Well that’s disappointing …
British Airways increases award costs by 750 Avios
As Head for Points discovered this week The British Airways Executive Club has increased the cost of short haul awards by 750 one-way Avios without notice.
The British Airways Executive Club has a distance-based award table and, in particular, the cost of awards in the first three “zones” has increased. This includes awards in the economy and business class as well as awards in peak and off-peak times.
Zone 1 awards cover a distance of 1-650 miles:
- Off-peak costs increased from 4,000 to 4,750 Avios
- Economy Peak costs increased from 4,500 to 5,250 Avios
- Off-peak costs increased from 7,750 to 8,500 Avios
- Business Peak costs increased from 9,000 to 9,750 Avios
Zone 2 awards cover a distance of 651 to 1,150 miles:
- Off-peak costs increased from 6,500 to 7,250 Avios
- Economy Peak costs increased from 7,500 to 8,250 Avios
- Off-peak costs increased from 12,750 to 13,500 Avios
- Business Peak costs increased from 15,000 to 15,750 Avios
Zone 3 awards cover a distance of 1,151 to 2,000 miles:
- Off-peak costs increased from 8,500 to 9,250 Avios
- The economy has risen in costs from 10,000 to 10,750 Avios
- Off-peak costs increased from 17,000 to 17,750 Avios
- Business Peak costs increased from 20,000 to 20,750 Avios
A hike of 750 Avios in one direction (or 1,500 Avios round trip) means a price increase from 4% to 19%, depending on the type of award.
Expect more for British Airways short haul returns
Not a big deal, but terrible shape
In my opinion, any kind of premium table devaluation is totally inappropriate and greedy at a time like this. However, what really bothers me about this devaluation is British Airways’ approach:
- The devaluation took place without warning
- Furthermore, there was no announcement at all as British Airways has not publicly acknowledged this in any way
The motivation here seems pretty clear – the hope is that the British will be able to travel by summer, and it is likely that most people will vacation in Europe. So British Airways is trying to redeem that for those who redeem Avios.
This is bad for those who have planned European summer trips
Bottom line
The British Airways Executive Club increased the cost of short-haul awards by 750 Avios one way or 1,500 Avios round-trip. This includes all economy and business class awards in the first three zones, which cover up to 2,000 miles (one way).
The devaluation as such is disappointing, but the worst part is that it was not communicated at all.
What do you think of the devaluation of the British Airways Executive Club?
