Nixta Sinks

Keep your miles topped up almost anywhere, including eBay!

This is very very useful if you live in the US and don't travel with BA that much. It should keep your miles topping up, and your account alive. I've looked for the small print, for the caveats, but there don't seem to be any. It is 3:34am and I can't sleep, but I don't think I'm dreaming this. BA Shopping.

Some of the shops are very generous with their returns in Airline Rewards terms (12 miles per dollar!), but more impressive is the range and high profile of shops that are participating: Target (8 miles per $), Apple Store, AT&T, Home Depot, Nordstroms, Toys'r'us, NewEgg, Buy.com, B&N, Best Buy, Circuit City and very interestingly eBay... I have bought stuff from Newegg.com recently, for example, which would have got me 140 miles. In the last 6 months, I'd probably be able to claim 1000 miles through eBay alone, as would DMC.

Just remember to go shopping via BA.com, I guess (and sign in with your Executive Club info).

Labels: British Airways, Shopping

"I" pay $2800 for this?

Airline ticket prices have been going up steadily over the last two or three years that the DMC and I have been flying BA between New York and London. It's not escaped my attention, nor indeed that of my employers. When the Office of Fair Trading launched an inquiry into price-fixing by BA and Virgin (weren't other US airlines involved to begin with?) it surprised me only that someone bothered to give a shit. Clearly for some time BA and Virgin prices had been fixed to be the same for any given period.

So, now, BA has been fined, and Virgin let off the hook because they tattled. What lesson is that to send to the little ginger-bearded kids of today? Dead Richard Branson from the future must be ROTFL his AO in his grave. But aside from that, the $220million fine will mean just two things - crappier booze and yet more expensive flights (or more strikes).

I wonder how much of that $220million the overcharged passengers will see? Not me of course, I haven't paid for my transatlantic flights since 2004.

BA has enough problems at the moment, what with the new entertainment system just plain not working (see image) and the new business class seats falling to pieces as quickly as they can be installed. It doesn't need to have passengers stolen away, profits beaten up, and see its colluding competitor given a great big boost.

Labels: British Airways