BA has announced a number of changes to BA Executive Club from 28 April. Noticeable, and most disappointing, they are slashing the Tier Points earned on their service from London City. Long popular with Tier Point runners as they awarded 210 Tier Points (the First Class amount) rather than 140. This changes to the 140 level for tickets booked from 28 April.

London City to New York JFK service

Members flying on our business class only service from London City to New York JFK will collect Avios and Tier Points at the business class rate instead of the first class rate as currently applies, which will bring our London City services into line with Heathrow and Gatwick. Combined with the changes to Avios rates described above, this will still result in a net increase to the amount of Avios you can collect on this service

This is VERY bad news for those of us who have planned our requalification strategy around the generous previous level but have yet to book tickets.

Collecting Avios Levels also change especially at the lowest fares:

It’s great for people who pay flexible Business or First Fares, but there is a 75% reduction if you only buy cheap fares with British Airways.

 

Tier Bonuses are cut for those in the lower Tiers

Minimum earnings are also heavily cut for lower fares.

All around this is a pretty hard set of changes on the earning side.

 

SPENDING AVIOS

BA are introducing off-peak and peak redemption rates – much of the year is off-peak

Spending on IBERIA is changing

Iberia will also introduce variable, peak and off-peak Avios pricing for reward flights following their own calendar, except Iberia flights from London to Madrid which will be priced as per the British Airways calendar and Avios rates.

Other Carriers

Other airline partners will continue to offer a single year-round Avios price for reward flights.

 

CHANGES TO TICKETS

To accommodate changes in the off-peak and peak spend levels BA are changing the way they handle changes to tickets.

For bookings made before 28 April 2015

• All date changes can be made in Manage My Booking as normal and the Avios price will remain the same regardless of the new prices.

 

For new bookings made after 28 April 2015

• From a peak date to an off-peak date – can be made in Manage My Booking as normal but the Avios will be refunded at a later date. Alternatively, you can call your local Service Centre to make these changes and receive a refund.
• From an off-peak date to a peak date – you will not be able to change your dates online; please call your local Service Centre to make these changes instead.
• From a peak date to another peak date – no change; you will be able to makes these changes in Manage My Booking as normal.
• From an off-peak date to another off-peak date – no change; you will be able to makes these changes in Manage My Booking as normal.

 

UK DOMESTIC TICKETS

Gone are free UK connections for passengers travelling to Europe.

To bring the UK in line with the rest of the world, you will now be charged for any UK domestic connecting flights to and from the rest of Europe.

For example, when booking a reward flight from Manchester to Paris – which requires a connection in London – you are currently charged only for the London to Paris flights. From 28 April, you will be charged for the full journey, including the Manchester to London flights.

This calculates as follows (based on peak period pricing):

• current price – 9,000 Avios plus £35 Reward Flight Saver fee or taxes, fees and carrier charges
• new price – 18,000 Avios plus £70 Reward Flight Saver fee or taxes, fees and carrier charges

 

This change does not apply to UK Domestic connecting flights onto long haul flights, which will remain free of charge. For example, if you are flying to Manchester from Miami via London the Manchester to London flight is included in the reward price (50,000 Avios plus taxes, fees and carrier charges), which is the same as today.

 

WIDER RANGE OF UPGRADES

From year end we will be able to upgrade from almost all World Traveller and EuroTraveller fares to the next class of service.

 

This section from the FAQ’s is the most telling about the changes:

Will I need more Avios for a reward flight in future?

It depends on your chosen class of travel:

• In economy, during our busier (peak) periods, the number of Avios you will need will be the same as today, while if you book during our quieter (off-peak) periods you will require on average 26% fewer Avios than you would need to make the same booking today.

• In premium economy, during off-peak periods, you will require on average 14% fewer Avios than today – except on routes within zone 4 which will require an average 7% more Avios than today to book. During peak periods, you will require an average 33% more Avios to book.

• In business, you will require an average 25% more Avios for travel during our off-peak periods and an average 50% more for travel during our peak periods.

• In First, you will require an average 13% more Avios for travel during our off-peak periods and an average 33% more for travel during our peak periods.