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Over a month ago I wrote about the impending devaluation of the British Airways Avios program’s prices to fly partner airlines. Since then, the speculated award prices have all been confirmed.
Here is the speculative chart I included in that original post:
| Flight Distance | Current Economy Price | May 30 Economy Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1: 1 - 650* | 4,500 | 6,000 | ||
| Zone 2: 651 - 1,151 | 7,500 | 9,000 | ||
| Zone 3: 1,152 - 2,000 | 10,000 | 11,000 | ||
| Zone 4: 2,001 - 3,000 | 12,500 | 13,000 |
Note those are just the most commonly booked BA Avios partner awards.
Flyertalk contributor KARFA confirmed and collected all of the changes in this comprehensive chart:
Thanks for your contribution, KARFA!
Note that this new award chart does not apply to awards flown on British Airways’ own planes, nor on Iberia, Aer Lingus, or Vueling.
The One Thing I’m Glad We Were Wrong About
In my post discussing this devaluation back in May, I wrote:
The 1 – 650 distance band pricing doesn’t apply to partner flights flown within, to, or from the United States. That rule will likely not change. Partner flights within, to, or from the US between 1 and 1,151 miles long all cost 7,500 Avios one way now, and will cost 9,000 Avios one way as of May 30.
Turns out flights within/to/from the US in the 1 – 650 miles flown distance band, Band 1, are not still pricing in Band 2 like they used to. They cost (at least for the time being) 7,500 Avios + taxes one way instead of the expected 9,000 Avios under the old rules. Below are three examples.
Within the US
From the US
To the US
Bookmark this post for easy reference when considering the use of BA Avios on partner awards in the future, as British Airways does not publish an award chart.
FYI: The offer on the Chase British Airways Avios Visa Signature card just changed to a much more manageable $3,000 minimum spending within three months for 50,000 bonus Avios. There is also a second tier to the bonus if you have plenty of spend to spread around: an additional 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 on your purchases within your first year of account opening.
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