{"id":61296,"date":"2023-12-12T21:50:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T21:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/12\/british-airways-devalues-american-and-alaska-award-flights-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2023-12-12T21:50:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T21:50:03","slug":"british-airways-devalues-american-and-alaska-award-flights-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/12\/british-airways-devalues-american-and-alaska-award-flights-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"British Airways devalues American and Alaska award flights – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In a major bit of unwelcome news for U.S. travelers, British Airways<\/a> has increased award prices for many award flights operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as flagged by AwardWallet<\/a>. And unfortunately, this comes with no notice, as the new award rates are now showing up through British Airways’ search engine.<\/p>\n

Here’s what you need to know about these changes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

British Airways increases award rates for American and Alaska flights<\/h2>\n

British Airways Executive Club uses a distance-based award chart<\/a> when you redeem Avios across its network of partner airlines (though these prices vary slightly depending on the carrier and dates of travel). Before today, you could book nonstop American and Alaska-operated flights starting at just 7,500 Avios each way. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case.<\/p>\n

Here’s a chart with a summary of the new economy award rates, which have already taken effect:<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Distance<\/strong><\/th>\nOld economy price (before Dec. 12, 2023)<\/strong><\/th>\nNew economy price (as of Dec. 13, 2023)<\/strong><\/th>\n% change
<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Up to 650 miles<\/td>\n7,500 Avios<\/td>\n8,250 Avios<\/td>\n10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
651 – 1,151 miles<\/td>\n9,000 Avios<\/td>\n11,000 Avios<\/td>\n22.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1,152 – 2,000 miles<\/td>\n11,000 Avios<\/td>\n14,500 Avios<\/td>\n31.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2,001 – 3,000 miles<\/td>\n13,000 Avios<\/td>\n16,000 Avios<\/td>\n23.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As you can see, these are relatively large increases on a percentage basis.<\/p>\n

Sadly, it’s an even worse story for first-class award flights on American and Alaska.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Zone (distance)<\/strong><\/th>\nOld first-class price (before Dec. 12, 2023)<\/strong><\/th>\nNew first-class price (as of Dec. 13, 2023)<\/strong><\/th>\n% change
<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Zone 1 (up to 650 miles)<\/td>\n12,500 Avios<\/td>\n16,500 Avios<\/td>\n32%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zone 2 (651 – 1,151 miles)<\/td>\n16,500 Avios<\/td>\n20,500 Avios<\/td>\n24.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zone 3 (1,152 – 2,000 miles)<\/td>\n22,000 Avios<\/td>\n29,000 Avios<\/td>\n32%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zone 4 (2,001 – 3,000 miles)<\/td>\n38,750 Avios<\/td>\n42,000 Avios<\/td>\n8.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As noted previously, these rates now appear through the British Airways search engine.<\/p>\n

For example, here’s a short-haul flight from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the Bahamas in both economy and first class.<\/p>\n

Here’s a one-way flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Denver International Airport (DEN) in both economy and first class.<\/p>\n

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Perhaps the biggest sweet spot being affected here is from the West Coast to Hawaii, which previously required just 13,000 Avios each way (or 26,000 Avios round-trip). Now, you’ll need to pony up 16,000 Avios for a one-way ticket in economy class.<\/p>\n

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