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Here Is the Official New British Airways Avios Partner Award Chart
Ben Smithson
Senior writer
Ben Smithson is a travel loyalty expert based in London.
May 30, 2019
•
6 min read
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Earlier this month, we learned that British Airways was planning to change the redemption rates on partner award flights from May 30. However, British Airways evasively would only say that award rates were changing, but didn't say by how much.
TPG managed to piece together the new chart simply by calling the British Airways Executive Club and asking what the various routes will cost when the new rates kick in one at a time.
30 May has now arrived, and the new chart is live. It has been pieced together by Flyertalk member KARFA and matches the same chart we published earlier this month.
Here is the complete new chart.
Economy and Premium Economy Award Chart
| Zone | Distance in Miles | Economy | Premium Economy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current Price | New Price | % Increase | Current Price | New Price | % Increase | ||
Zone 1** | 1 - 650 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 33% | 6,750 | 9,000 | 33% |
Zone 2 | 651 - 1,151 | 7,500 | 9,000 | 20% | 11,250 | 12,500 | 11% |
Zone 3 | 1,152 - 2,000 | 10,000 | 11,000 | 10% | 15,000 | 16,500 | 10% |
Zone 4 | 2,001 - 3,000 | 12,500 | 13,000 | 4% | 25,000 | 25,250 | 3% |
Zone 5 | 3,001 - 4,000 | 20,000 | 20,750 | 4% | 40,000 | 41,250 | 3% |
Zone 6 | 4,001 - 5,500 | 25,000 | 25,750 | 3% | 50,000 | 51,500 | 3% |
Zone 7 | 5,501 - 6,500 | 30,000 | 31,000 | 3% | 60,000 | 62,000 | 3% |
Zone 8 | 6,501 - 7,000 | 35,000 | 36,250 | 4% | 70,000 | 72,250 | 3% |
Zone 9 | 7,000+ | 50,000 | 51,500 | 3% | 100,000 | 103,000 | 3% |
** These Zone 1 Avios awards are not available for flights to, from or within the US.
Business and First Award Chart
| Zone | Distance in Miles | Business | First | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current Price | New Price | % Increase | Current Price | New Price | % Increase | ||
Zone 1** | 1 - 650 | 9,000 | 12,500 | 39% | 18,000 | 24,000 | 33% |
Zone 2 | 651 - 1,151 | 15,000 | 16,500 | 10% | 30,000 | 33,000 | 10% |
Zone 3 | 1,152 - 2,000 | 20,000 | 22,000 | 10% | 40,000 | 44,000 | 10% |
Zone 4 | 2,001 - 3,000 | 37,500 | 38,750 | 3% | 50,000 | 51,500 | 3% |
Zone 5 | 3,001 - 4,000 | 60,000 | 62,000 | 3% | 80,000 | 82,500 | 3% |
Zone 6 | 4,001 - 5,500 | 75,000 | 77,250 | 3% | 100,000 | 103,000 | 3% |
Zone 7 | 5,501 - 6,500 | 90,000 | 92,750 | 3% | 120,000 | 123,750 | 3% |
Zone 8 | 6,501 - 7,000 | 105,000 | 108,250 | 3% | 140,000 | 144,250 | 3% |
Zone 9 | 7,000+ | 150,000 | 154,500 | 3% | 200,000 | 206,000 | 3% |
** These Zone 1 Avios awards are not available for flights to, from or within the US.
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Some highlights of the official new award chart include:
- The largest increases are in short-haul flights ion all classes, especially Zone 1, with long-haul zones escaping with only modest increases.
- Routes of up to 650 flown miles from or to the US will not fall within the standard Zone 1 pricing, however they will remain at 7,500 Avios one-way in economy, and 15,000 Avios in business (domestic first), just as they did prior to May 30. (E.g. American Airlines Miami to Orlando) - note in our previously compiled award chart we believed this price would increase to 9,000 Avios but this is no longer the case.
- Routes of 651 - 1,151 flown miles are increasing from 7,500 Avios to 9,000 Avios one-way in economy. (E.g. Finnair London to Helsinki or American Airlines Dallas to Cancun)
- Routes of 1,152 - 2,000 flown miles are increasing from 10,000 Avios to 11,000 Avios one-way in economy. (E.g. Cathay Pacific Hong Kong to Singapore or American Airlines Chicago to Miami)
- Routes of 2,001 - 3,000 flown miles are increasing from 12,500 Avios to 13,000 Avios one-way in economy. (E.g. Royal Jordanian London to Amman or American Airlines Los Angeles to Honolulu)
There are no changes to Reward Flight Savers, as these must be operated by British Airways, to which this chart does not apply.
Bottom Line
Award chart devaluations are never good news. However British Airways' changes aren't nearly as bad as we'd feared given the level of secrecy involved. It's still unclear why British Airways did not officially publish the new amounts until the day they went live, despite warning in advance that amounts would be changing.
Some horror devaluations in other programs can increase rates up to 100%, so increases of, on average, less than 10% are reasonable in comparison.
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.