Change is always unsettling for some. However I would ask that we stick - as best we can - to the discussion of the changes that are announced and in the public domain. Rampant speculation and emotional responses to what people believe might happen based on rumour or supposition add no value to the forum.

We are fortunate to have our BA EC rep contributing directly to this thread and across FT. Lets focus on making the most of the available information for everyone.

Swanhunter
Moderator, BAEC

Never have I seen rumors being discussed as facts to this extend. Maybe BA should sue these posters for slander.

However, the protests do indicate that the US BAEC member has been privileged the past decade. I think they should be grateful for the ridiculously cheap redemptions to Asia and South America that have so far not been changed.

I assume you find it absolutely unfair that a BA UK member has to pay 160K (+$1200) for a return in J to BKK from LHR whilst you can do it for 150K (+$150) in F from JFK?

UK members are completely irrelevant because the issue is if US customers were mislead.

I was just asking...

I also find it completely irrelevant if US members are inconvenienced by a harmonization programme. It happens. Worry about the economy instead.

By the way, IF the harmonization would occur than it would inconvenience me too since I prefer the RTW solution to ASIA. AMS-LHR-JFK-HKG-LHR-AMS... for a mere 195K in J/F.

I have just waded through a lot of drivel on this thread and speculation on how much the US members are being screwed. I hope the mods can feather duster all this rubbish.

The BAEC is primarily a scheme that allows people who fly BA, particularly in premium cabins, and BA gives customers miles to redeem on reward flights in the future.

What I believe our US cousins are getting upset about is all their spend on credit card schemes (Chase, AMEX etc) and how the value of their miles is perceived to go down. Personally, I couldn't care less. Spending on CCs to get miles is easy. Flying to get BIS miles is much harder and I am glad I am being rewarded for my loyalty to BA as I actually fly them regularly.

I do wonder how many Chasers actually have set foot on a BA aircraft? I assume the percentage is very low.

Given that the exec club is a FF club it doesn't seem that unusual to see it being aligned more to FF's who fly the most on BA. In the significant majority of cases I'm guessing it's UK based flyers who put more business BA's way.

The previous situation was the anomaly, not surprised nor unhappy to see it corrected.

P.s Nicci needs a big pay raise, trying to keep this thread updated with information for us in the midst of the emotive speculation must be more than painful.

our posts crossed, I prefer yours

BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE YOUR REWARDS WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY! Everyone seems to assume it will go to 120k, because that is what someone said and what it USED to cost via LHR.... And how have you been misled? I had sterling when the rate was �1:$2 and have been misled because the rate is now �1:$1.6 and I should have held it all in dollars not pounds? That is similar to what is going on. Not to mention, you get 1 mile per dollar, we get 1 per pound (through MR). How unfair is that. Have been misled. I want a class action on Amex for not making it equal.

Please guys, do not just speculate.

All this is completely irrelevant. At stakes is if BA and its bankers (CHASE and AMEX) acted in good faith when they sold people their products and if they knew that they will not honor the current program. This issue has to be examined. It is true we don't know the full details nor do we know what the bankers knew.

I am happy for UK members if they feel that this is a good change for them but I am sure they would have raised hell if it was the opposite.

Holy smokes. I see this has ballooned overnight. I skimmed the last three pages and found something reminiscent of young children shouting for desert at breakfast time.

I simply can't understand those who claim to have been misled by silence in some way. If BA had openly announced that (say) there would be no EC changes for one/two/three years, then you'd transferred points into BA Miles, then BA changed its mind, that's one thing. But you can't read any long term intention into silence, for goodness sake.

For Airmiles member, it is!!!

Again, don't understand this at all. You (presumably) still have BA Miles *because you haven't spent them yet*. Had you done so, (in your words) the current program would have been honoured.

Where did BA/Chase/Amex promise to you that they would hold the EC in aspic for as long as you kept you miles - say three years, or longer if you had further activity on your a/c?

Yes, that I will agree with (for y tix for airmiles)! However, all of the Americans complaining (where my post was aimed at) do not even know the difference between BA miles and airmiles...

I think the airmiles y tix devaluation is unfortunate, but in these days of large YQ I never thought it would last for ever...

Sorry to be pedantic but in the UK that would be libel* as they have published their comments on the internet, slander is the transitory form usually but not limited to speech (My media law lecturer would either be very proud or have fainted from the shock, that I remembered that).

Other than that I'm with you on this maybe BA should sue them.

*not to be confused with Libel - Australian for price tag

Maybe a new thread needs starting for the US discussion because I agree this has lost some of its direction!

I have to say I don't have a huge amount of sympathy for the US issues as someone from the UK I have felt quite hard done to by all the offers and 100k giveaways the other side of the Atlantic which has certainly affected my ability to get redemptions, can I sue to?

Anyway just thought it might make sense for a seperate thread for that issue and one for the general changes as the first half of this thread was general enquiries and questions while now it is very difficlt to sort through!