Upgrading a British Airways flight can significantly enhance your travel experience. But how does it affect your Tier Points and Avios earnings? Do you earn based on the class you originally booked or the class you ended up flying in? Let’s explore these details to help you make the most of your upgrades.
British Airways offers several ways to upgrade your flight, including before check-in and at check-in. The method you choose impacts your Tier Points and Avios earnings differently.
Upgrading Before Check-In
If you upgrade your flight before check-in, either via ba.com or through customer service, British Airways will honour the Tier Points for the upgraded class. However, the Avios earned is based on the original cost of the flight, not the upgrade.
- Tier Points: You earn Tier Points based on the upgraded cabin class. For example, upgrading from Economy (World Traveller) to Business (Club World) means you’ll receive Business Class Tier Points.
- Avios: The Avios you earn are based on the original cash cost of your flight, not the additional amount paid for the upgrade.
Example:
- Original Booking: Economy Class from London to New York earns 35 Tier Points and 860 Avios.
- Upgraded to Business: You’ll earn 140 Tier Points but still only 860 Avios.
Upgrading at Check-In
If you opt to upgrade at check-in, the rules are slightly different:
- Tier Points: You will earn Tier Points based on the original class you booked, not the upgraded class. This is because your ticket is not reissued; you’re merely reseated.
- Avios: Similar to Tier Points, your Avios earnings will be based on the original booking. No additional Avios are awarded for the upgrade payment.
Example:
- Original Booking: Economy Class from London to New York earns 35 Tier Points and 860 Avios.
- Upgraded at Check-In to Business: You still earn 35 Tier Points and 860 Avios.
Upgrading with Cash and Avios
If you paid cash for a ticket and then used Avios to upgrade, you earn Avios and Tier Points based on the cash ticket class, not the upgraded class.
- Tier Points: Earned based on the original cash ticket class.
- Avios: Earned based on the original cash ticket class.
Example:
- Original Booking: Business Class from London to New York earns 140 Tier Points and 5,160 Avios.
- Upgraded to First with Avios: You still earn 140 Tier Points and 5,160 Avios.
Upgrading an Avios Ticket
For those using Avios to book their flights, upgrading with cash presents unique rules:
- Tier Points and Avios: Redemption flights upgraded with cash do not earn any additional Avios or Tier Points. The same applies to flights originally booked with Avios.
Example:
- Original Booking: An Avios redemption in Economy from London to New York earns 0 Tier Points and 0 Avios.
- Upgraded to Business with Cash: You still earn 0 Tier Points and 0 Avios.
Summary Table: Tier Points and Avios Earnings
| Upgrade Method | Tier Points Earned | Avios Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Before Check-In | Based on the upgraded class | Based on the original cash cost |
| At Check-In | Based on the original booking | Based on the original booking |
| Avios & Cash Upgrade | Based on the original cash class | Based on the original cash class |
| Avios Ticket Upgrade | No additional Tier Points | No additional Avios |
Key Takeaways
- Advance Upgrades: Yield higher Tier Points but no extra Avios.
- Check-In Upgrades: Do not change Tier Points or Avios from the original booking.
- Avios & Cash Upgrades: Earn Tier Points and Avios based on the original cash ticket class.
- Avios Tickets: Upgrading with cash does not earn additional Tier Points or Avios.
Upgrading your British Airways flight can offer a better travel experience, but it’s essential to understand how it affects your earnings.
With this knowledge, you can make informed decisions about when and how to upgrade, maximizing your Tier Points and Avios earnings to reach your travel goals faster. Safe travels!
