Gold Priority Reward, only £1/£0.50 available?
Jul 2, 2022, 9:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Miles & Smiles, Skyteam, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honours
Posts: 145
Gold Priority Reward, only £1/£0.50 available?
Hi all,
Seen a few posts on this before but most people seem to be able to get the old RFS pricing after phoning back. No luck for me as yet.
Trying to book a one-way economy flight from London to Athens and after 2 call attempts, being told both times that only option is 30,000 avios plus £0.50. Apparently call centre staff got an e-mail on 19/05/22 saying this would be the only option going forward. Has anyone had any luck finding a way around it?
Like most people, I am almost out of patience with BA and honestly can't see any point keeping Gold any more!
TIA
Seen a few posts on this before but most people seem to be able to get the old RFS pricing after phoning back. No luck for me as yet.
Trying to book a one-way economy flight from London to Athens and after 2 call attempts, being told both times that only option is 30,000 avios plus £0.50. Apparently call centre staff got an e-mail on 19/05/22 saying this would be the only option going forward. Has anyone had any luck finding a way around it?
Like most people, I am almost out of patience with BA and honestly can't see any point keeping Gold any more!
TIA
Jul 2, 2022, 9:42 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Hi marble35
This issue has been receiving a good deal of coverage over at Head for Points.
Not sure how directly relevant to your own specific concerns, but you may wish to take a look at this recent piece, which will in turn link you to others regarding the same subject.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...rity-reward-3/
This issue has been receiving a good deal of coverage over at Head for Points.
Not sure how directly relevant to your own specific concerns, but you may wish to take a look at this recent piece, which will in turn link you to others regarding the same subject.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...rity-reward-3/
Aug 3, 2022, 9:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,533
It
is not just Gold reward pricing but also the Barclaycard upgrade voucher. If only prices at the £1/.50 rate rendering it completely worthless
is not just Gold reward pricing but also the Barclaycard upgrade voucher. If only prices at the £1/.50 rate rendering it completely worthless
Aug 16, 2022, 4:56 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
Has anyone had any further experience since May with Gold Priority Rewards? Still pricing at 1 quid rate? I was hoping to use one from Geneva to London, but may just book at one way on swiss business instead.
Aug 16, 2022, 5:02 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Miles & Smiles, Skyteam, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honours
Posts: 145
I booked in July for an August departure. I tried calling back several times and got the same answer. Only the £1.00 rate available. Given the cash price, I took it.
Aug 16, 2022, 5:27 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,559
Aug 16, 2022, 5:31 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Miles & Smiles, Skyteam, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honours
Posts: 145
Not sure about much further ahead but I have not seen the "additional reward seats are available to you as a gold member" for any reward searches I've done recently.
Exit row, yes but not sure that's a big enough perk to make me loyal to BA/Oneworld in order to earn tier points.
Exit row, yes but not sure that's a big enough perk to make me loyal to BA/Oneworld in order to earn tier points.
Aug 16, 2022, 5:47 am
#13
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
Plus, the V-class Avios availability in ET.
The increase in Avios for RFS has been generally badly handled. I know I chirp up with the same complaint every time this is mentioned, but BA prices connecting flights based on a number of Avios per segment. When adding a sector eligible for RFS to a long-haul sector, they also add the now increased number of Avios, as if you were purchasing the 50p or £1 flight. But, then they charge you full taxes and fees for the whole combined flight end-to-end. So, charging you the increased Avios, for which you are supposed to pay reduced taxes and fees, but then adding the full taxes and fees anyway.
From London, airport fees and departure taxes are high, but inbound flights have typically much lower taxes and fees. As an example, Faro to LHR is only €21,57 in ET or €25,57 in CE. Avios rates are 11,750 ET or 20,000 CE plus 50p. Old rates were 6,500 and 12,750 plus €21.57 or €25.57, since the taxes and fees were lower than the RFS "fixed" rate. That fixed rate is now no longer available, even if you select the (now calls Avios and Cash) option closest to what the old redemption values were.
So, worst case, in CE, BA want you to pay 7,250 more Avios for a €25 decrease in cost. That's a redemption value of 0.34p per Avios. Who is going to take that?
The increase in Avios for RFS has been generally badly handled. I know I chirp up with the same complaint every time this is mentioned, but BA prices connecting flights based on a number of Avios per segment. When adding a sector eligible for RFS to a long-haul sector, they also add the now increased number of Avios, as if you were purchasing the 50p or £1 flight. But, then they charge you full taxes and fees for the whole combined flight end-to-end. So, charging you the increased Avios, for which you are supposed to pay reduced taxes and fees, but then adding the full taxes and fees anyway.
From London, airport fees and departure taxes are high, but inbound flights have typically much lower taxes and fees. As an example, Faro to LHR is only €21,57 in ET or €25,57 in CE. Avios rates are 11,750 ET or 20,000 CE plus 50p. Old rates were 6,500 and 12,750 plus €21.57 or €25.57, since the taxes and fees were lower than the RFS "fixed" rate. That fixed rate is now no longer available, even if you select the (now calls Avios and Cash) option closest to what the old redemption values were.
So, worst case, in CE, BA want you to pay 7,250 more Avios for a €25 decrease in cost. That's a redemption value of 0.34p per Avios. Who is going to take that?
Aug 16, 2022, 6:40 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
When I was Avios rich (my peak was over 2 million when my diamond club and BA balances got merged) sometimes it was great to be able to fly for 50p one way, but it should be an option, not the default