Sorry Fiona, I'm still in the Dan Air class

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

hya sanjiiii
dan air that brought back memories and old mate of my dads was a piolet with them

We get a free flight each year, longhaul.

How much do you spend Fiona Yes, also a member of Ex Club.

Tony
Tescos is my local( and indeed the only shop close to me). However, there are loads of ways to gain points.

Fiona

I am a member of BAEC, though living abroad I rarely use Tescos or anything else in the UK for that matter, so the miles aren't adding up too swiftly. I did accrue a few when I flew with Quantas within Oz a couple of years ago though.
I do belong to Lufthansa's Miles and More which you can also collect with points from shops in Germany and as I do most of my trips with Star Alliance flights I have managed to get a few free flights. I even moved up to the next tier at one time, which meant lounge access and extra luggage etc. My flight to New York next winter will be using my LH airmiles.
I'm also a member of Air France/KLM's flying blue and my trip to Australia with Malaysian Airlines gave me enough miles for a European flight.

I wonder if too few people take up the option of airline cards. There can be so many benefits. I automatically apply for a card even if it is my first ever flight with a company.

We're a member of the Virgin Airlines frequent flyer club and have now enough miles to upgrade to their first class equivalent on our next return transatlantic trip.

The only problem with these upgrades is that there are only limited upgrade seats available on each flight.

Mark

you are right Mark- same with all companies. When I take advantage of the free flight I booked the first day it becomes available to book, if I can.

I am now a silver member with bmi, but I think their frequent flyer's club is pretty useless. I have 38000 miles and the only route I would want to use them on is Aberdeen to Las Vegas. However despite checking the whole year, there is only one date available which is from LAS to ABZ, not the outward journey and you can't book one way.

Had a look at Manchester to Las Vegas and there are a few dates available, but it is still pretty expensive even using the miles.

luci

I'm in the BA executive club as I used to fly a couple of times a week with them. Not my favourite airline though, only use them if the choice is limited.

I join the club of each airline I fly with...EVA air still send me birthday cards. Had a few free flights in the UK with BMI as a member of Thais Royal Orchid club.

BA is just handy for me. So far I have flown twice to Rio, once to Thailand, once to Hongkong and have another one to Hongkong in December.- all for taxes only.
We also got 100 000 miles from them when we ended up diverted to Frankfurt for 2 days on our way home from singapore during the walk out they had. We used them to fly clubclass to Antigua!

I'm a BA member, only because I used to fly down to London regularly with work.
I've used airmiles to go to Rome a few years ago but other than that not bothered. I must look and see how many I have...

I am a member of Emirates skywards and I am only on the lower tier at the moment, but what I do like about it is that they allow you to pre book your seat numbers in advance, which you cannot do if you are not a skywards member , also they sent me some classy luggage labels, I am hoping to accrue enough points to maybe travel business class one day

thats good Shirley
BA stopped the pre booked seats for us lowly blues

Can anyone explain to me please in plain English what the "tier points" are in British Airways Executive Club.

I joined last year and currently have 2506 miles and am a blue member. My page tells me I need 4 qualifying flights and 600 points to get to silver. My membership year finishes in June this year.
We have just flown to Dubai with BA and had the points added however my page told me before this trip I need 4 qualifying flights. Upon reading the website it is hard to understand what a "tier flight" is. The website shows that for economy it is only based on certain fare classes (eg letter Y, B or H for World traveller) The thing is how do you get to know what fare class you book or you have?? Again the website confirms you can get this from your ticket, however if you have e-tickets then it won't show. All our flights have been e-tickets!!

I emailed the Executive club and have received a reply which reads:-

You need 600 Tier Points to move from Blue to Silver, and a further 600 Tier Points in subsequent years to retain your Silver card. To achieve or retain Silver card status, you must ensure you take at least four flights operated by British Airways that are eligible for Tier Points, during your membership year. More information can be found on ba.com at:

http://www.ba.com/thresholds

Your current membership year runs from 27 February 2007 and will end on 08 June 2008. Your membership year will be automatically renewed and your Tier Points will be re-set to zero, giving you a new membership year. However, your BA Miles will be carried forward to next membership year.

I am totally confused

in simple terms you have to pay full fare. We have never paid full fare yet. If you want to join the EC apply for a BA amex

Thanks Fiona, that is what I thought. I have also since read a few reviews on how difficult it is to get to silver and also how difficult it is to actually book flights with your accumulated miles.

I have also looked at their credit card as well and that maybe an option. We have done loads of BA flights over the years but only joined last year

The thing is when you book a flight say on BAs own website, if you are booking economy, it doesn't even give you a choice of what fare class you can select!! It just gives you the price and that is what most people would book for, even though there are some qualifying fares in economy.

I have also since read a few reviews on how difficult it is to get to silver and also how difficult it is to actually book flights with your accumulated miles

I've been in the BA Executive club since I had to go on a trip from work some years ago. I no longer travel with work but collect via Tesco - I also have a Tesco credit card, so they build up quite nicely. I have never found it too difficult to book flights with my miles, as long as I book well in advance and have had quite a few flights paying taxes and charges only. I've never worried about the "tier points", I've only ever been blue and I'm not sure of the advantage, other than special lounges, etc.

I have however noticed that the "taxes and charges" have crept up and now there are fewer direct flights from Manchester, it is becoming less useful to me. I have noticed that Airmiles have re-introduced fixed miles for routes, inclusive of taxes and charges and using various different airlines. I may switch Tesco points back to Airmiles in future, as I have both accounts.

I'm a member of the flybe program which is pretty generous for a low cost, as well as Star Alliance via Thai International. As I'm flying a couple of times a week I get a free flight quite regularly. I always sign up on the airlines frequent flyer program when I'm going long haul.