sound like all vouchers are excluded – do we have explicit confirmation from BA that the 241 can be used (even tho the T&CS seem to forbid it)?
2. While the Lloyds voucher is likely excluded because of both T&C's above plus that you have to book through the Avios call center and not BA, it is interesting in theory to consider what Avios discount would be for a WTP -> Club upgrade – would you get 10% or 50%….
3. Same as post above: could I book on available dates in March now and down the line change to Summer 2020? Would they ask for the extra avios or just not do the change?
1. “This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, promotion or deal, including but not limited to … bookings made with any other vouchers, travel class upgrades and any British Airways staff friends and family offers (for example, Hotlines).”
This makes it sound like all vouchers are excluded – do we have explicit confirmation from BA that the 241 can be used (even tho the T&CS seem to forbid it)?
2. While the Lloyds voucher is likely excluded because of both T&C's above plus that you have to book through the Avios call center and not BA, it is interesting in theory to consider what Avios discount would be for a WTP -> Club upgrade – would you get 10% or 50%….
3. Same as post above: could I book on available dates in March now and down the line change to Summer 2020? Would they ask for the extra avios or just not do the change?
Nov 6, 2019, 11:59 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
“
Can I book flights within the offer period, then later pay a change fee to change my flights to after the offer period, e.g. Summer or Autumn 2020?
- Book directly with British Airways (BA) between 7 November 2019 and 21 November 2019 for travel between 7 November 2019 and 30 April 2020. This offer applies to both peak and off-peak Avios prices and can be booked by any British Airways Executive Club member logged into their account and with a sufficient Avios balance.
Can I book flights within the offer period, then later pay a change fee to change my flights to after the offer period, e.g. Summer or Autumn 2020?
Nov 7, 2019, 12:22 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
My example was more about highlighting the longstanding consensus that straight redemptions (as opposed to UUA) generally offer poor value for Avios ; and that being the case, the special offer only makes such redemptions marginally ‘less poor’ value, as it were.
Nov 7, 2019, 3:41 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: UK. West Sussex
Programs: BAEC. Gold
Posts: 786
The GSTP headline describes this as an “amazing offer” ....... and in many ways you could say he’s right.
You can fly LHR to JFK for a quick w/end break (in say, January) using Avios plus a cash element of taxes + quaintly-named carrier charges of £264.
OR ...... you could just buy a straight cash ticket (same dates, but zero avios) at £278.
Yep, amazing
You can fly LHR to JFK for a quick w/end break (in say, January) using Avios plus a cash element of taxes + quaintly-named carrier charges of £264.
OR ...... you could just buy a straight cash ticket (same dates, but zero avios) at £278.
Yep, amazing
You could also use the number of Avios that you would have used on the full redemption ticket, to further reduce the cash cost, by doing the part pay with Avios..
After all you would have spent those Avios on the redemption ticket plus £264...
Surely making it considerably cheaper
Nov 7, 2019, 5:22 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
It's an offer they've done many times before. At the moment I suspect it's due to BA requiring more cash due to the impact of the strike. Don't think of it as a kindness, the WT taxes are often ridiculous when you compare to the paid fare.
Nov 7, 2019, 5:36 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Reduced Avios tariffs for cabin upgrades would undoubtedly be very attractive to a good percentage of BAEC members ; which, I suspect, explains why BA have chosen to exclude this sort of option from the offer.
Nov 7, 2019, 5:54 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 796
most of the people here are bashing this promo, and I totally understand the cynical attitude towards BA in general as the bean-counting management has made many customer-unfriendly changes, not to mention how they treat staff (mixed-fleet crew, pilot strikes etc) despite record profits but thats a discussion for another thread.
however, there are individual situations where this makes sense, if one wants to maximize bang for buck...
I just downgraded my upcoming Club award for WT, slashing my Avios spend from 70k to 12k, plus reducing my taxes from $300++ to $200.
The revenue ticket would have been $2200 one-way and $1400 return, in WT!
Yes, I will be slumming it back in WT, but the increased value I get out of my Avios makes it worthwhile in my book and the saved Avios can be used towards another award.
however, there are individual situations where this makes sense, if one wants to maximize bang for buck...
I just downgraded my upcoming Club award for WT, slashing my Avios spend from 70k to 12k, plus reducing my taxes from $300++ to $200.
The revenue ticket would have been $2200 one-way and $1400 return, in WT!
Yes, I will be slumming it back in WT, but the increased value I get out of my Avios makes it worthwhile in my book and the saved Avios can be used towards another award.
Nov 7, 2019, 6:09 am
#44
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,175
most of the people here are bashing this promo, and I totally understand the cynical attitude towards BA in general as the bean-counting management has made many customer-unfriendly changes, not to mention how they treat staff (mixed-fleet crew, pilot strikes etc) despite record profits but thats a discussion for another thread.
however, there are individual situations where this makes sense, if one wants to maximize bang for buck...
I just downgraded my upcoming Club award for WT, slashing my Avios spend from 70k to 12k, plus reducing my taxes from $300++ to $200.
The revenue ticket would have been $2200 one-way and $1400 return, in WT!
Yes, I will be slumming it back in WT, but the increased value I get out of my Avios makes it worthwhile in my book and the saved Avios can be used towards another award.
however, there are individual situations where this makes sense, if one wants to maximize bang for buck...
I just downgraded my upcoming Club award for WT, slashing my Avios spend from 70k to 12k, plus reducing my taxes from $300++ to $200.
The revenue ticket would have been $2200 one-way and $1400 return, in WT!
Yes, I will be slumming it back in WT, but the increased value I get out of my Avios makes it worthwhile in my book and the saved Avios can be used towards another award.
As for slumming it, the people in WT will envy you, and the people in CW won't even notice.