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British Airways doubles reward seat availability

British Airways has significantly increased the number of seats that can be booked using Avios, the reward currency used by the airline, on every flight.

The airline has always guaranteed that at least a certain number of reward seats – seats available to book using Avios – will be available on each flight. The airline has doubled this guaranteed minimum number of reward seats in Euro Traveller (short-haul economy), Club Europe (short-haul business class), World Traveller (long-haul economy) and Club World (long-haul business class). It has also added guaranteed availability in World Traveller Plus, British Airways’ popular long-haul premium economy cabin, for the first time. The extra availability is on flights from 28 July 2021.

Number of guaranteed bookable reward seats available on any British Airways flight doubled: more than 250,000 additional reward seats made available, for travel from 28 July

Reward seats are seats that can be booked using Avios, paying a cash amount covering just taxes, fees and carrier charges. On short-haul, return flights start from as little as £1 plus Avios, and on long-haul, £100 plus Avios. The cash and Avios amounts can be flexed to account for people with differing Avios budgets. They are separate from Avios part payment, where Avios is used to reduce the cost of any ticket, in all cabins, on all flights.

In addition to the guaranteed seats, British Airways regularly makes millions of extra reward seats available to destinations across its network. The recent changes mean that over 250,000 extra reward seats have been added to British Airways’ booking system.

As summary of the changes is as follows

  • Cabin – change – guaranteed reward seats pre 8 July flights – flights 8 July onwards
  • Euro Traveller – doubling – 4 – 8
  • Club Europe – doubling – 2 – 4
  • World Traveller – doubling – 4 – 8
  • World Traveller Plus new guaranteed availability – 0 – 2
  • Club World – doubling – 2 – 4

Tom Stevens, Director of Brand and Customer Experience at British Airways, said

Our Members appreciate the benefits their Executive Club membership brings, but the feedback we hear is that people would like us to make it easier to book flights using Avios. We have listened and acted on this, and today’s announcement directly addresses this feedback, opening up six extra reward seats on a short-haul flight, and eight on a long-haul flight. We hope this means that a family holiday, or that big friendship group trip away, will be much easier to book using Avios.

Adam Daniels, Chief Executive at IAG Loyalty which manages the Avios currency, said

This is an exciting change that we have worked closely with the British Airways team to deliver. We hope it offers Executive Club Members even more opportunities to spend their hard earned Avios.

This is the latest step in a series of improvements British Airways has made to its Executive Club. In March, the airline announced it was protecting the Tier status of Executive Club Members for a further year. In February, British Airways announced a six-month extension to all Executive Club vouchers, due to expire before 31 December 2021. This was the third extension to have been applied, following similar extensions in March 2020 and October 2020. British Airways is also adding an additional six-months validity to all new Companion Vouchers or Travel Together tickets earned between June 2020 and the end of December 2021.

British Airways continues to reduce the amount of Tier Points needed to reach each Tier by 25% for those whose Tier Point collection year ends before July 2022.

British Airways reunites family for a very special occasion

As its centenary year drew to a close, British Airways waved its magic wand for the 100th time to take a very deserving customer on the trip of a lifetime to Australia to surprise her uncle on his wedding day.

Cheryl Lawley, 36 from Nuneaton, contacted the airline in early 2019 to share her story. In 2016 Cheryl was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer and after undergoing a 14-hour operation, Cheryl woke to find her uncle, Ben, unexpectedly by her bedside. Ben had travelled from his home in Melbourne, Australia, to nurse Cheryl and help care for her three children, aged 16, 10 and 9.

After returning to Melbourne, Ben announced that he was engaged to marry his partner of 14 years, Andrew, but given Cheryl’s circumstances she would be unable to attend. Until BA Magic stepped in!

British Airways organised for Cheryl, her partner Adrian, 31, and children Mia, Ashdon and Carson to fly to Melbourne, with lots of surprises and adventure along the way.

Departing from Heathrow Terminal 5, Cheryl was given the VIP treatment with a Heathrow Personal Shopping experience and Elemis spa treatments in preparation for the wedding, before the family embarked on their 22-hour journey to Australia in the comfort of British Airways’ business cabin, Club World.

When they arrived, the family were gifted with a suite at The Langham Melbourne, which has been named as the number one hotel in Australia. 

On the day of the wedding, Melbourne’s leading hair and make-up artist, Jemma, was on hand to pamper Cheryl before she went to surprise her uncle as he got ready for his wedding.

Cheryl said:

When I wrote to BA Magic to ask for help in getting me to Australia so I could be there for my uncle on his important day as he was for mine, I didn’t expect such an unforgettable adventure. British Airways has helped create memories for us as a family that we will always cherish and be grateful for.

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said:

Cheryl’s story touched our hearts, so we wanted to do everything possible to help surprise her uncle on his big day. Throughout 2019, to say thank you to our customers, we committed to 100 acts of kindness and this marks our 100th act. We are delighted we could end the year making this special trip unforgettable for such a deserving family.

Helping to surprise Cheryl’s uncle on his big day was part of the airline’s commitment to mark its centenary year with 100 acts of kindness as part of its #BAMagic100 campaign. Following its launch in 2017, the campaign saw the airline arranging surprise proposals, reuniting loved ones, arranging money-can’t-buy experiences and creating holidays of a lifetime.

If you want to book a flight on British Airways, please contact your GTM Account Manager; and if you would like to take advantage of Heathrow’s Personal Shopper Service, please click here:
https://boutique.heathrow.com/en/contact/personal-shopper.

GTM Two-for-One on British Airways premium cabins

British Airways has launched a sale offering a pair of Club World (business class) seats from just £2019 return.

There are a range of destinations available for £2019 return for two, including top US destinations such as New York, Miami, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas. Further afield the £2019 fare for two will take travellers to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Other destinations are available for marginally more including Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok for £2998, Mumbai, Chennai, Lagos and Abuja for £2999, Antigua for £2305, Barbados for £2332 return and Toronto for £2399.

And there are deals to be had in other cabins too with two First class seats to New York and Miami respectively available from £3019.

Travel is for selected dates between 13 August and 30 September 2019 and customers need to book by 19 August.

Please contact your GTM Travel Consultant to take advantage of this fantastic short term offer.

It’s Back! Complimentary Upgrade to First With BA.

Effective immediately, book an eligible Club World return fare and receive a complimentary upgrade to First with British Airways.

You can upgrade to First, one-way on either the outbound, or the inbound part of the journey; simply purchase an eligible published semi-flexible R, D, or C class, or a fully flexible J class, Club World fare by 7 October 2018.

This offer is available on as many flights as you like when outbound travel is by 23 October 2018.

Upgrades are subject to availability on selected flights.

What’s more, you can also upgrade to First on some American Airlines operated flights to the US, Canada and Mexico too (when booked with a British Airways codeshare flight number).

British Airways Club World to First Upgrade Offer.

This upgrade offer is currently only available to companies who are registered On Business members and eligible for Business Bespoke fares – please do check with us if you are unsure.

It is also worth noting that this upgrade offer has been launched in advance of the main promotion to the general public; so get in early whilst the seat availability is good!

The upgrade offer is available from today (Tuesday 29th April 2014) and bookings can be made in the discounted classes (R, D & C) until 2359 on 23rd May 2014. All travel must be completed by 7th September 2014.

Please note that bookings cannot be made via BA.com and some routes/aircraft do not have a First Class cabin and, so, are ineligible.

Happy travels.

British Airways Club World to First Upgrade Promotion Is Back!

Britsh Airways has once again launched its popular Club World to First upgrade offer.

Customers can book a reduced cost semi-flexible fare in booking classes R, D & C from today until 27 January 2014. Outbound travel can take place up to 21 March 2014 and inbound travel must be completed by 11 April 2014.

For those corporate clients with a British Airways On Business account, the aforementioned booking classes may also be used in conjunction with the upgrade offer.

Thereafter 27 January, only booking class J (this relates to BA’s fully flexible fares) may be used in conjunction with the upgrade offer. Book by 21 March – outbound travel must commence at the latest on this date too and all travel must be completed by 11 April 2014.

Please note that there are some exceptions to the above rules, so please call us for clarification.

BA A380 Flights Go On Sale.

British Airways has announced that customers can now book seats on their new Airbus A380 aircraft to Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Los Angeles.

Seats are available now for Hong Kong services commencing 22nd October 2013, and for Johannesburg from 12th February 2014 and, lastly, for the double-daily service to Los Angeles from 10th April 2014. Seats to LAX on one of the five flights each week, starting 24th September 2013, are also on sale now.

BA’s A380’s will all offer a total of 469 seats split over four cabins, namely, World Traveller, World Traveller Plus (WTP), Club World & First. There will be 14 seats in First on the main deck, with a total of 97 seats in Club World, split between both the main and upper decks. Whilst WTP will be situated on the upper deck with 55 seats. World Traveller cabins will be split over both decks.

 

British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flights On Sale Now.

Seats are now available to book on the latest addition to British Airways’ fleet of aircraft, namely the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner will offer three cabins (World Traveller, World Traveller Plus & CLub World) and 214 seats on board.

You can book now for travel from 1st September 2013, when the Dreamliner will commence services from London Heathrow to Toronto and from 1st October 2013, the 787 will also start operating to Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ.

Want to know more about the 787 – click here.

 

Important Hold Baggage Update.

British Airways has increased the fees it charges its long-haul customers who exceed their free checked in hold baggage allowances.

The airline continues to offer a very generous free baggage allowance – one free bag of 23kg in World Traveller, two bags for those passengers paying the full World Traveller (Y) class fare, along with those in World Traveller Plus, and three bags for Club World & First travellers.

The new rates are as follows:

The price of the first extra bag rises from £40/$60/€50 to £65/$100/€75 in World Traveller (except Y class)

The price of a second extra bag in World Traveller and any additional bags for World Traveller Y class fare paying passengers, as well as all other cabins over and above the free allowance, increases from £90/$140/€115 to £140/$200/€150

Further details are available at BA.com.

BA’s Club World To First Upgrade Offer Is Back!

British Airways is once again offering its customers the opportunity to upgrade from Club World to First.

To get the best from this offer book your ticket before Tuesday 7th May and you will be able to purchase your Club World fare at a lower price than for the remainder of the offer period.

This upgrade promotion is valid for sale until 4th July 2013 and for travel until 31st August 2013 (outbound) and 8th September 2013 (inbound). This upgrade is also valid on American Airlines services to the USA & Mexico.