BA Closing Avios Account--Brokerage
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 111
BA Closing Avios Account--Brokerage
BA have closed my account stating that I was engaging in brokerage activity which is against their terms and conditions. Understood, except I never engaged in brokerage activity and booked two one way award tickets for a relatively low amount of points for two friends and family of mine last summer. There's no "trading" going on. Ironically they closed my account last year in October telling me I was engaging in trading activity, reopened it after their investigation confirming I was not engaging in trading activity, and since then the account has sat dormant and now they have closed it again! It feels like I am being harassed/they just arbitrarily close accounts. As a recourse I can take them to small claims in the USA where I am based but am wondering if there is arbitration in the UK I could use as well? Thanks
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,240
This sounds very odd. If you have their confirmation that there was no brokerage activity when they reopened the account in October and there has been absolutely no activity on the account since that date, I would contact them and ask for an explanation and seek some form of justification for the second closure.
Was the first closure related to the tickets for two friends and family or were those booked after it was reopened?
I do not think you would be well advised to attempt legal action at this point. I would suggest you try to resolve this direct with BA first.
Was the first closure related to the tickets for two friends and family or were those booked after it was reopened?
I do not think you would be well advised to attempt legal action at this point. I would suggest you try to resolve this direct with BA first.
#3
I have heard of another case like this happen recently - might be that with not much flying they have nothing else to do then alianate club members. What status do you hold btw?
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: BAEC, VS Flying Club
Posts: 790
The problem is you only know your side of the story. BA can see the full picture and may know - or assume, possibly wrongly - more.
For instance - is it possible that one of the friends you bought a ticket for regularly flies on tickets bought for him/her by several different people? That’s when it starts to look fishy as BA may feel justified in assuming, rightly or wrongly, that they’re engaging in brokerage.
There will undoubtedly be other possible reasons but the point is while you may be totally innocent, it’s conceivable that those you’re doing a favour to are not.
For instance - is it possible that one of the friends you bought a ticket for regularly flies on tickets bought for him/her by several different people? That’s when it starts to look fishy as BA may feel justified in assuming, rightly or wrongly, that they’re engaging in brokerage.
There will undoubtedly be other possible reasons but the point is while you may be totally innocent, it’s conceivable that those you’re doing a favour to are not.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 111
The problem is you only know your side of the story. BA can see the full picture and may know - or assume, possibly wrongly - more.
For instance - is it possible that one of the friends you bought a ticket for regularly flies on tickets bought for him/her by several different people? That’s when it starts to look fishy as BA may feel justified in assuming, rightly or wrongly, that they’re engaging in brokerage.
There will undoubtedly be other possible reasons but the point is while you may be totally innocent, it’s conceivable that those you’re doing a favour to are not.
For instance - is it possible that one of the friends you bought a ticket for regularly flies on tickets bought for him/her by several different people? That’s when it starts to look fishy as BA may feel justified in assuming, rightly or wrongly, that they’re engaging in brokerage.
There will undoubtedly be other possible reasons but the point is while you may be totally innocent, it’s conceivable that those you’re doing a favour to are not.
#7
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#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,240
Will BA take my avios from Iberia promotion?
The OP had a -90K balance on Iberia's platform which won't help.
The OP had a -90K balance on Iberia's platform which won't help.
#11
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#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 111
#14
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I suppose that one key thing that BA will be looking for is how else your Avios have been used.
#15
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Location: London
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The ways you can be flagged are very slim, to be honest. It COULD be:
* you issued multiple tickets for different people who seem unlikely to be genuine friends (for example, your friends would be expected to live in the same city as you or be travelling to your city, so tickets between B and C when you live in A look odd)
* you issued a small number of tickets for people who have purchased tickets from brokers in the past - it is very quick job for BA to spot passengers who regularly fly on tickets issued off multiple accounts
* you did not pay the taxes yourself, as you would if the tickets were a gift - if someone else paid the taxes, the ticket was not a gift and so the rules were broken
BA really has better things to do than chase after people who issue 2 small reward tickets for friends. In a normal year I would issue tickets for 5+ different people (parents in law, employees, friends) and have never had an issue.
* you issued multiple tickets for different people who seem unlikely to be genuine friends (for example, your friends would be expected to live in the same city as you or be travelling to your city, so tickets between B and C when you live in A look odd)
* you issued a small number of tickets for people who have purchased tickets from brokers in the past - it is very quick job for BA to spot passengers who regularly fly on tickets issued off multiple accounts
* you did not pay the taxes yourself, as you would if the tickets were a gift - if someone else paid the taxes, the ticket was not a gift and so the rules were broken
BA really has better things to do than chase after people who issue 2 small reward tickets for friends. In a normal year I would issue tickets for 5+ different people (parents in law, employees, friends) and have never had an issue.
Last edited by Raffles; May 14, 2021 at 12:07 pm