Fare code shift signals possible trouble

Two primary benefits make BA’s Executive Club extra-ordinary: relatively low upgradeable Business Class fares (see summer sale fares,
March, page 2), and low upgradeable Premium Economy fares. On their own they make the program worth participating in. If they were killed or even changed, it would call into question the value of the entire program.

Which is why I was troubled to see that BA has shuffled its Premium Economy “fare codes.” It used to have two—one usually for higher fares, one for much lower fares. Now, like Virgin Atlantic, which doesn’t permit upgrades with its lowest fares, BA has three. It’s possible that BA is laying the groundwork for designating the third code for its lowest fares, and making them non-upgradeable, just like Virgin, which would radically devalue the program. Let’s hope this move is just a yield-management play on the growing popularity of the Premium Economy cabin.

What to do now: Book your Business Class upgrades while they’re only 25,000 miles, or when you see the next Premium Economy fare sale. And you might begin to investigate other programs.