-
Last week we flew PMI-MAD, in business, with a ticket purchased from Iberia (IB flight number), operated by Iberia Express (fully owned franchise of Iberia), credited to BAEC. For the last few years these flights always required a manual claim for the Avios/TP 7 days after the flight – but on this occasion the Avios and TP arrived automatically into both of our BAEC accounts. However, for the first time ever, having probably flown the route >100 times, this sector has not appeared as 1 of the 4 required sectors to renew BAEC status. This is an error as per the info provided in the app:
“Eligible flights are defined as those flights marketed or operated by British Airways and those flights marketed and operated by Iberia……’Marketed and operated by Iberia’ means the flight will have an IB flight number and the aircraft you travel on is in Iberia aircraft (including franchises).”
Anyone experienced this recently?
I always thought the 4 qualifying sectors had to be on BA metal, regardless of the flight number – so IB,QR etc don’t count? But your previous experience would suggest otherwise!
@PB2 I think they’ve messed up. Try contacting BAEC?
I always thought the 4 qualifying sectors had to be on BA metal, regardless of the flight number – so IB,QR etc don’t count? But your previous experience would suggest otherwise!
No. BA operated or marketed, Iberia operated and marketed.
Yep many thanks – I’ve just about got past the automated Twitter bot and an agent is looking at it now…
Indeed IB flight numbers count so long as IB metal, Iberia franchises included (air nostrum, iberia express). So technically you can earn BA status having never flown BA. AFAIK you can only book air nostrum at iberia.com, so it will always have an IB flight number. Have to be careful with iberia express – if you book on their website (which can be a fraction cheaper) rather than iberia.com, it will have an I2 flight number but you can’t then credit to BAEC or enjoy any status benefits etc. (only credit to iberia for Avios).
Update: BA Twitter team raised a case and BAEC emailed today to confirm manual adjustment made, as it is indeed an eligible sector.
May I ask, was it a basic economy ticket?
These were business tickets but it shouldn’t matter for the purpose of counting as an eligible sector, so long as it was a cash ticket.
Update: from recent experience this appears to have now been fixed. Iberia express with IB flight number auto credits to BA (Avios & TP) – and counts as 1/4 or 1/50 eligible sectors.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
