Absolutely fantastic breakdown Matt. I remember when I stumbled onto your channel when you just started and how I was engaged by your excellent video style delivery and especially your analysis of BA Avios. Keep it up!
Thanks for this video, have been waiting for it! It's a shame this direction that BA are taking, as you rightly say it essentially penalises the people that BA should care about the most. Instead, they just focus on CIV numbers!
Great one Matt! Just a note: the 0.99p/0.84p (with bonus) only applies to the first 300,000 Avios boosted, hence why it shows up higher if you try to boost too much at once!
Another great video as always Matt. As you have rightly said all loyalty schemes will likely be going towards revenue based earnings as well . I personally as yourself earn avios via more than just flying so luckily shouldn't be too big a change and will still keep flying BA as there is still lots of benefits to being gold such as additional reward seat availability. Any change sadly will always benefit some and inconvenience others. You can also book tickets for up to next year and still get the current rates or as you say book via BA holidays when going away . Great to hear about the double tier points being extended it is a great offer I will definitely use again if I can
Great video Matt, lots to reflect upon. On another note can you please update your bio on your website it reads 1.3 million and should be 1.4 listening to your intro. 😜
Thanks Matt. Consicely tidiedd up the changes. Astonished the 50% devaluation hasn't sparked more backlash. Personally to his is outweighed by the double tier point extension on holidays. As i understand it, these can be open jaw and multiple sites, so a fair opportunity to take interesting trips whilst building up the
Interesting and informative as always. For my wife and I, these changes wont generally affect how we travel or who with. As you point out, the scheme belongs to BA and it is theirs to do with as they wish. Its down to us to figure out how to make it benefit our own particular travel needs, though it is a bit sad to see their higher tier members 'suffer' the most. I'd love to see TPs earned on redemptions, but I'm not holding my breath. We can earn Avios and TP on Qatar, which is good. The challenge now is constructing and booking a BA Holidays TP run minding the recently closed loopholes. Question for you - how often do you use an OTA to book airfare?
Thanks. I don't think I can remember the last time I used an OTA... There's no price benefit from doing so and it just adds an extra chain in the process if things go wrong... You actually got me thinking and I can remember - I couldn't get Croatia airlines to price up a one way fare but Expedia could so I booked through them on that occasion. If a OTA shows a lower price than the airline direct I immediately smell a rat these days...
A lot of my avios comes from credit card spend and not actually from flights. The changes make a tiny difference to the overall earnings. If anything the benefits are what i am after with status. Mainly reward flight availability and lounge access from silver upwards. Be good to see how much it will cost me to maintain my silver status and whether i can access rewards flights as my companion ticket has been wasted this year
For me also it will not make a huge difference to the avios I earn. And cynically, if this drives some people out of the scheme, that means less competition for reward seats!
Thanks for the lovely Video as always Matt. I’m sticking to retain my Silver status this year and might end up having a Gold status before next July if I get the opportunity to fly to Singapore in First class. I used to consider Tier points were more important than the Avios but watching your channel made me realise that they are important too. BTW have you lost some weight? Best wishes 🙏🏼
Thanks Vic - Sin in F would be fun... Nice long flight so you'd get a full experience. Fingers crossed. There's times when avios are my main goal and times when tps are the main goal but its always worth keeping an eye on both. And I've lost about a stone in total - thanks for noticing!
Just as I’m about to get gold for the first time they devalue it 😖, oh well I’ll just have to enjoy the benefits that come with gold for a year but the extension of double tier points on holidays is a plus. Good video once again Matt clear & concise 👍🏻 I see BA fly to Aruba have you been there ?
Hi Madds! I suppose this qualifies as a devaluation... I spent a day in Aruba on a cruise. Pretty enough although that far south its quite desert-y rather than the swaying palm trees you find further North. Have to say I preferred Curacao to Aruba!
Thank you for your analysis. I believe that even if we can find a way to credit to BA on the old distance/cabin system, Gold bonus is now cut to 50%. Assume that will be 50% of distance rather than 50% of total award - so a further reduction. Let’s see how it plays out!
Thanks for the info concerning the Avios Boost promo Matt though, I am always a little concerned when hotels airlines etc offer you to buy lots of their points at a reduced value as I think it means they are going to increase the amount needed thereby devaluing what I have just bought.
Thanks Olly - who knows but I always think a devaluation is less likely when there's a big push on selling points - quite a backlash if they sell them then immediately devalue them... But who knows!
Another "enhanced" loyalty scheme, reminds me of Shangri La hotels who many years ago used to have a great loyalty scheme that gave even their lowest level members (me) a daily free great big Asian buffet breakfast or room service breakfast. Anyway, they did a survey and decide to "listen to the feedback"and do away with the Breakfast, can't remember what they replaced it with, probably something like free local phonecalls or 10% off Laundry prices ;-)
Thank you for this Matt! A great overview. Nice touch with the summary at the end. A very interesting perspective. For me, I don't think it will impact my choices as unfortunately I have no choice. Since BA consumed BMI, there is no alternative British based airline. Easyjet - is NOT an option and Virgin is not something that I would consider unless (i) they properly join SkyTeam (which which will be useful if the world changes in Russia, but that is not going to happen for the next decade) and (ii) SkyTeam will renew Aeroflot's membership.
Hi Matt, a great video as always however were you aware they have also sneaked in a change for BA Holidays “After 18 October 2023, will there be any exceptions when the new way of collecting Avios is applied to flights marketed by British Airways? Yes, some tickets where the fare paid isn’t disclosed or isn’t available, including flights booked as part of a British Airways Holidays package, will continue collecting Avios based on a percentage of how many miles you fly and the cabin you fly in (no minimum Avios apply). Executive Club Bronze, Silver and Gold members will collect 15%, 30% or 50% extra Avios on top of the base flight award” So Gold no longer gets 100% extra :-(
Not sure what you will make of this Matt ? Booked our family of 4 BA holiday early July for April 24. I checked price again two weeks later and the whole trip was now £2000 cheaper !!!! I called to ask why and was told it could be due to someone paying the cheaper price but then cancelling so it became available again. I was advised I could not cancel my booking (it would have been cheaper even with losing my deposit) and rebook the cheaper fare. I explained I felt physically sick, I could understand say a couple of hundred variation but £2000 was shocking, I was very polite though out. Eventually I was offered for us all to be upgraded to Premium Economy both legs. A somewhat acceptable solution to a situation that I feel should never have happened.
Hmmmm. They can't stop you from cancelling and rebooking so that's strange - it doesn't sound likely that a single cancellation would free up such a reduction in price, although I suppose it is possible... But as you seem to have booked into Economy its very unlikely that the price difference on a seat would be £500... All sounds odd but if you got an upgrade there's some decent value in that.
Great video Matt! One thing I'd like to raise, related to avios earing with BA Holidays, is what would happen if BA flights would be booked via OTA's. I think I read a few comments here and there about something called "net fare" which could be a way to remain in the old calculation, supposedly because BA can't see the fare, something like that. Anything you might know around that?
Thanks - interesting question. BA said that when you can't see, or aren't allowed to see the flight component, they'll use the old basis. Although as another commenter pointed out, the status bonuses are being cut (gold to 50%) even under the old basis. If you buy through an OTA I assume it will be the same...
This is all good, and all about earning Avios….. but I’ve been trying to (finally) book a return 1st Class ticket using my lifelong Avios savings with zero luck. Why is it so complicated? Can you do a video showing how to do this?
BA retired 31 747's during the pandemic, all of which had a first class cabin and they've not replaced them - I believe they're still 25 or more wide body planes down on their peak. So First Class is much harder to find than it ever used to be, and there are a lot of people looking to book the seats - BA doesn't guarantee any will be available when the flight is created. My advice is to get a seatspy subscription to find F availability and plan a long time in advance...
United which is my main airline just recently devalued their mileage plus redemptions by at least 40+%. Business class fares which were 60k miles not that long ago can now be hundreds of thousands ! The abruptness and attitude of these announcements makes me purely a price customer . No loyalty .
That double tier point extension is great but a bummer for me! I booked to Chicago in business from Manchester. However decided not to use BA holidays because I had found a very nice ,very cheap hotel! Could have got gold on that trip too😢! Edit: would I be able to rebook with that being a double tier point holiday or not?
If you booked again from scratch it could qualify but you can't convert a non-holiday booking into a qualifying one if it wasn't qualifying when you booked. Probably painful to cancel the original flight booking
Hi Matt. Lovely video . Binging on some of your older videos . I recently had a flight from Amsterdam cancelled and I was rebooked to another one which left after 5:30 hours of the original one (11:40 flight cancelled to 5:30 pm). Another occasion the same 11:40 flight gets cancelled and I’m rebooked for a flight at 2:30 pm. But it actually flies at around 5 pm. Would I be eligible for compensation in both the instances ?
Sounds like you would be eligible for both. It's the arrival time that really counts - actually when the doors open so note that time yourself whenever you're delayed - but I doubt either flight would make up the 4 or 5 hour departure delay in flight.... As both departed the EU the airline doesn't matter so I think you should give both a go!
Thanks Matt. OMG 😲 Why? Great information, grateful 🙏 We are looking at using BA Avios on Qatar or other One world carriers. To get to Australia. Using Avios to upgrade to business class. Any plans to cover this aspect in more detail?
Thanks! That's and interesting question... Not looked at it in detail but did a quick google - upgrading on Qatar from LHR-SYD from economy to Business costs 118k avios round trip - if there's availability in the cheapest business fare bucket. A ticket bought from scratch costs 180k. So it is an option... You'd have to pay attention to make sure you bought the right economy seat that is upgradeable - Qatar doesn't have a premium economy cabin.
Hi Matt👋 With these changes in mind would you still recommend BA’s Loyalty programme over all other airline loyalty programmes for someone signing up in the near future?
Yes! There's still plenty of ways to earn and spend avios even if flying is a little less rewarding. If status isn't important then charging to Qatar and shipping the avios back to BA seems to be a smart option
Hello, I am not able to understand the following and hope that you can help me. I live in the USA. My husband and I have lots of Avios, and wish to use them to fly with our companion fare, to visit our family abroad. Does using our credit card continue to add more Avios to our accounts monthly and allow us to use them when we are ready to fly? How do the new Avios numbers (Blue at 6 Avios, Silver at 8) after a flight come into the equation? Many thanks for easy to understand information please!
Not sure I understand the question! Certain credit cards will earn points that you can convert to avios in the executive club in the US but you should be able to tell whether yours does. I believe there's a chase card which gives a companion voucher which can be used for bookings starting in the US. Don't understand what you're asking about blue and silver members?
hi matt, have you got a video or a link on explaining the avios concept for dummies. i’ve managed to accumulate 60k avios over the years from flying ba but i haven’t got a clue on how it is best spent or earn. all this jargon goes in one ear and out the other lol.
Thanks - I don't actually but its a really good idea... I think I can make "the story of avios" interesting for people familiar with them whilst still covering the basics... Its on the list! Thanks
I have a question, if you wouldn't mind sharing an opinion. BA just cancelled one of our inbound flights, we arrive 1005 from TLV and were supposed to fly to INV later in the day, but that has now been cancelled and they actually booked us onto a 0955 departing LHR to INV Departing even before we are even in the country LOL. Spoke to a lovely customer services agent that re book the connection for the following day and an overnight at the Holiday inn express, 2 taxi rides involved at our own expense apparently ( BTW they are business class flights). The boss is in a wheel chair and has said the taxi rides and extra overnight are too stressful, so I am going to ask for a date change for the whole trip, whats your thoughts on BA actually doing this. In the past we have had outstanding customer service on a trip that had to be changed because of HM the Queen dying and one before that when our granddaughter had to go for a liver transplant. I'm 50/50 on whether or not BA will come through this time. I'm just irritated that it means losing a double tier point trip. Just reached the point in the video when you mentioned the tier points extension. I'm absoulutely delighted! actually brought tears to my eyes lol. I'll be gold after 2 trips, I don't really care about avios but I do care about tier points. Thank you so much for the Video Matt. I always use the BA Holiday, but rather than hotels I use the car hire. if you get a quote for the flight then add the extra (car hire or hotel) you will see exactly what the flight and extra costs, it turns a flight booking into a holiday. it also gives you more flight options (possibly why my december holiday is now in tatters lol)
Hi there - first off BA's computers often create dumb connections when a flight is cancelled - if the flight's not imminent its usually best to wait a day or two as the computer will do an overnight sense check and change anything that's obviously impossible - saves a call. BA should have some tolerance to support a rebooking in these cases so its worth a call....
Avios and tier points are only credited when you take the flight - and you have to take the flight too. It'll then show up in the account a day or two later. Cheers
Changes like this are partly why I'm glad I decided to go free agent in the beginning of the year. So long BAEC and hello, for the time being, Qatar Avios 😅👍🏻
@@MattsPlanet that I can't comment on given that I've never had to interact with them but for me it's mostly just a case of credit to Qatar and shuffle them back to BA. I just see them as a means to an end to keep the old distance based earnings model alive as long as I can as I hate it when programs end up going revenue based. I guess I'm just old fashioned and longing for the good ol' days lol 😂
I would be curious how BA calculates Avios earning on flights operated by BA but which are marketed by another carrier (i.e. AA)? Would it be distance based since technically it's a partner marketed flight? If not, I suspect many would be tempted to take flights operated by partners to keep earning Avios by distance.
@@well-blazeredman6187 So are BA for charging silly money for seat selection! You'll still probably get less Avios over all, only BA wind here. It's not like they made their redemptions easier or cheaper
You can be on the same planes at a similar price on an AA ticket stock and earn more than you would if it was a BA ticket stock. If you're with Finnair or Qatar then other rules may apply!
@@MattsPlanet yeah it's nearly the same with lufthansa.If you have United ticket stock or whatever ticket stock outside LH group you get distance based miles, which is much better. Can't understand these airlines. The support that passengers prefer to buy tickets of an other airline so they get more miles.
Hi Matt - I love your stuff but I must confess I felt a little insulted by aspects of this video. I am sure it was intentional but it is a reality. I live in Bulgaria. My only option is the horrendous daily flight to LHR. I know I will never move out of blue status as I don't hear much money in Bulgaria to spend on airfares and the BA couldn't schedule its daily flight at worse time. However, EVERY time I fly, I use British Airways if going to the UK. Somehow, I am not loyal? I would disagree. If people have the amazing gold status, what's the issue with the people at the bottom having a bit more? I think you didn't mean to come over as nasty but I think it would be good if I was not so disregarded!
Thanks for the comment - not sure I understand the point you're making.... These changes are really good for Blue card holders as you'll generally earn more avios when flying than was possible previously... Certainly not setting out to insult anyone!
I fear that BA/IAG have massively misjudged this. Personally, this will push me even further into the arms of the Star Alliance, with whom I will earn generous mileage through the Aegean scheme (once I navigate through those pesky Lufthansa ‘P’ fares). It is no great hardship for British people to use other European airlines, and I predict that many will chose them precisely because of this.
Aegean is an attractive option for sure. I'd hope BA was smarter than the rest of us and was making a rational, well reasoned decision here. I fear I am wrong!
Many people are not going to star alliance purely only earning slightly less avios than before . All loyalty schemes hotels and airlines have or will move to this model at some point . No other airline at Heathrow has a route network the size of BA,s . They have obviously worked out the numbers and calculated it will not make too much of a difference. The vast majority of airlines in the world already award avios this way . Avios is not a major deciding factor for many people when booking ultimately it is most likely price and you can also earn avios via things such as credit cards so I do not think it will make too much difference to the majority of people . Any change will always be welcome but nothing lasts forever sadly BA have been running for over 100 years they must have gotten something right . Getting avios is better then LLCs who give you absolutely nothing
