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Last Day to Redeem British Airways Executive Club Miles

by on November 15, 2011 · 72 comments

in British Airways

Not to sound like a broken record, but today is the last day before Avios points replace Executive Club miles. This isn’t the end of the world if:

1) You want to use British Airways miles to fly on British Airways flights
2) You have a British Airways 2-4-1 voucher, which mandates that you do #1
3) Want to redeem your points for short haul flights
4) Want to redeem for domestic/Hawaii awards (except maybe East coast to Hawaii)
5) I could be wrong about all of these, because we still don’t know exactly what will be announced tomorrow!

That’s right- while I guessed what the new program will be last week, technically nothing will be officially announced until Avios Day 1- November 16, 2011. Who knows, there may even be some lucrative new awards out there – I can’t make any official judgements until I get the details and I’ll share them as soon as I know.

So if you want to plan a crazy South America trip to Easter Island or fly Cathay Pacific First Class (which is amazing) for 150,000 miles roundtrip from North America to almost anywhere is Asia, then redeem today!

Related reading: Video Blog Post: Master British Airways Award Clinic

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author.s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.

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  • CP

    Whats the word on booking an itinerary with the intention of changing the dates later on? Feasible? I’d like to go to S.A. next Christmas, but obviously cant book that far ahead right now.

  • Avios=Adios

    Good luck trying to get anything researched or priced out by BA today. The search engine is broken again, so you may need to switch to Qantas. While you are researching the flights, you might as well call the BA service center now and prepare for 60+ minutes hold times.

  • Guest

    I know… 60+ minutes on hold time, just to get someone who is cranky and only knows how to say “no”!

  • GA

    Fun facts from my Exec Club booking on Sunday:

    1. The US Agents are the most pleasant and humorous in the industry.
    2. Every agent now knows where IPC is on the map.
    3. I’m flying YYZ-HKG-KUL in F/C :-)

  • Kaz

    the phone line is completely busy, can’t even get through to a menu

  • http://infamousdx.com infamousdx

    Award tickets are only valid 1 year from date of ISSUE. :(

  • http://infamousdx.com infamousdx

    So long, BA! It’s been fun!!

  • Anonymous

    Today is our 2012 :(

  • Guest

    Spoke to BA a few days ago to complete the now “standard” IPC trip. Hold time was 30+ but once I got an agent she was EXTREMELY helpful and patient. She told me how hard it has been for them with all the people trying to book partner awards etc. and that they were all just exhausted. Please, just be nice to them, and im sure more than likely they will help with what you need. A little kindness goes a long way, trust me. She helped me book 2 adults, a toddler and an infant on LAN and its clear that the system even for the booking agents is substandard. Took a few manager overrides but in the end, 3 business class seats + infant on SFO – SCL – IPC – SCL – JFK! Almost 0 balance Avios points… :-)

  • Billy Mumphrey

    “Adios” miles coming November 16, 2011!

  • NS

    Good point on being pleasant. I dealt with two very helpful reps, and I ended up booking eleven people roundtrip from NYC to Easter Island with a long stopover in Santiago on the return. I booked six seats last week and 5 seats yesterday.

  • Cameron

    Can JFK->SCL->IPC->LIM->JFK be done in economy for 40k? I tried to book this morning but was told that that route exceeded the mileage limit for a 40k mile redemption, but I could try routing through LIM instead. I wasn’t sure what to do so decided to hang up and try again. I assume this is possible since the BA award search returned one-way JFK->SCL->IPC trips for 20k…

  • Steve

    I don’t see any reason at all for that route or JFK-LIM-IPC-SCL-JFK to be denied. Call back.

  • Federico

    Make 2 ow awards

    JFK-SCL-IPC then IPC-LIM (twice a week)-JFK

  • Simon

    I have a 2-4-1 voucher, which based on predictions/speculations of the new Award structure (distance based), the cost of West Coast to LHR could come down from 150k to 120k.

  • Latimer

    Ive got 80,000 miles to burn, and Ive decided to hold off on unloading them since I really didnt really know where to go, and I still had AA miles as a backup.

    However, in examining the new Iberia chart you posted, SFO-LAX-HNL via AA could potentially be 25K, with perhaps one intra-island flight to maui (2,994 miles).

  • Latimer

    I meant 25k in J and 12.5K in Y. Quite a deal if it does come down! Ill have to wait for tomorrow’s announcement.

  • Cameron

    Thank you both for the confirmation. After another 45 min on hold, I got through to a much friendlier agent and was able to book the tickets!

  • Jonathan

    Does the return have to be completed within one year of date of issue, or changes are possible as long as you depart within one year of date of issue?

  • xina

    Trying to book today, but just realized that my name in the executive club only states first and last name, doesn’t include the middle name. But my passport has my middle name. I couldn’t change it online, have to fax them the request for name change but I don’t want to miss the deadline. I could add my middle name under ‘advance passenger information’. Is the name on the ticket written according to the ‘executive club name’ or ‘advance passenger information’ name? Please advise, need to book today! Thanks!

  • http://infamousdx.com infamousdx

    http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ecterms/public/en_us

    13.16. All Award travel must be completed within 12 months of the date of ticket issue.

  • http://infamousdx.com infamousdx

    http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ecterms/public/en_us

    13.16. All Award travel must be completed within 12 months of the date of ticket issue.

  • xina

    I just called the executive club. The name change can take up to 7 days. According to the agent, Cathay Pacific is very strict on the name on the ticket. If my middle name is not on the ticket, they can reject boarding. I think I’m screwed!

  • Ofer

    We flew MIA-LIM-EZE-SCL-IPC-SCL-MIA last month. It was a blast! We added FTE, IGR and CUZ which made it a trip of a lifetime!

    Go get it while you can!

  • Ofer

    We flew MIA-LIM-EZE-SCL-IPC-SCL-MIA last month. It was a blast! We added FTE, IGR and CUZ which made it a trip of a lifetime!

    Go get it while you can!

  • Bem247

    All frequent flier programs affiliated with AMEX are doomed. Continental leaving, Aeroplan slapping ridiculous fuel surcharges and BA switching to Avios. They need American and US Airways desperately.

  • Mandy

    Huh?? This makes no sense. This is off-topic, irrelevant, plus, BA isn’t currently associated with Amex.

  • Nate

    Did anybody manage to get the fees waived? I didn’t even think to try to “negotiate” with the agent because I already spent 30 minutes on the phone waiting and there were only 3 seats left in business on one of my segments. But I couldn’t see how you could do a roundtrip to Easter Island with a stopover in Santiago online so how can they then justify charging a $20 booking fee if the flight is impossible to book online? If I could’ve booked it online, don’t you think I would’ve to save 30 minutes of hold time?

    What are other people’s experiences?

    Does it make sense to ask for a refund of the $40 (two tickets @ $20)?

  • Mny

    Do all awards need to be booked by phone?

  • calbear77

    I would book the ticket without the middle name and figure it out later. It’s a risk, but I don’t doubt you are motivated and wily enough to make it work.

  • calbear77

    Yeah, it would mean that if BA does another 100K card, it’d mean 4 roundtrips in Business to Hawaii from the west coast. Even the 50K card would start to look pretty darned good at that point!

  • http://infamousdx.com infamousdx

    Sure it is. You can transfer Amex MR points to BA instantly and without fee. Bem247 is on point except for implying that CO has not terminated the partnership yet. They have.

  • Mny

    Do all awards need to be booked on the phone?

  • Danny

    just curious how you were able to book to FTE? was it via EZE or AEP? I tried to book this in my itinerary but the phone agent could not see any flights.

  • Ofer

    If you can see it available then the agent can as well but this was not part of the MIA-IPC ticket.

  • Matt

    I’m debating whether I should book a couple of one-way flights to Hawaii for next October today or just wait (AUS-DFW-HNL). From what I can tell, BA wants 52,500 for F one-way today. If the chart is correct, that will be 40k for F one-way tomorrow … or 25k in F from LAX-HNL, and maybe get to LAX using cheap fares and upgrade requests instead of burning that extra 15k miles (or 60k miles when you consider RT and 2 people – $400/60k miles).

  • Takenadvantageof

    Avios better be better than sex.

    Bait and switch is bad biz!

    Listen up Amex BA KE!

  • Latimer

    Yes, I’ve gotten fees waived – actually did that on my recent booking. Just don’t sound argumentative. Ask them politely if they can waive the fees since you aren’t able to book this yourself online.

  • Sheila

    TPG – I booked a trip to S. America for my family of 4 next summer and we are all very excited! Thank you for teaching us how to make the most out of the BA miles! As a newbie, I have had to re-read your articles a number of times to figure it out (you did a great job). I never thought I would ever go to S. America! I’m thrilled that my kids will be able to experience this opportunity. Could you give us suggestions for hotels and tour companies for Machu Picchu? Or could other readers who have made the trip share their experiences?

  • Jameso

    FYI the SJC flights direct to Maui OGG or Kauai LIH are under 2,500 mi. each way. But they’ve been selling these cheaper with the new HA flights starting in Jan. (SJC-OGG $349 all-in rt in Jan.)

  • Jameso

    The rep I spoke to yesterday said they had the TATL chart already and it showed 40k each way east coast and 50k each way west coast, with the standard 1.5x for Prem Y, 2x for Business and 3x for First. We’ll see if that changes tomorrow…

  • Nick

    Did you have to pay more than the 40k miles for this? They made me book one leg separate (at 12.5k) because I hit LIM twice (even though the second time was a layover, not a stopover). You hit SCL twice, so my guess is you were in the same boat?

  • KP

    I have SFO-LIM(stop)-IPC(stop)-SCL(stop)-EZE(stop)-MIA(stop)-WAS :) 40k miles BABY, YAHOO!!!

  • Modernhaus

    Were any of you readers actually able to book reward tickets to South America in the last few days?? I’ve called a number of times in the last few days (not expecting much but hoping for SOMETHING to be available) and there were no reward seats all the way through August 2012. One rep told me the only thing he could find through August 2012 is a direct flight LAX to EZE in June. BUT, there were no return trips available.

    How are you guys booking things at the last minute?? Is there something I can do online as the last few moments tick away?

  • Anonymous

    Took most of the workday, but I booked 2 MIA-LIM-SCL (stop)-IPC-SCL-MIA for 80k miles each in Business! As soon as I mentioned Easter Island, the agent said they’re not allowing side trips, so don’t even try ;-) .

    3 nights in Santiago and 3 nights in Easter Island!! Now just need to get to MIA from DCA :O.

  • Rachel

    tried to book online today, just the ORD- Lima leg was already up to 60,000 miles and by the time I got an agent on the phone they told me they couldn’t book – their agents booking awards ended at 8:00 Eastern and to try again tomorrow. how frustrating

  • Tom N.

    Is it still possible to book anything at this time? Phone lines are closed. Is there a number in the UK that can be called?

  • Trianglepcp

    too late now..but yes I was able to book 2 biz trips with nice SA stopovers with huge availability during next september. I called them around 10:00AM, was on hold for 40 minutes. As a backup, After 10 minutes on hold I called using another phone just in case I needed to (hangup, and work with another agent)..I did a couple mock routes on their website while on hold and saw several direct flights…strange you didn’t see anything.

  • pcp

    I got mine waved..but she said it was because 1 of my legs (1hour flight) was not available in biz class..so the system waved all phone fees…but previously..a few months ago, I was able to get them to wave my phone fees to Hawaii by mentioning the problems with their website….ymmv

  • Rachel

    unfortunately they told me I had to call tomorrow

  • Modernhaus

    I’m seeing all kinds of things now that none of the agents disclosed, but the payment system has crashed (or else they’ve disabled it so no more bookings are made tonight).

  • Tom N.

    If I book a flight online now, e.g. SFO-HKG-DPS, do you think I would be able to call in and change just one of the segments so that I have a stopover in HKG?

  • Tom N.

    If I book a flight online now, e.g. SFO-HKG-DPS, do you think I would be able to call in and change just one of the segments so that I have a stopover in HKG?

  • Modernhaus

    Wow, I’m so disappointed in BA. Am I naive? I’ve been calling for several days…when separate agents say there is nothing from lax to lim or eze, or lax to eze with a lim stop, from now until august 2012, I believed it. Do they really just flat out lie to avoid having to book for customers?

    And now the “crashed” payment system so I can’t self book in time…

  • Modernhaus

    Wow, I’m so disappointed in BA. Am I naive? I’ve been calling for several days…when separate agents say there is nothing from lax to lim or eze, or lax to eze with a lim stop, from now until august 2012, I believed it. Do they really just flat out lie to avoid having to book for customers?

    And now the “crashed” payment system so I can’t self book in time…

  • Anonymous

    Id always recommend doing your own research before calling any airline for awards. And I just booked a couple awards online with no issues at all. Keep trying!

  • Anonymous

    Id always recommend doing your own research before calling any airline for awards. And I just booked a couple awards online with no issues at all. Keep trying!

  • Anonymous

    Yes, you should be able to make changes based on the old award chart, though you might have to pay a change fee.

  • tommyx

    thanks to TPG for your instructive video and tips! booked a one-way business tix CDG-HKG (stop)-HKG-SFO for 50K! the agent said it was a non-standard routing so she didn’t know if it would take (made me sweat!). but voila… it worked. the only downside were the taxes ($450) that are based on each segment since the routing encompasses three zones…

  • Btoll

    I was trying to book award to asia today after 45 min wait got an agent, booked outgoing leg in economy from ord to bali, will spent the night in HKG due to late arrival , prior bali flight which will leave next morning. No other days were available to bali to built2- 3 days short stopover in Hong Kong. For the return in Business they refuse Sing-Bkk -Hkg-jfk routing, only sing or bkk . Called back, another 45 min wait, same story, no waiving fee and taxes for both legs came up to $470, insane. So I refused a return leg and was trying to book it online to save over $40 in taxes and forget stopover in HKG—- clearly shows availability, took my credit card and after clicking confirm, message that they could not book it at this time, call service center which of course closed. Tried 6 times from 10:30 till 11: 45, same things, at exact midnight avios chart on the site. I wrote them an email with time stamp before midnight, they responded that I should contact online thech support and provided the number with a statement it is available 24 hours, and of course it was closed. Unbelievable incompetence. To add insult to injury I transferred 54000 points from membership reward to get this award today, and now I am with outgoing leg without return. By the way on my SAmerican award all agent refused to add EZE to the JFK-lima-icp-scl and back to JFK. None of the agents able to do miles and points for the LAN, stated Lan does not have this options, when it is clearly on line, I found it after I booked. Sorry, I never use before BA and never will. Credit card will be cancelled ASAP, and now I do not know what to do with remaining miles and what to do with this asia trip and how to fight it. Never were so disturbed with airline like this before

  • Modernhaus

    I thought I had…I just didn’t know I could/should call an agent’s bluff. I usually book my own awards online, so not savvy on how to handle it on the phone.
    From 6pm-12am today I tried booking online 35 times. Seriously. At the point of confirming payment I got a “Can’t book at this time, call service center” message each time. Do you think there’s any point in calling in tomorrow regarding downed payment system?

  • Asfasdfa

    Well you were right….

    looks like partner airlines have each leg evaluated for price whereas with BA you get one free connection.

    so Avios do indeed suck

  • Pob312

    PG makes “official announcements” about anything? LMAO

  • Bangkokiscool

    105,000 Avios to fly ORD to HKG — ONE WAY. The flight I booked two days ago, ORD-BKK, goes up to 120,000 Avios on CX first (it was 75K when I booked it). ORD-BKK roundtrip goes from 150K to 240K! All without notice or transition period!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_44WKZRQXCHRWJFTQN2HNNXE5EA JohnA

    Checked MCO to LAS today using Avios, first class, went from 75,000 to 90,000. Wanted to use my BA miles up but could not plan in advance, using Avios to London in business 100,000 miles, but 1600+ in taxes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1568437570 Keisha Connelly

    I literally looked at your 12 minute tutorial 3 times to make sure I understood everything. The ten part series was extremely helpful.

    I had a hard time searching availability on BA’s website and hoped to get a helpful agent. I did and she was fabulous. Booked for late Oct. early Nov. 2012. My rotuing: JFK – HKG (stop), HKG – BKK; BKK – SIN (stop), SIN -JFK all in business class on Cathay Pacific. Will be the first time flying in anything but coach. I am so excited!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1568437570 Keisha Connelly

    Also forgot to add that I booked as two one-way awards.

  • Tt

    Can anyone provide assistance/HELP with change of reservation?

    I had SFO-HKG-DPS-HKG-SFO booked under the “old” reservation
    Wanted to change to SFO-HKG-BOM/DEL-HKG-SFO but the phone lines were busy

    The difference under the “old” system is 100k vs 160k miles. Which I have.
    The booking agent today quoted me 210k for a rebook. Which I dont have.

    Is there any other creative way to get around this? (distance from HKG to DPS vs HKG to BOM/DEL is the same!)

  • Anonymous

    I just checked today, Nov 16 and it does not appear to be too many more miles for South America.

  • Beachswim

    Hi Brian,

    Thanks for all of your help! I’m trying to figure out the best way to use up 20,000 BA miles (I was so excited that I transferred too many from my chase ultimate and amex member rewards program by accident  oopsie. ) and my 150,000 American Airlines miles and 80,000 Capital one venture visa sig venture card miles??
    I already booked my trip of a life time from MIA to IPC with stopovers in LIM and Santiago. I have everything taken care of besides the hotels and side flights from LIM to Guayaquil / Galapagos and LIM to Cusco /macho picho? I was thinking using my Capital One Venture miles that act like cash, or can I use AA miles more effectively?

    OR should I use my capital one credits for hotel stays when on that trip?

    Thanks again for all of your help!

    Beach Swim

  • Cay

    Agreed. Bait and switch. Not TPG, but BA/Chase lures in, has quick redemption deadline, water down points. Bait n switch. Perhaps professionally done. But uncool. Very uncool.

  • grge

    That’s so funny I did the same too when booking for a flight from LAX to NYC for an AAsaver award. I tried with different credit cards and tried like 20 times and would get the same message you are getting. I called and a extremely rude rep said he wouldn’t waive the booking fee – I asked for a superviusor and said he would not transfer me to one because there was no need for one and he warned me not to raise my voice at him. Unbeleiveable BA sucks. YOU ALL SHOULD BOYCOTT BRITISH AIRWAYS now – THEY SUCK!!!!!!! They are the most rude, unprofessional people I’ve ever dealt with. Their systems and website rarely works. And it’s bad they pulled this bait and switch with Chase – oh yeah 100,000 miles looks nice, you can’t use them!!!!!!! Everyone boycott British Airways and never look back.