British Airways Executive Club Increases American and Alaska Award Redemption Costs

The British Airways Executive Club programme has undergone significant improvements. Avios exchange rate increase for short-haul flights operated by American Airlines And Alaska Airlines — without notice.

This is the second increase in this reward period in the past 12 months and unfortunately this one is even worse than the last, but there is a solution.

What changes has British Airways made?

Now you will need the following British Airways Executive Club Avios to fly American or Alaska:

• Flights up to 650 miles long: 12,000 Avios in Economy Main Cabin (up from 8,250 Avios) or 24,000 Avios in First Class (up from 16,500)
• Flights 650-1,151 miles long: 16,000 Avios in economy class (up from 11,000 Avios) or 32,000 Avios in first class (up from 20,500)
• Flights 1,151-2,000 miles long: 18,000 Avios in economy class (up from 14,500 Avios) or 40,000 Avios in first class (up from 29,000)
• Flights of 2,000-3,000 miles: 20,000 Avios in economy class (up from 16,000 Avios) or 50,000 Avios in first class (up from 42,500)

Using your Avios through BA’s Executive Club program to fly domestically with American or Alaska used to be a great points and sweet miles. However, this is not necessarily the case, especially in first class, we do not recommend changing Avios unless the class is operated by a wide-body aircraft.

Related: Book premium economy at coach prices on select domestic widebody routes

Fortunately, there are no changes for flights longer than 3,000 miles, which primarily include long-haul flights operated by American Airlines (Alaska does not operate long-haul flights).

Are there any alternatives to paying less points and miles?

American Airlines AAdvantage Program Domestic award prices start at 7,500 miles in Main Cabin Economy or 15,000 miles in First Class (although you can sometimes see promotions online starting at just 6,000 miles in Economy). At these lowest prices, booking with AAdvantage miles is a much better option than Avios. However, because AAdvantage dynamic prize priceDuring peak periods prices increase sharply, so Avios may still be a better option as prices will be fixed, if at all.

Best option for booking future US or Alaska domestic awards, especially if you have transferable credit card pointsis to redeem them through Qatar Airways Privilege Club Programalso uses Avios as loyalty currency.

While the program is likely to increase in price with BA, for now you can book the following:

• Flights up to 650 miles long: 6,000 Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios in Main Economy Class or 12,500 Qatar Avios in First Class
• Flights 650-1,151 miles long: 9,000 Qatar Avios in Economy Class or 16,500 Qatar Avios in First Class
• Flights 1,151-2,000 miles long: 11,000 Qatar Avios in Economy Class or 22,200 Qatar Avios in First Class
• Flights of 2,000-3,000 miles: 13,000 Qatar Avios in Economy Class or 38,750 Qatar Avios in First Class

All Qatar Avios prices are currently significantly cheaper than booking the same flight with BA Avios.

Related: Review of American Airlines First Class on the Airbus A321neo from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Another option is to consider redeeming Avios through Finnair Plus instead of Executive Club, another program that uses Avios as its loyalty currency. Finnair Plus charges a flat fee of 11,000 miles for domestic flights operated by American or Alaska in economy class, regardless of length. Whereas before BA’s price cut, Finnair Plus was only a better deal for longer domestic flights, now you’ll Pay less on all domestic flights via Finnair Plus compared to BA’s Executive Club program.

Remember that you can Transfer Avios between British Airways Executive ClubsQatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus with 1:1 regular fares at your disposal both ways.

Last line

Loyalty programs that increase prices without warning (or “dump prices,” as we call them) are an unfortunate but unavoidable reality of the points and miles industry. Programs sometimes provide 30 days notice before a price increase to allow members to book any planned redemptions at the current price.

Unfortunately, British Airways Executive Club has not given its members such a warning, and using Avios through the British Airways program to book domestic flights on American Airlines and Alaska is no longer a good deal. Fortunately, prices through the Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus programs, which also use Avios as their loyalty currency, are still much more reasonable, and you can easily transfer Avios between programs at a 1:1 exchange rate in either direction.