British Airways still offering £250 / 50,000 Avios for ‘old First’ – as I found out

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Back in December 2013 I highlighted the new British Airways policy for people who find themselves in ‘old First’.

British Airways had launched a generous (in my view) compensation scheme. On most routes, you were being offered a £250 British Airways voucher or 50,000 Avios points as compensation.

For reference, this is the new BA First Class seat:

However, there still a chance that you may end up with this:

Yesterday, that is what I got on my way back from Las Vegas. I took the 50,000 Avios points, in case you were wondering.

I was also given this:

…. as additional compensation! The Grand Siecle alone (far left) is £100 per bottle at your local Majestic Wine.

What was a little disappointing was how the other passengers in the (full) First Class cabin were treated. I told the guy next to me in 1K what I was doing and he did the same (but he didn’t get the champagne). The guy by the window in Row 2 had a mild fit when he saw the size of the TV screen, called for the Customer Services Director and made his feelings known – he also got compensation (but, again, no champagne).

However, no-one else got anything. Whilst we were all waiting for the transit from T5B to T5, I did a quick survey of the other First Class passengers and they had not been pro-actively offered compensation. To put it mildly, they were a little surprised to realise it was available.

The lesson appears to be that, if you find yourself sitting in the old First Class seat, speak up as quickly as you can. I recommend doing it whilst you are being shown to your seat so that you can get the paperwork filled in early.

Whether you decide to educate the rest of the cabin on what is on offer is up to you …..

This problem will naturally go away by itself in a few weeks. From late October, the old First Class seats will be sold as part of the Club World cabin. No First Class seats will be sold and Club World passengers will be able to book directly into the old First Class seats – which is not a bad deal. Selected flights to Cape Town, Vancouver, Phoenix and Las Vegas will be impacted.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for our latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios this month from offers and promotions.)

Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Paul says:

23 Sep23 September 07:14

Can’t think there are too many people actually buying a BA first seat for money. Given the pretty dire availability of redemptions you were probably the only nina fife passenger the rest being upgrades or staff. How many were given/ wearing PJs…….BA have a ludicrous policy of not given staff giveaways in an attempt to cut costs… You have to wonder how many staff fly first in that case and again why there are so few redemption seats.
Bottom line however is that First is at best club world plus and now not really first at at all. Not when compared with just about any one else
- C77 says:
  
  25 Sep25 September 12:50
  
  That’s a bit harsh Paul. Upgrade entitlement of staff passengers (if applicable) works on a space availability basis which is only confirmed 1hr prior to flight departure based upon seniority. Not every staff booking is entitled to an upgrade, nor are they able to utilize lounge facilities. It is also frowned upon to accept the F amenity/PJ kits, although staff are able to accept the J amenity kit now (presumably because this is now a load of rubbish!) So I would suggest on that basis that indeed most seats are either being sold to passengers willing to pay either full fare or for an airport or proactive online upgrade – or available for redemption….. but in agreement with you that this one it’s unlikely. The problem with old F will go away next month when aircraft still kitted out with this more dated product will be sold as Club instead…. Club World Plus as you put it but without an additional price tag/fee.
James67 says:

23 Sep23 September 07:14

Bad form from BA given they were initially handing out the compensation to everybody in old F. Have not flown it yet but from looks of it I think they should sell new F as CW too.
- Will B says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 07:31
  
  New first is lovely and much better than CW imo
  - Rob says:
    
    23 Sep23 September 07:47
    
    I did new F on the A380 on the way out to Los Angeles, review to follow.
    - Paul says:
      
      23 Sep23 September 22:32
      
      Hope it was better than mine to HKG earlier this year. Flight was an absolute shambles from boarding to disembarkation. No taster menu no first choice. Two trays of glasses smashed mid flight and glass all over the floor…..never cleaned. 2 in club 2 in F on 241 redemptions. 2 seats in club were filthy. Comp of 80k when I complained.
      It was amateurish …..but sadly all too typical of my personal experience of BA. Consequently have not flown BA paid in F or J for almost 3 years now and every time I use my 241 I am simply reminded just how poor BA has become. The champagne may be very good but it really does not make a mediocre product First Class.
      
      Would just like to say thanks for the heads up on the KUL route news.
      - Rob says:
        
        23 Sep23 September 22:54
        
        I had some issues with my tasting menu as well, which I will run through next week. There were other odd factors as well – the window seats are actually now too far away from the window to see out of it, and the reading lights in the panel above your head do not actually shine at you (again, because the angled seat design puts your head too far from the window).
  - Paul says:
    
    23 Sep23 September 22:09
    
    It’s certainly better than club world but that not saying much. Club world is.a dated cramped and pretty poor product. Try CX or AA or indeed many others and it is unlikely you would ever return happily to Club World
Neil Spellings says:

23 Sep23 September 07:37

I was quite shocked at the poor level of service when I flew BA First a few months back. Had to prompt the crew a number of times during meal service when they forgot things like bread rolls, tea and coffee, drink refills. And this was in “new First”.

Also on the return overnight flight they completely neglected to offer a turn down service..seeing the rest of the (mostly American) first class cabin shivering under the standard issue thin BA blankets was embarrassing. I eventually had to ask for a duvet when I realised they weren’t making up any beds.
- Mark says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 10:04
  
  Sounds like a mixed fleet route?
  
  We found they tend to be more friendly on the whole but often forgot ‘details’ such as a request for a cup of coffee etc.
  
  To me the advantages of F are all in the seat. Worthwhile if you can get it on a redemption, especially a 2for1 but I wouldn’t pay masses more over J.
  
  Must admit I do like the warm nuts though…. 🙂
barnaby100 says:

23 Sep23 September 07:37

I have never been pro-activley offered the miles but have just claimed them on landing. Are you a CCR holder etc Raffles? I assume that you were offered the champagne as you had the highest status? If they offered it because they knew that you were a blogger then that would gall me I have to say.
- Rob says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 07:52
  
  No, I am standard Gold. However, the full cabin implies a lot of upgrades.
  
  The guy had no idea who I was when he offered the champagne. I am not flagged with BA at all. BA takes zero interest (officially) in this site – this has not even changed despite the fact that our BA affiliate link now makes us one of their biggest affiliate partners on top of covering their news. I can honestly say I do not have the telephone number or email address of any BA employee.
Henry says:

23 Sep23 September 07:45

I suspect the guy next to you was in 1K not 1B…
- Rob says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 07:56
  
  Fixed, was very groggy when I wrote this last night!
Henry says:

23 Sep23 September 07:49

And my two OF experiences in the last month: the first one I complained on board (nothing was offered actively) and then I had to follow up a couple of weeks after the flight to get the compo. The second one the CSD was round as soon as we were in the air offering it to everyone, I had email confirmation it was requested an hour after landing and the Avios hit my account that same evening.
AviosNewbie says:

23 Sep23 September 07:50

Any idea if flights to Mexico will be impacted? i.e. if the F seats will be sold as CW? And if that’s so, what happens to people who already have a confirmed F ticket?

I am booked in F over Christmas on LHR – MEX and not sure if we’ll get the new F or it will be sold as CW!
- Rich. says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 09:40
  
  Mexico will not be old First. Enjoy your flight.
EB says:

23 Sep23 September 07:51

Is the compensation also offered for redemption flights or just to paying travellers? Thanks.
- Rob says:
  
  23 Sep23 September 07:53
  
  Everyone. I was on a redemption. You seriously think I would pay for BA F? 🙂
  - Rich. says:
    
    23 Sep23 September 09:42
    
    So if a BA redemption, then75,000 Avios plus taxes and charges……
    
    And then they give you 50k back…… So in effect, paid economy Avios (plus a bit more in tax and charges) flew F.
    
    Good call Sir.
    - Rob says:
      
      23 Sep23 September 09:48
      
      Not so good as it was a Gold Priority Redemption at double Avios.