How to Take Advantage of the New British Airways-American-Iberia Trio
The three carriers started their new joint transatlantic business venture on Oct. 6, and shortly thereafter rushed out mileage-program updates, all of them long on vagueness—even to employees.
When I called the BA mileage department to recheck some fine print, upgrade information, I was told by a very helpful agent “that he had never heard of award upgrade redemption on AA.”
That was the inspiration for this installment of H&I, a guide through the fine-print maze that this trio has created.
There are some nuggets amid all the new rules, and given the scale of these three carriers, it’s worth your while to know them. To simplify things from the outset, I’m only covering AA and BA because their programs are so much bigger and as it turns out, they are where the loopholes are.
The Loophole to Exploit
Mileage redemption: Save as many as 70,000 miles (more than enough for a free domestic First Class ticket) by redeeming AA miles for European travel on BA. The trick: Knowing which European countries are in what zone. Whereas AA considers 48 countries in Europe one mileage-redemption zone, BA slices up the Continent. On American you pay the same number of miles for a First Class award, 125,000, whether you go from the U.S. to London, Moscow, the Canary Islands or Greece. BA, on the other hand, charges 70,000 miles more to the last three than it does to London (195,000 miles).
It’s the same story in Business Class. AA charges 100,000 miles to Europe, while BA asks for as much as 30,000 miles more. Even if you travel only a bit farther than London, such as Austria, you pay 20,000 more miles.
Links to award zone/country charts here: AA and BA zone definitions.
More Winners:
Both American and BA Mileage Club Members – Now with Double the Options When Paying Cash That’s because both can now earn redeemable miles on each other’s transatlantic flights. (Previously members could only earn miles if they flew via Canada or the Caribbean.) Members of both programs receive 150% of miles flown for a First Class ticket, 125% for a Business Class one, 110% for Premium Economy, and 100% on some economy fares, specifically H, B, and Y.
Earning Redeemable Miles on Partner Flights
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Both AA and BA mileage members also now earn elite qualifying miles (EQM) on each other’s transatlantic flights. This should change your travel pattern if you’re an AAdvantage elite member. You’ll want to book BA’s Business Class seat because it reclines 180 degrees. (American’s only reclines 171 degrees.)
AA elites receive 1.5 elite qualifying points on BA flights for First, Business, Premium Economy, and full coach fares, the same rate-of-return they get on AA flights. Fine Print: You must take at least four flights on the airline whose elite mileage program you belong to attain elite status.
Executive Club Elite BA members (Gold and Silver Tier)
You just got a raise: Before the new rules went into effect, AA mid-and top-tier elites got much better elite status bonus miles. For example: BA’s Silver members (the middle tier) only earned a 25% bonus on BA flights, whereas mid-range AA elites received 100% elite bonus miles on AA; I don’t think Executive Club had a choice but to match AA.
BA Elite Status Bonus Miles
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New Elite Benefits
Now BA Gold and Silver members get a 100% tier bonus on AA flights, same as for BA; AA Executive Platinum and Platinum elites now earn 100% bonus miles on BA, just as they do on AA. BA elite will now want to include AA in their list of flights to choose from—if you’re willing to take a dip in comfort—especially a good thing during fare-war periods, like the holidays, as a trip across the pond can often be $1,000 less on AA.
Big Loser:
Upgrading AA Flights with BA Miles This is one of the finer points of the hookup. Only BA offers a partner mileage-upgrade on AA. It sounds great, but it’s the worst thing you could do because it is only available on full fares: D and J from Business to First, and fully fare economy to Business. This is an area the two have to work on. Item number 1: AA setting mileage cost for a BA upgrade.
Upgrading to Europe on AA Flights
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Economy to Business Class: Ends up costing 20,000 more miles via the BA upgrade program. AA only charges 30,000 miles for the same upgrade.
Business to First Class: A NYC to London upgradeable Business Class fare on AA in D class is about $5,900, whereas BA’s upgradeable fare is about $3,000. Why would you pay $2,900 more for an inferior First Class seat?
Travel Cabin Bonus
If you’re trying to earn the most miles in the least amount of time and you usually travel in Business or First Class, join the BA mileage program. It yields a 50% mileage bonus for Business Class and a 100% one for First Class, whereas AA only offers a 25% bonus for Business Class and a 50% one for First Class.
Conclusion
This union is actually a win-win for members of both mileage programs. AAdvantage members finally get rewarded for flying BA across the Atlantic—and get a much better seat—without doing a back-flip, and BA Executive Club members now earn more miles and tier points. This is a big step in the right direction for the oneworld alliance.