Breaking: CAN transfer bonus avios to BAEC!
Oct 8, 2018, 10:20 am
#136
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
So i created two Iberia accounts for me and my friends when the promo started. And today those accounts finally turned 90 days old. But upon trying to move Avios to BA. They both log in well on either Iberia or BA transfer webpage but at the last comfirmation step it says combine my Avios is not available :-/
Nov 14, 2018, 2:19 pm
#137
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 61
Just received this from Iberia - not clear what they mean by transferring not counting(?) also if you transferred to BA then spent them before the deadline would that make them happy?
Dear Customer,
We would like to remind you that the Avios you earned in the promotion last June had special terms and conditions, as we pointed out at the time. As such, please note that the promotional Avios obtained during that campaign will no longer be available in your account if you do not redeem them in the Iberia Plus programme before 1 December 2018.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the programme does not include the transfer of Avios, as indicated in the general terms and conditions.
Yours sincerely,
The Iberia Plus Team
Dear Customer,
We would like to remind you that the Avios you earned in the promotion last June had special terms and conditions, as we pointed out at the time. As such, please note that the promotional Avios obtained during that campaign will no longer be available in your account if you do not redeem them in the Iberia Plus programme before 1 December 2018.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the programme does not include the transfer of Avios, as indicated in the general terms and conditions.
Yours sincerely,
The Iberia Plus Team
Nov 14, 2018, 2:36 pm
#138
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
IB has said before that transferring doesn't count as redeeming for the purpose of this promotion. I asked them again last month and they reconfirmed. Your IB account can go negative in December if you did this. Maybe there are no consequences to this if you unlink your IB and BA accounts, or if you close your IB account?
Nov 14, 2018, 3:16 pm
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
Your IB+ account will probably go negative. Some people won't mind if that's the only consequence, but IB+ will know exactly where to chase your Avios from BA...
Nov 14, 2018, 4:45 pm
#140
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, BA Silver
Posts: 260
I guess the terms were fairly clear originally, but then according to the thisismoney article, they did a U-turn, effectively allowing them to be transferred out.
Nov 14, 2018, 4:53 pm
#141
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
No, all they did was allow transfers.
They never said transfers would count as redemptions, or that BAEC redemptions would count.
They never said transfers would count as redemptions, or that BAEC redemptions would count.
Nov 23, 2018, 3:20 am
#142
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 536
My guess, and all I can do is guess, is that the email is a warning to the many non-Flyertalk customers not to transfer the avios and those of us who did will be fine. And this inconsequential threat of a negative balance just seems...
And what if you spend them and then cancel the flight? They were spent. They don't say they can't be refunded.
If they run such a badly-thought-out offer then they shouldn't be too mean to people who take advantage of it.
Nov 23, 2018, 3:35 am
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
The issue is that many brand new IB+ members signed up (or were primarily BA members who previously paid little attention to IB+) and made their own assumptions about what constitutes "a qualifying redemption". That wouldn't be a problem - i.e. just expire their Avios for not following the rules - except for the fact that it created a PR nightmare due to the sheer numbers.
So the debate continues to rage about whether IB+ should have foreseen BAEC members' misuse of the promo Avios and should have specifically prohibited BA transfers and/or held strong against the pressure. Caveat emptor vs. caveat venditor...
Nov 23, 2018, 5:22 am
#144
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
To be fair, they have not really been all that clear, with a vague offer iin the beginning with unclear terms and a series of twists and turns.
My guess, and all I can do is guess, is that the email is a warning to the many non-Flyertalk customers not to transfer the avios and those of us who did will be fine. And this inconsequential threat of a negative balance just seems...
And what if you spend them and then cancel the flight? They were spent. They don't say they can't be refunded.
If they run such a badly-thought-out offer then they shouldn't be too mean to people who take advantage of it.
My guess, and all I can do is guess, is that the email is a warning to the many non-Flyertalk customers not to transfer the avios and those of us who did will be fine. And this inconsequential threat of a negative balance just seems...
And what if you spend them and then cancel the flight? They were spent. They don't say they can't be refunded.
If they run such a badly-thought-out offer then they shouldn't be too mean to people who take advantage of it.
Nov 23, 2018, 7:54 pm
#145
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 536
Can Iberia really remove miles from BA accounts?
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
Nov 23, 2018, 9:59 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
Why not? They "remove miles" from BA accounts every time you move Avios from BA --> IB. It's all the same company.
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
Maybe nothing will happen but if 1 December arrives and sh*t starts happening, it will be too late for you...
And, yes, the number of people is massive. A friend of mine was called in for a chat with IB+ because they were freaked out at all of the interest from Argentina. Multiply that by 100 for the UK and 1000 for the US. A substantial percentage will have taken the BA transfer route.
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
And, yes, the number of people is massive. A friend of mine was called in for a chat with IB+ because they were freaked out at all of the interest from Argentina. Multiply that by 100 for the UK and 1000 for the US. A substantial percentage will have taken the BA transfer route.
Nov 24, 2018, 4:36 am
#147
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Can Iberia really remove miles from BA accounts?
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
I remain of the opinion that they were very vague in their terms, and they've spoken out and changed their minds a lot about this promotion, so, honestly, who knows...
Let me be clear. I will use those avios in time if I'm genuinely required to. I know what I would do with them. But if there is no urgency because the transfer keeps them safe, then I will wait.
As for whether Iberia should have foreseen what happened, well, yes, they should have. On the other hand, I ask again, how many people actually did this kind of thing? I doubt the number is big enough to make a huge difference in the greater scheme of things.
Nov 24, 2018, 6:54 am
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
If your balance goes negative, the likelihood is you'll begin to receive emails from IB+ notifying you that your account has slipped into the red together with some tips on what you can do to add credit to your account, including info on the purchase Avios options available to you. IB+ may set out a reasonable time frame for you to restore your account to a positive balance. After that period elapses, they may then take retrieval measures. Realistically, at this stage of the process, we are probably looking at account audits. For those with multiple IB+ accounts, that's potentially an end game outcome.
Nov 27, 2018, 6:33 pm
#149
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 536
Interesting.. Well, then, thank you all for your advice, and I think I will take it all into account and act accordingly.
Nov 27, 2018, 9:44 pm
#150
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
Except that's not an equivalent scenario given Avios have no cash value. A more fitting scenario would be going negative in monopoly!