Hey peeps,

As you know I am a travel queen , and I normally earn free miles with most airlines that I travel with , however I have just discovered something that is SHOCKING to me… there will no longer be FREE airmiles with BA!!!!!

Feel free to be enlighten by the article below 🙁

 “Ripping up the old rulebook” is how Airmiles describes the upcoming revamp of its popular reward scheme. And it has a point. You’d be hard-pressed to find any rulebook that charges customers up to £600 for ‘free’ flights.

Yes, as of 16 November 2011 Airmiles will become Avios miles.

The revamp is essentially the result of the merger between Spanish carrier Iberia and British Airways – who launched Airmiles over 20 years ago – into the parent company International Airlines Group.

In addition to the morphing of the Airmiles scheme, BA’s Executive Club and the Iberia Plus reward programmes will also start using Avios miles.

So what does this change mean for existing customers?

Let’s take a closer look…

Fees and charges

The major change taking place is the axing of completely free, all-inclusive flights. Currently, if you collect enough Airmiles to get you to a destination, then you don’t pay anything for the flight. Under Avios, all you get for free with your miles is the fare. All other airline taxes, fees and surcharges are payable separately in cash.

The change could add up to £300 to the cost of flights to New York, £400-£500 onto flights to Asia and the Far-East and up to £600 for trips to Australia. ‘Free’ flights around Europe with the reward scheme could cost up to £100, although there will be a cap of £27 on European flights, provided you’ve collected at least one Avios mile in the 12 months preceding your booking.

Airmiles (or Avios, as it will be from next month) said the change was down to increasing costs, and that fully subsidising fees and charges had become untenable. But whatever the reason, by introducing cash fees and charges, the reward scheme is essentially devaluing the points collected by its loyal customers.

But there is still time to get hold of completely free flights before the change comes in…

Don’t lose out

If you’re an existing user your points will automatically convert from Airmiles to Avios miles when the revamp comes in. As part of this, your current stock of miles will be multiplied by ten to bring them in line with the Executive Club and Iberia Plus programmes.

The methods of earning miles will not change (via Tesco Clubcard points, Lloyds TSB Duo credit card etc.), just the accounting; so where you would have earned one Airmile, you’ll now earn ten Avios miles instead. The number of miles needed to reach certain destinations will also be altered to reflect these changes.

Despite the launch of the new scheme being pencilled in for 16 November, existing customers will be able to use Airmiles in their current form until 15 December for travel within 12 months. After this date, your miles will devalue and any flights booked using them will be subject to cash fees. So if you have a stock of miles built up, you’ll have to use them before 15 December to get the fee-free benefits currently available.

It’s also worth pointing out that between 15 November and 15 December all redemptions will have to be made over the phone, as the Airmiles website will have been switched over to Avios.

That is why I will continute to be a VIRGIN chic!!

Until da Next Tyme!