Jeff got into the points and miles game in 2010 and since then has visited over 35 countries, flying mostly in first and business class. He’s a contributor to Traveling Dad and has spoken at the Chica...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
& Kellie Jez
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
5 comments
Virginia
April 16, 2021
Since late March 2021 BA has not released any first class Avios seats on its New York City metro to London Heathrow route for travel from mid-March 2022 forward. This is a blatant abuse of the loyalty of Executive Club members who have exchanged credit card points for Avios or purchased Avios outright in the expectation that obtaining first class travel would at least be possible although not guaranteed on any particular flight.
My household has over 800,000 Avios. If I were to book World Club business seats rather than first class seats I would still have to pay the same exorbitant fuel surcharges. This is truly bad form on BA’s part. And it has ensured that this household will never exchange credit card points for Avios or purchase Avios from BA in the future.
First to the left
September 06, 2021
Yes this sucks. But they have retired all the 747 and a380 still not back if ever. The amount of first class seats available has been reduced considerably. Across all airlines. So they’re selling them instead of “giving them away”.
On the bright side, they have doubled the number of biz class reward seats. Also, First has never been guaranteed, like biz and coach for rewards.
This is not likely to improve, but I will hold out hope as we have a million+ Avios and two companion vouchers, and was hoping to use them in first. Maybe Flying ba biz until these run out.
Certainly not transferring any more points to Avios, even though the 40% bonus from Amex is tempting.
Jeff
November 25, 2021
Until new Club seating configuration comes in on BA long haul flights the Business class sucks. Forward and rear facing seats just awful. Food not great. No first class award availability is not just to London but from London worldwide. Yes first class seats fewer but BA was never giving these away. Fees exorbitant on top of points. but for first class it was acceptable trade off. BA is a shadow of its former self until it fixes this first class availability issue. Unavailability is universal. Daily. 350 days out. Boston used to be the exception but no more
HR
February 21, 2022
I signed up for a chase British Airways card b/c I want to fly first class again on British Airways. I am now wondering if I should have signed up for an American Airlines MasterCard. 1. Plenty of Economy tickets, having a hard time finding a First class ticket w/avios miles! 2. Understand how the mile cost for the same flight on BA could be different between BA vs. AA but taxes/fees should be the same when sitting on a BA flight no matter which airline miles sells you the seat!
Nick
January 27, 2023
I have not seen BA first class available on the Alaska Airlines website for quite some time. Yeesh. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to get around this?
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.