MSE News: Costs to soar in Airmiles revamp: use points before they devalue

Road_Hog

Any wrote: »

July or August will be hot pretty much anywhere where you can fly.

Really? It's the middle of winter in the southern hemisphere, which accounts for 50% of the world.

bifbet

I specifically converted from tesco deals for flights to the east coast usa in 2013, i feel totally shafted now needing to pay appx £1200 for a family of 4 for a deal that was previously free (paid for by collecting miles),
At this late date i am already booked for all my 2012 holidays so can't use miles next year.
How airmiles can make out that this is partly due to customer feedback is laughable, they clearly had selective hearing,
Why is europe getting the taxes and fees subsidised but long haul not ?
If avios can subsidise taxes for four 9000point europe flights to the tune of £240 appx why cant it subsidise taxes on a long haul flight (40000 pts say) to a similar level.
The current proposals are penalising their very customers who have collected the most miles and thus more likely to use higher value redemption flights,
A good way to treat your most loyal customers,
I would wager the subsidy on short haul taxes won't last long also,
I guarentee that my airmile collecting has ceased, but maybe thats what they wanted all along !!

hermante

Road_Hog wrote: »

Really? It's the middle of winter in the southern hemisphere, which accounts for 50% of the world.

...but only 20% of the world's land (mostly Antarctica) and 10% of the world's population.

Road_Hog

hermante wrote: »

...but only 20% of the world's land (mostly Antarctica) and 10% of the world's population.

That doesn't matter, the statement was completely incorrect. I'd certainly not like to go to a place like South Africa, Australia or NZ during the middle of winter, if I was asking for somewhere warm, as the OP was.

hermante

While it's understandable that many people feel shafted by needing to pay taxes under the new rules, remember that the APD to New York was only £20 before 2007, now £60 and George Osborne wants to raise it further next year. It's even higher for places like Hong Kong, Sydney, etc. Fuel isn't ever going to get significant cheaper until new types of planes are designed, and airports everywhere are increasing their taxes (whether to fund their own development, or because the government of that country wants more money). Obviously BA doesn't want to be liable for future rises in any of these.

steve1500

Like many yesterday I was fuming but maybe it will not be as bad as we think?

We are planning to go to Orlando in 2013, 4 of us, will be 26000 airmiles or 20,000 under the new scheme -I can't be arxxd adding an extra zero - somebody probably thinks it looks better!!

6000 miles is £300 in Tesco vouchers which equates to £900 in rewards. We where planning on flying from London instead of paying the extra 2000 miles for flying from Manchester which I suppose makes it up to £1,200. So long as the charges are below £1200 it might not be all bad?

It is a matter of finding something you want for £900 where you can use the Tesco vouchers and use that cash towards the taxes etc

bifbet

steve1500 wrote: »

Like many yesterday I was fuming but maybe it will not be as bad as we think?

We are planning to go to Orlando in 2013, 4 of us, will be 26000 airmiles or 20,000 under the new scheme -I can't be arxxd adding an extra zero - somebody probably thinks it looks better!!

6000 miles is £300 in Tesco vouchers which equates to £900 in rewards. We where planning on flying from London instead of paying the extra 2000 miles for flying from Manchester which I suppose makes it up to £1,200. So long as the charges are below £1200 it might not be all bad?

It is a matter of finding something you want for £900 where you can use the Tesco vouchers and use that cash towards the taxes etc

I admire your glass half full attitude,
But using your logic you would be using £3000 of rewards plus £1200 of taxes for the 4 flights,
I feel sure you could get flights with virgin say out of manchester for less as long as booked in advance, £4200 is a lot of cash.
If you have not converted i'd try other options, and you would not have to endure trying to get the flights availability you need on airmiles,
Obviously depends on getting something you want worth 3*value on the rewards scheme elsewhere, to each his own as they say
Good luck

steve1500

Have to be. Got 19,000 miles, sadly it is not possible to go next year & just pay the extra for the one seat!!

richardw

bifbet wrote: »

At this late date i am already booked for all my 2012 holidays so can't use miles next year.

Have you booked hotels or car hire or don't you need those?

Other things you can spend airmiles on

Activities
Days out & themeparks
Theatre/concerts & dining
Wine cases
Memberships

verntern

Road_Hog wrote: »

I seriously doubt that you estimate how badly the scheme has been devalued and how people will react when they clock on to this fact.

This is a tactic to close the scheme by making it worthless and uneconomical.

Who wants to save up for a flight to New York which is now free, but will cost £300 (which can go up at any time) in charges, when for an economy traveller you can usually get the same flight for the same price without using your Air Miles. You're looking at £600 for a couple and £1,000 per couple to Australia.

It just isn't worth it, fine if you're locked into collectiing BA miles as a frequent flyer, but for people collecting Tesco vouchers etc. there are better uses for them that make more financial sense.

Totally agree. Airmiles were a trusted scheme with definite benefits. Now we are are going to be offered Avios in exchange. Strange bird like creatures who's homing instinct is no longer an attractive scheme for those saving. I am spending my original miles as soon as possible. Online before the end of Airmiles deadline. My prediction? Tesco will ditch this new scheme due to unpopularity. As the writer says 'for people collecting Tesco vouchers etc. there are better uses for them that make more financial sense'