BA changes, expands way customers collect Avios
LONDON, July 24, 2023
British Airways has announced that the way customers collect Avios will be updated from October 18, 2023, including the ability to collect Avios on ancillary purchases for the first time.
The amount of Avios collected per flight will be based on the amount paid rather than distance travelled, in a "more consistent and clearer approach", the airline said.
Customers will also soon be able to collect Avios when purchasing additional items such as upgrades, pre-paid seat selection and excess baggage, either in advance or at the airport.
Members booking flights from October 18 will collect the following Avios depending on their Tier status:
* Blue members will receive 6 Avios per qualifying £1 spent;
* Bronze members will receive 7 Avios per qualifying £1 spent;
* Silver members will receive 8 Avios per qualifying £1 spent;
* Gold members will receive 9 Avios per qualifying £1 spent.
This new model will also apply to flights marketed by Iberia, British Airways said.
Qualifying costs include: The base fare and carrier-imposed-charges on commercial tickets on any British Airways and Iberia marketed flights; Upgrades (online or airport), pre-paid seating charges or excess baggage on any British Airways or Iberia marketed and operated flights.
For any flights marketed and operated by other airlines, customers will continue to collect Avios according to each airline’s model of accrual.
Ian Romanis, British Airways’ Director of Retail and Customer Relationship Management, said: “We continue to listen to our customers’ feedback and ideas to evolve our Executive Club. This is a simpler and more transparent system offering more opportunities to collect Avios than ever before and rewarding loyalty based on customers’ cash spend. It’s a tried and tested model already used by a number of global airlines, including our sister airline Iberia.”
The update to the new collection model is the latest change to the Executive Club this year to keep improving the loyalty programme for members. Most recently, the airline revealed a series of Avios-Only flights, with 100% of seats made exclusively available to members as reward seats. The first Avios-Only flight to Sharm El Sheikh sold out within 24 hours.
In addition to flights, members can collect Avios in everyday life, including spending on the British Airways American Express Credit Card, travelling with Uber, converting Nectar points and shopping on the British Airways Avios eStore. -TradeArabia News Service