Aviation and Airlines (Commonwealth Union) _ British Airways has announced changes to its Avios loyalty program, which will take effect from 18th October 2023. One significant update is the introduction of Avios collection on ancillary purchases, allowing customers to earn Avios on additional items like upgrades, pre-paid seat selection, and excess baggage. The amount of Avios collected will be based on the amount spent rather than the distance traveled, providing a more consistent and transparent approach.
The Avios collection rates will vary depending on the customer’s Tier status in the Executive Club. Blue members will receive 6 Avios per qualifying £1 spent, Bronze members will receive 7 Avios, Silver members will receive 8 Avios, and Gold members will receive 9 Avios per qualifying £1 spent. This new model will also apply to flights marketed by Iberia, the airline’s sister company.
According to Ian Romanis, British Airways’ Director of Retail and Customer Relationship Management, the changes were made based on customer feedback to create a simpler and more transparent system, offering more opportunities to collect Avios and rewarding loyalty based on customers’ cash spend.
The update to the collection model is part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to improve its loyalty program for Executive Club Members. It follows the recent introduction of Avios-Only flights, where 100% of seats are exclusively available to Members as Reward Seats. The popularity of the first Avios-Only flight to Sharm El Sheikh, which sold out within 24 hours, indicates the positive response from customers.
Beyond flights, Avios can be collected in various ways in everyday life, such as using the British Airways American Express Credit Card, traveling with Uber, converting Nectar points, and shopping on the British Airways Avios eStore. With a wide range of outlets available, savvy shoppers can earn Avios on any purchase made through the eStore.
Overall, the updates to the Avios program aim to enhance the customer experience and provide more value to British Airways Executive Club Members.
