British Airways has argued that the change in its loyalty scheme is “the right thing.”
Airlines have recently earned one point for every pound from their distance-based reward system, based on the amount used by customers.
Frequent Flyer's website headforpoints.com accused airlines of “effectively washing hands in the leisure market” and said, “for small business travelers, economic travelers, or self-funded leisure travelers It's impossible to make money.”
However, British Airways said the change would create a more fairer system and it wasn't designed to reduce the number of people who are rewarded.
Corum Lacey, the airline's chief commercial officer, said awarding spending is “the best way to recognize your loyalty and we are confident that it is the right thing to do.” I did it.
With the current system, travelers can obtain silver status on smart business class trips to Asia, spending around £2,500. According to Smart with X points, with a new system, you will have to spend three times that amount.
Lacey said the change would make it difficult for people to score points by using “gamification and loopholes.”
In response to concerns, the airline has announced an extension of its bonus offer. This allows customers to earn up to 550 additional points per flight, depending on the cabin class for the rest of the year.
Moved to soothe regular commuters, it also introduced bronze status guaranteed to at least 25 frequent flyers a year. This status includes access to a business class check-in desk and selecting a free seat a week before departure, even if you are an economy ticket holder.
Gold Status offers perks such as access to top-notch lounges and increased baggage allowances, typically requiring 20,000 points per year.
The overhaul of the loyalty scheme comes into effect on April 1 and includes removing the word “executive” to become a British Airways club.
Speaking to PA, Lacey said: “This is not to reduce the number of members in each class. The focus for this is to ensure that people have a loyalty scheme that rewards people with appropriate actions.”
Through the outgoing system, some customers chose to take multiple indirect flights as these cheap and inconvenient fares helped to enhance their status.
Expense-based loyalty schemes are common in the US, but British Airways said “goes to the system that is the first in the UK and the first in Europe, where money is the main driver,” the travel website God saved the point, independent people reported.
“But my gut is, if you look at it in five years, almost everyone (does).”
