Well, there has been not too many complementary experiences about the BA Miles scheme, which was born this time last year, from the old Airmiles scheme. I have to say, I have been pretty pleased with my lot from BA, particularly, as I have done most of my flights for business and didn't have to pay to earn my miles anyway. Can't grumble at that, eh?
I had been a memeber of BA Executive Club, collecting Air Miles for about five years or so, when the scheme was transferred to BA Miles last year. Yes, it was more expensive, to use them for domestic and short haul flights (13000 BAmiles now required), but BA compensated for that, by transferring miles collected under the old scheme, to the new scheme at a rate of 14 BA Miles for one old air mile. That gave me about 240000 BA Miles.
Now I had travelled a fair bit in the UK in that time, for about one year, and then went to Australia, where I was travelling most weeks, with Qantas. I was able to collect miles on these flights too, although not if they were cheaper tickets, as many were.
Well, I didn't think 240,000 BA miles was too bad, it has provided me with enough airmiles for 15 domestic journeys, or alternatively round tickets for two back to Australia. Not bad for nothing, in my book.
I was a 'blue' member when I went to Australia in 1998, but shortly after I finally had enough miles to get upgraded to Silver, and the following year Gold. I also finally collected enough Executive club points for an upgrade 'one class' anywhere in the world, for two people. This even included tickets which i had paid for with miles, which could be upgraded to Club World. So I duly booked a fantastic holiday to Canada, and used 50,000 miles for myself and 50000 for partner, for which we had the luxury of travelling to Vancouver business Class. A great start to our holiday.
I thought, I would lose my status altogether this year, as since my membership was renewed last, I have travelled about four times, all domestic flights, and thought I would be downgraded to Blue, or even kicked out altogether! However, last week, BA duly sent me next year's membership kit, stating they had renewed my membership at Silver, and in a separate mailing, I also received another voucher allowing me and a partner to be upgraded once more.
As I still have about 140,000 BA Miles left in my clutches, I am now deciding where I can go next, for free, before the voucher expires in one years time.
My only grievance I have had with the Executive Club, was when travelling back from Australia, back in 1998, although I had flown business class, I was not allowed into the lounge at Terminal one, to enable myself to refresh, prior to my final leg of the journey home. I felt that as the ticket had cost £4500 to my company, and it was 6am in the morning, any Customer Service Manager who deserves the title would have let me in the lounge. This happened on two separate occasions, until I got the much wanted Silver Card. Instead I was given the party ' If I let you in, I will have to let everyone in' line. Bad Service. (I am aware I could have used the lounge in the arrival's hall at Terminal 4, but I am one of those travellers who likes to get where she needs to be in good time, and didnt want to be rushing, particularly if I had to queue for a shower beforehand.
So all in all, I think I have done fairly well out of the BA scheme, and if the rewards were more generous than they are, in the end it is the consumer who is paying! I also collected 300,000 miles with Ansett Australia, but these are worth nothing, as the airline, the 2nd domestic airline in Australia, has recently gone pear shaped, and ran out of cash!
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From_The_Continent 21.05.2001 (21.05.2001)
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