LONDON/BERLIN: British Airways is facing a backlash from customers after making changes to the way passengers can earn and spend miles under its Avios frequent flyer program, with some threatening to switch to rival airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and easyJet.
Following the example of US carriers, British Airways, owned by IAG, is tying the number of points awarded to pricing tiers within cabins, rather than the number of miles flown.
Those paying for fully-flexible first-class and business tickets will earn more points under the new scheme, while economy class passengers buying the cheapest, non-flexible, fares will see the number of points they earn slashed to a quarter of previous levels.
That prompted howls of protest on Twitter, with some threatening to dump British Airways and switch allegiance.
“@Virgin Atlantic, you single?,” one twitter user, @AimeeColleen, asked after the changes.
“It just makes me want to fly with the low cost companies,” another user, @Virginia_Bag tweeted.
RBC analyst Damian Brewer said it was a brave move that could pay off financially for IAG, but could also push some customers to budget rivals easyJet and Ryanair on short-haul routes.
“We think that overall this is likely a net positive as higher ticket spend is encouraged,” he wrote in a note to clients.
This is not the first time changes to points gathering and spending has stirred debate in the industry. In the US, United, Delta and Southwest have all altered programs in recent years to base points earned on dollars spent, drawing ire from travelers on social media.
In Europe, one German passenger even took Lufthansa to court after the airline abruptly changed the number of miles required to get a free business or first class flight. A court sided with Lufthansa in 2013, but the airline said as a compromise it would give three months’ notice of any changes to its Miles & More conditions.
In response to the social media criticism, British Airways highlighted on Thursday that the changes would also make it easier to book a flight using Avios points. A lack of available reward flights is a common complaint among users of airline loyalty schemes.
“We believe those that spend the most on flexible tickets should see the greatest rewards,” the British Airways spokesman added.
Business class you win, economy you lose: BA faces backlash over points changes
Business class you win, economy you lose: BA faces backlash over points changes
Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 10,912
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Sunday, gaining 93.86 points, or 0.87 percent, to close at 10,912.18.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR3.03 billion ($809 million), with 230 stocks advancing and 29 declining.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also gained 29.13 points, or 0.12 percent, to close at 23,442.91, as 43 stocks advanced and 25 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index added 9.48 points, or 0.65 percent, to end the session at 1,466.52.
Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance Co. was the best-performing stock of the day, with its share price surging 8.55 percent to SR11.94.
Other top performers included CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co., which rose 6.33 percent to SR23.50, and BAAN Holding Group Co., whose shares climbed 6.06 percent to SR2.10.
United International Holding Co. recorded the steepest decline, falling 2.34 percent to SR146.20.
SEDCO Capital REIT Fund also saw its share price drop 2.17 percent to SR6.77, while Saudi Manpower Solutions Co. declined 1.58 percent to SR5.60.
On the corporate front, Saudi Electricity Co. announced the completion of a US dollar-denominated senior unsecured sukuk issuance under its international sukuk program, offered to eligible investors in Saudi Arabia and globally.
According to a Tadawul statement, the company completed the issuance of a three-tranche sukuk with maturities of three, six and 10 years, raising an aggregate $2.4 billion. The sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market.
Saudi Electricity Co. closed the session at SR14.09, down 0.57 percent.
Najran Cement Co. said it has secured a mid-term, Shariah-compliant loan of SR50 million from Saudi National Bank to support subsidiary expansion. A bourse filing said the financing will be repaid over five years in semi-annual instalments, with a six-month grace period.
Najran Cement Co. ended the session at SR6.59, up 0.92 percent.
Almarai Co. announced its consolidated financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, reporting a net profit of SR2.45 billion, up 6.2 percent year on year.
According to a Tadawul statement, the increase was driven by higher revenue growth, disciplined cost control, an improved revenue mix and lower funding costs.
Almarai Co. closed at SR43.60, up 0.97 percent.
