BA Amex "2-for1" voucher ads ruled misleading and banned
Apr 1, 20, 4:31 am
#1
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BA Amex "2-for1" voucher ads ruled misleading and banned
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has today published its ruling that BA's website and a radio advertisement promoting the British Airways American Express Premium Plus credit card were misleading, breached three sections of the advertising code and cannot appear again.
https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/briti...rways-plc.html
While we noted the words “Taxes, fees and carrier charges apply” in both ads, we did not consider that to override the impression that customers were able purchase two tickets and travel to their chosen destination for the price of one. We welcomed the advertisers’ willingness to make changes to explain that those additional charges applied per person, but did not consider those changes would significantly alter how consumers would interpret the “2-for-1” claim. Consequently, because we considered consumers would understand the claim “2-for-1” in both ads to mean that if they were to spend Ł10,000 on the card over a 12-month period, they would qualify for a Companion Voucher which allowed two people to travel to their chosen destination via two British Airways reward flight tickets for the price of one, and that was not the case, we concluded that the claim was misleading.
The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told British Airways and American Express t/a Amex to ensure that their future advertising did not mislead by implying that consumers were able to obtain two products for the price of one when that was not the case.
https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/briti...rways-plc.html
While we noted the words “Taxes, fees and carrier charges apply” in both ads, we did not consider that to override the impression that customers were able purchase two tickets and travel to their chosen destination for the price of one. We welcomed the advertisers’ willingness to make changes to explain that those additional charges applied per person, but did not consider those changes would significantly alter how consumers would interpret the “2-for-1” claim. Consequently, because we considered consumers would understand the claim “2-for-1” in both ads to mean that if they were to spend Ł10,000 on the card over a 12-month period, they would qualify for a Companion Voucher which allowed two people to travel to their chosen destination via two British Airways reward flight tickets for the price of one, and that was not the case, we concluded that the claim was misleading.
The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told British Airways and American Express t/a Amex to ensure that their future advertising did not mislead by implying that consumers were able to obtain two products for the price of one when that was not the case.
Apr 1, 20, 4:48 am
#4
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Technically the ASA were correct ... "per person" solved the issue.
Storm. Teacup.
I'm sure there will still be whining on FT about "outrageous taxes and fees" when people get Ł9,000-worth of Club World travel for Ł1,000, of course.
Storm. Teacup.
I'm sure there will still be whining on FT about "outrageous taxes and fees" when people get Ł9,000-worth of Club World travel for Ł1,000, of course.
Apr 1, 20, 4:58 am
#5
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Originally Posted by fruitcage
So do we on FT have to stop calling it a 2-4-1 ?
Apr 1, 20, 5:02 am
#6
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Originally Posted by T8191
Technically the ASA were correct ... "per person" solved the issue.
We welcomed the advertisers’ willingness to make changes to explain that those additional charges applied per person, but did not consider those changes would significantly alter how consumers would interpret the “2-for-1” claim.
Apr 1, 20, 5:09 am
#8
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Originally Posted by Mike Skyflier
Its outrageous that fees and taxes have to be paid for not one but two people!
It is outrageous on a so called two for one deal that both have to pay part of the fare
Apr 1, 20, 5:21 am
#10
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Originally Posted by paulieuk
Actually the ASA said explicitly that adding "per person" would NOT solve the issue:
We welcomed the advertisers’ willingness to make changes to explain that those additional charges applied per person, but did not consider those changes would significantly alter how consumers would interpret the “2-for-1” claim.
We welcomed the advertisers’ willingness to make changes to explain that those additional charges applied per person, but did not consider those changes would significantly alter how consumers would interpret the “2-for-1” claim.
Apr 1, 20, 6:55 am
#11
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Originally Posted by Mike Skyflier
Its outrageous that fees and taxes have to be paid for not one but two people! 😁
When I was a lad..... circa 2002, I redeemed AAdvantage points on a BA LHR-SYD return in J and nothing extra was paid. Even changing the return date didn't cost me anything extra!
Them were the days....
Apr 1, 20, 7:08 am
#12
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Originally Posted by T8191
Misread ... sorry. Not using my reading glasses!
I hear that Specsavers are running a (genuine) 2-4-1 .........
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/...ses-from-gbp69
Apr 1, 20, 7:24 am
#13
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Originally Posted by subject2load
I hear that Specsavers are running a (genuine) 2-4-1 .........
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/...ses-from-gbp69
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/...ses-from-gbp69
However ...
