[Lindanote]

WE CANNOT BOOK A BUSINESS CLASS FLIGHT USING AVIOS FROM JOHANNESBURG TO LONDON FOR ANY PERIOD IN ANY YEAR AS THE DEPARTURE DATES DO NOT HAVE RETURN DATES AND VICE VERSA.

THERE IS EITHER A BUG IN THEIR SYSTEM OR THIS AVIO MILES STORY IS A TOTAL SCAM. NOBODY CAN HELP EITHER. THEY JUST SAY TRY CLOSER TO THE TIME. BUT THERE IS NO AVAILABILITY EVEN FOR NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH OR NEXT YEAR.

WE SPECIALLY CHANGED CREDIT CARDS TO BRITISH AIRWAYS TO GET EXTRA AVIOS SO THAT WE COULD FLY BUSINESS CLASS.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A BOOKING FOR 8 MONTHS NOW AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

IT JUST SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FLIGHT AVAILABILITY.

THIS IS SUCH A JOKE THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC

******

[anonymouscomments]

Hi. I do certainly know how frustrating it is for people when they cant get avios availability. However at the same time you do have to consider that ultimately BA want to sell seats and therefore will only release small numbers of avios seats. Then consider how many people are chasing that availability. What you are seeing isnt a glitch its because a flight will go on sale 355 days before departure. The flight is then looked at by revenue management who make a decision to release avios.In my experience they will typically release economy availability first of all then premium econ then business after that. There is never a guarantee that avios will be released for a flight nor a specific time for it to happen. I have sometimes seen it as close to weeks or days before departure.

[briansnee]

have been collecting points for the last 12-13 years, unlike the majority of collectors (unfortunately for them) I can amass some large points monthly through my own business transactions. My office Visa bill is regularly 25k-37k monthly so building up a large balance does not take too long.
This I thought would be handy as I am originally from the UK and all my family still resides there, I thought I would use it annually to visit or to fly someone over from back home.

Unfortunately I have realized the scam and "useless points club" more accurate label, that I suggest BA change the name too.........let me explain :-

I have stopped adding points to my BA useless points club for the last 3 years since I have realized the name change happened a few years ago,
I have a balance of 347,655 points in my club , I had to add points last year by purchasing some, since if I did not add more after 3 years they all disappear (steal is a more accurate adjective I feel) {I think this is illegal in Canada to make points earned to disappear but the head office complaints department for the Executive club has minimal hours [noon to 12.15 on every feb 29 only in the time zone randomly chosen 5 mins before opening hours]
oops With my bitterness,,,, I digress , over the last 3 years I have tried multiple times to book flights to no avail here is todays example:-


Booking to go over in Sunny February to Scotland ("oooohh high season Mr Snee can you be more flexible in your dates " )

For those of you Who do not know of the February rush season in Scotland or the UK; you can join me,,,, In Scotland almost all year,,I can tell you,,
if you can see the sun,,,,,,,,,,,,it means its going to rain real soon
and if you can't see the sun ,,,,,it means its already bloody raining!!!!!


I eventually got Economy class booked , no business class or 1st class available but here is the cost break down IF I booked it today :-

Avion points used to book 2 Economy class return
82,500 points and $650.49 each ticket

same scenario booking with no worthless points
Straight cash booking $966.49 per ticket

So use your points and you can get a 32.5 % off regular fare

so saving of $316 per ticket using 41,250 points it is easy to calculate the value of you points

1 useless point = $0.00766 can

I think this is what we should realize ,
Now as a businessman I want to close with that actual Value of that point as a consumer

These are not "free" points and obviously these are not "Free flights" (which I have been advised by an executive club operator on phone)
lets discuss the $ used to generate these points

If you as I do collect points on your visa then as consumer when you spend $100 on your Visa you do not give the business the full $100 deposited in their bank account. There is various % age charges with different Banks and cards but lets average the charge as a 2% credit card fee. So for me to earn 25,000 points a month I would need to spend $25,000 with the 2% credit card charge deducted before the business receives $ Quick calculation
$500 card charge to gain 25,000 or .02c extra per point

useless points value today .00766c per point
extra Mark up 1.234 c per point
The range on Points values credit cards charge between 1.75%- 5% to businesses

or to simplify every $10,000 spent on credit card between $175-500

Back to my balance summary


My points balance today - 347,655 Cost to receive points $6953.10
" " " " ' " " - 347.655 Actual real value of Pts $2,642.1

If it was not enough like the rest of the planet who had the misfortune to be deceived (joining "useless points club" ) there is absolutely no availability for 1st class and business flights ,,,,,,,,,ever !!! or they tempt you and fool you into thinking its almost worth it, everyone has had this
,,,,,,,.. ??
you go to book a flight 1 ticket (normal families fly in couples or family) and going ,,,,,,yes a ticket is available (usually after they ask to be more flexible on dates,{when you arrive 5 days after the actual family wedding you are booking for] and you have hope ) but then are told there is no 1st or business class ticket available for 3 months around your request for return)

The credit card companies give the Airlines some of the $ discrepancy they have taken so they are not free flights

And when you book your ticket you pay the appropriate taxes which compare to a 32% discount on a normal fare ..

Really am I seeing this correctly


looking forward to being educated on the real value from the leap year team...