british airways executive club

duchy

The key seems to be if the OP can make it work with other earning ops like Tesco but even if he can (and I'm not convinced) it still means those Tesco points are used on flying when better miles can be earned with other carriers and those Tesco points used for something else.

I don't even look at BA for my flying anymore as I can get much better use for the miles elsewhere.

I'd rather shop at Sainsburys and convert Nectar points to Expedia and have a wider range of airlines (and usually better value) to choose from.

A quick comparison
(assuming a non status flyer-fly 4 or 5 times a year and AA Platinum status kicks in with free access to lounges on international journeys and double the miles earned)

Note-the mileage each way LHR LAX is 5456 I just rounded it down to 10K return for ease of calculation

Using Expedia dates 9/12-12/12 random dates I happen to be checking for myself today Both flights are non stop

Economy BA £530 (miles earned 2500)
Economy AA £486 (miles earned 10,000)

Why on earth pay more money to earn less miles for such similar flights ?

Business is slightly different

Business BA £2916 miles earned 5,000 (I assume at 50% of miles flown any BA flyers care to confirm?)
Business AA £2936 miles earned base miles 10,000 plus 25% bonus for flying business Total 12,500

For me an economy flight is pretty much the same with any carrier (although in business the differences between carriers are often greater) so I honestly can't see why anyone paying out of their own pocket for economy flights would use BA from a miles earning and best value viewpoint.

malkie76

It's 50% extra miles, so 15k total for the LAX flights with BA in business. I totally agree on the economy calculations though. However, to make matters more complicated a WTP fare would earn 12,500 miles on the same journey, and AA don't offer such a service.

I'm not sure directly comparing miles is fair as I don't know the redemption or MFU capabilites of the AA program.

I also do agree that it comes down to the cicumstances of the individual as to which program works for them. My employer pays long haul buisness class tickets for me with BA, so it makes sense for me to stick with them.

duchy

AA redemption is pretty easy -I don't think I've ever not got what I've requested (usually high season West coast US from London)
Off peak return Europe to US is 40K (Oct-May) which is nice -they also have one way awards for exactly half the return miles

Best use of miles with a partner is probably using Cathay to Australia or the Far East -or upgrade. The usual extra miles with Hertz , Hotel chains, I-dine etc apply like BA

Of course as AA is part of One World you can also use AA miles for BA flights to anywhere excluding North America too.

Yes if your employer has a BA policy then it makes sense to use Executive Club -but my point was that for those not locked in by their employers or for leisure travellers there ARE other options that may suit better.