Air Miles being replaced by Avios

Just got an email to confirm that as of the 16th November:

1) Airmiles will be converted to Avios miles at a rate of 1:10
2) Avios miles will be redeemable against BA or Iberia flights
3) The new miles will not cover taxes/fees etc, however these will be capped at £27 for european flights (Airmiles zones 1-3)
4) There will be more flexibility over redemptions for one way flights and different start/end airports.

So basically, it's being turned into just another airline loyalty program, fairly unsurprising given that BA owned Airmiles anyway. I guess the key question will be what the redemption rates are - at face value, 10 new miles for every 1 airmile sounds fairly generous when you look at typical ratios of miles needed for flights on airline loyalty programs versus what they cost on air miles.

Anyway, I'm only a casual collector, through my Tesco clubcard (and there's no clarity on whether that scheme will continue or not), but Airmiles were still useful for the family summer jaunts to Europe - will have to wait and see what more information comes out here...

RC

Thanks for that, was just about to use mine on a trip to Venice, must get that in quickly.

Very interesting...

Used my airmiles primarily for Eurostar redemptions - and got some very good deals.

Looks as if that may no longer be possible...

Looks like the whole BA miles set up is changing to this also...

Executive club is changing

Doesn't sound like it will be good news...

Who writes this guff?

... we will start a journey ...

In the FAQ they even use that well known management bo**ocks phrase

going forward

I can't open that link, it's a blank page - just me?

I can't open that link, it's a blank page - just me?

Opened OK for me...shame to read all about the Marketing "Guff" though! A great lesson in selling up a down- graded product!

https://www.britishairways.com/travel/e ... /_gf/en_gb

Sounds like the Exec Club is going to be very attractive after November. Redemptions to places like NYC and NRT are going down, and so will the associated cost to MFU, could be only 10k points to MFU to Club from any WT+ fare on the NYC route. That does somewhat kick VS FC into touch.

Agreed, and if the Tesco shopping option continues for earning miles, I may find myself leaning a bit more towards the dark side...

Of course, I'd prefer to hope that this will give FC enough of a kick to improve their offering (miles upgrades on X/N/O class fares perhaps, now THAT would lock me in for life!)

Redemptions to places like NYC and NRT are going down, and so will the associated cost to MFU, could be only 10k points to MFU to Club from any WT+ fare on the NYC route.

At first I couldn't believe this, but it looks correct. The (current) 25k MFU to NYC was already good value. Given that you can buy 20k for £335 at normal prices, the new scheme represents an incredibly good deal.

I keep thinking there must be a catch, but if there isn't then this will really test my, and surely other people's, loyalty to VS.

Big headline in Friday's metro re airmiles users having to pay fuel surcharges / taxes etc etc

Lot's of rounours though that they will introduce tiered redemption flights like AA does. Where this happens the redemption seats on popular flights are double the normal / saver rates ... further changes to come, not all will be as generous.

I'm also keen to understand whether BAEC and Air Miles accounts can be conbined, that would be a great thing but seems unclear.

I just cant wait to see what all the changes will be?
I already have moved a lot of my miles earning to BA after having some very positive experiences this year with them and the flexible approach to redemptions, but i do still have a ton of vs miles which i shall sit on.
Virgin have a lot to do if they are going to keep up with baec and what with mbna selling of their euro credit card div they may get left in dust.

cheers

alex

Just got a flyer from Amex offering double BA miles and 30% extra virgin miles if I tranfer MR points.

Bit of a no brainer

Just got a flyer from Amex offering double BA miles and 30% extra virgin miles if I tranfer MR points.

Bit of a no brainer

Wasn't "Avios" the name of the fictional airline used in TV Series "The Event".
Ya know. The one that - (ahem) - crashed.

Now accessed this info via my BA exec account.

Not sure I agree it's a downgraded product - looks promising to me...

I also await news of how (if at all) my airmiles account may work with my BAEC account plus house account etc - really, I'm also starting to be drawn by the dark side here...