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British Airways devalues Club Europe Avios redemptions

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Clearly assuming that no-one would be around on a Wednesday in mid-July (and indeed I was in the middle of nowhere in the Lake District, and Rhys was in The Seychelles checking out Hilton properties), British Airways decided to sneak out a devaluation of Club Europe flight redemptions.

An identical devaluation has taken place on World Traveller Plus and Club World redemptions, although this is much smaller percentage increase.

British Airways devalues Club Europe Avios redemptions

What has changed with Club Europe Avios redemptions?

It’s very simple.

The cash element has been increased by £24 return (£12 one way).

This is the case irrespective of which ‘cash and Avios’ option you pick.

The lowest one-way cash option is no longer 50p, it is £12.50. The highest is no longer £62.50 but £74.50.

Here’s an example of the new pricing for a one-way to Berlin in Club Europe:

British Airways devalues Club Europe Avios redemptions

What is odd about this change is that Avios made a big song and dance about moving to a flat £1 taxes and charges figure because it was a move back to ‘free flights’.

OK, you had to pay a lot more Avios to access £1 of charges, and it was substantially poorer value than the other payment options, but if you wanted to feel that you’d got a ‘free’ flight then you could book one.

Now you can’t. The lowest Club Europe redemption now requires £25 of taxes and charges, which seems to defeat the point (sic) of having a ‘free’ headline rate.

Note that there are no changes to Economy (Euro Traveller or World Traveller) redemptions.

And on long haul ….

£25 return has been added to World Traveller Plus and Club World redemptions.

Club World flights to New York had, with Reward Flight Saver, £350 return of taxes and charges.

This has now gone up to £375 return:

British Airways devalues Club Europe Avios redemptions

These changes add £96 to a return trip in Club Europe for a family of four, and £100 to a return long-haul trip in World Traveller Plus or Club World.

The changes follow hot on the heels of the Avios devaluation of American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and LATAM flight redemptions last week.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (227)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Bernard says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:36

    On many routes looks like avios value now 0.3p to 0.5p

    Better off with a Halifax 0.5pct cash back card, giving up on Avios and using the cash back to help fund the most convenient and reliable airline (which is often not BA who cancel 1 in 50 flights…)

    • Erico1875 says:
      18 Jul18 July 07:58

      So once you spend £200K on your Halifax card, you will have enough for 2 economy flights to somewhere.
      Good maths

    • TooPoorToBeHere says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:06

      Lloyds World Elite if you’re a big spender – 1% in cash on most of your spend. Hideous 5% cash fee on any even vaguely cash-like MCCs though – Paypal, gift card purchase, etc. Presumably the same as Halifax given they’ll be the same platform underneath.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:42

        Don’t recognise any fees on my Lloyds card for using PayPal or buying a gift card?

  • Ned says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:38

    It’s not a huge amount but in case it matters the BA IT system issues appear to be working in the customer’s favour. Just bought one way from Stockholm to London in Club for £25 which is the old ‘normal’ price for a Club Europe seat.

  • Graeme says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:43

    I have done a dummy booking to Paphos. The minimum cash element has gone up from £1 to £2 only. I can cope with that

  • letBAgonesby says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:44

    I don’t mind this. The redemption prices haven’t increased in a while and an adjustment due to inflation was due.

    Of course I would’ve preferred for it to stay as it was, but CE redemptions remain a good value, especially on longer flights when the free middle seat is more important.

    • Rob says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:44

      I booked some domestic Turkish Airlines flights this week and you are actively encouraged to pay a bit extra to guarantee an empty middle seat in Economy (which shows when you select seats). BA really should do this, because you can do it cheaply (no APD etc on empty seats, no fuel burn).

    • cin4 says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:46

      Do you think this is remotely in line with inflation?

  • Vic says:
    18 Jul18 July 07:21

    The BA IT systems have been all over the place since 11am Tuesday – I phoned yesterday to move an Avios flight (open jaw using companion voucher so can’t change it online) and was told that they couldn’t do anything because the payment system was down. They also mentioned the repricing- apparently due to increases in APD, but it only applies to new bookings, not flight changes. Need to try again this morning as flight is booked for tomorrow

  • Trickster says:
    18 Jul18 July 07:50

    Would we expect to pay the new cash uplift on a change to a flight (in addition to the change fee)? Considering changing a New York CW redemption that was booked at the lowest cash rate. Thanks

  • Red Flyer says:
    18 Jul18 July 07:55

    Does this mean Barclaycard voucher £1 fee is increased too?

  • zark says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:04

    In Club Europe when introduced Avios fees were £34 return. This went up to £40 and then to £50 on 11/7/13 and now to £74 (same Avios used). This is a 48% increase over 11 years, around 3.5% compounded.

    • Peter K says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:03

      And this is why I’m not that bothered (this time). The increase over 11 years is small, and it’s only on the cash element.
      Everything in perspective.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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