Yesterday I wrote about the breaking news that Avios.com was to close in the UK although if you are a member of Aer Lingus Aer Club (or Vueling) then you will still be able to use it. I will look at whether it is worth joining the Aer Club at a later date. At the time of writing yesterday I was just leaving for the airport so I didn’t have time to go into the finer detail of the implications. Today I will look at the implications in more detail and cover some of the FAQs.
In this post:
Retailers – win or loose?
As I initially thought the amalgamation is not particularly good news. So far many of the travel retailers I use are missing such as Hilton and IHG. A couple of online travel agents are present surprisingly for BA – hotels.com and booking.com although I tend use ebookers and Expedia far more due to their great flight+hotel offers. Personally I will be trying to get all my bookings done for the next year before the platform closes for good! In the next week I will be doing an article to look at cashback versus BA e-store when booking with travel companies/hotels.
Here are some of the key the Avios eStore travel stores that are missing from the current BA eStore:
- Hilton
- IHG
- Ebookers
- Trainline
- Marriott
- Best Western
- Lastminute.com
- Agoda
- Viator
- Late rooms
- Singapore airlines
- Mr and Mrs Smith
- Samsonite
- Royal Caribbean
- Radisson
- Millennium
- Sandals
- P&O cruises
- Mark Warner
In-store options with British Airways eStore
- Prezzo
- American Golf
- Oliver Bonas
- David Clulow
- Hungry Horse
- Blue Inc
- Officers Club
FAQs
Do I need to do anything now?
In the majority of cases you won’t need to do anything. If you have a BA Executive account I would recommend transferring your Avios using combine my Avios when it suits you as otherwise if it is an automatic transfer there may be a brief period where you can’t access your Avios.
I don’t have a British Airways Executive Club account, should I create one now?
There’s no need to do this. One will be set up on your behalf.
Will my balance be safe?
Yes, there’s nothing to worry about. Your balance is completely safe.
What if I don’t want a British Airways Executive Club account? Can I opt out?
You can choose to opt out and not move to the British Airways Executive Club. You will need to spend your Avios within 6 months of opting out. After 6 months, any unspent Avios will no longer be available. I would strongly recommend transferring to the BA Executive Club.
Can I still use avios.com?
You’ll still be able to go on the website but you won’t be able to login after the move has taken place – unless you’re an AerClub or Vueling Club member.
Will I be able to make changes to an existing booking during and after the move?
Yes, simply use the contact number on your booking confirmation.
How do I query missing Avios?
Use avios.com for any missing Avios queries you have before the move. After that you will need to use ba.com.
If I collect now, will my pending Avios be transferred?
Yes. My advice is to optimise your options to collect now as much as possible as some retailers will disappear such as Hilton and IHG. You could always book refundable rates if you are not sure of your plans now.
What happens if I auto collect with Tesco?
Your Avios will simply go into your new British Airways Executive Club account. Hopefully the legacy rates that some people had of 800 Avios per 250 points will continue although I am waiting to hear back from Avios to confirm this.
Can I still collect Avios through card linking/in store with my new British Airways Executive Club account using the same card?
Yes, so long as you have a valid payment card/cards and you don’t opt out of moving to British Airways Executive Club. Your card details will not be shared but your Avios collected will be added into the new account. Obviously you can only collect on the partners that BA eStore has.
Rewards Flight Saver – will my Avios Travel Reward Programme collection make me eligible for it?
All avios.com customers who have earned 1 Avios in the last 12 months will be eligible for RFS.
Avios earning credit cards
Can I still collect Avios with my Lloyds Avios credit card or TSB Avios credit card?
Yes you can. Avios will be awarded into your BA Executive Club account. We know that the Lloyds Avios Amex card is due to close at some point in the future as it has lost the license to use Amex but it could relaunch with just the Mastercard element. Given the generous new Virgin money credit card, it gives hope that a decent Mastercard deal could launch with Lloyds for BA/Avios. It is currently closed to new applications.
Will I still be able to use my Lloyds upgrade voucher?
Yes you can you can still book online with your voucher until the programme closes. After this you’ll need to contact Avios to book on 0344 49 333 49. Make sure you use it before the expiry date.
Will I still be able to use my Lloyds or TSB worldwide companion ticket?
Yes you can you can still book online with your voucher until the programme closes. After this you’ll need to contact Avios to book on 0344 49 333 49. Make sure you use it before the expiry date.
If I earn a new TSB or Lloyds voucher after the move, will I still receive it?
Yes, just make sure you use it before the expiry date.
Can I continue to earn in order to get a Lloyds or TSB voucher?
Yes. You can continue collecting Avios with your card and Avios will notify you once you have collected enough for your voucher.
What if I am an existing member of another airline programme?
If you’re a member of another airline programme you’ll continue to collect and spend Avios with the airline partners as you do today.
What about the Flybe Avios loyalty programme?
There will be a new Flybe Avios program but there are no further details at the moment. Under the new programme you will be able to collect and spend your Avios with Flybe and a selection of partners.
7 comments
Hi Michelle
In relation to Booking.com, earning Avios has always been restricted to UK residents only. However once these changes come into force will those Booking.com restrictions be lifted and opened up to other BAEC members living outside the UK?
Good question Ian. I will try and find out.
I earn avios through sites like Rewardsforthoughts and erewards, if I open a Vueling account and link my avios acc number will I still be able to redeem my points from such sites after the avios shutdown?
That’s very useful question Adam! I will try to find out.
Hi Adam. I will find out about Vueling but if you have a BA Executive Club account both survey companies are partners of BA so you can carry on earning through the Executive club.
Hi Michele, according to Lloyds, the Avios Rewards credit card is still available to new customers, but only by phone or in branch. Not sure how long it will be any use however, but might still be worth it for the 6 months double Avios and for the upgrade voucher.
And, re Lloyds upgrade voucher bookings, presumably Avios will be able to access the Avios in your BAEC account to use for the flight booking?
Hi Geoff. Yes it could be worth it as we don’t know when the Lloyds Amex card will be withdrawn plus they may well still have the Mastercard after that. The Avios earning rate is not great for the MC but if you spend abroad it is a good card to have due to the 0% FX charge. Obviously you would have to bear in mind that they could withdraw the upgrade voucher with little notice which could be annoying if you hadn’t met the spend. Yes when you want to book after the closure of avios.com, they can do it all over the phone with Avios from your BAEC account.
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