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British Airways Executive Club has implemented yet another no-notice devaluation. These changes affect short-haul reward flights on Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific ONLY.

As a quick reminder, British Airways Executive Club uses a distance-based award chart. So when you read of “zones”, what is really meant is…

• Zone 1 = flights covering 0-650 miles
• Zone 2 = flights covering 651-1,15o miles
• Zone 3 = flights covering 1,151 – 2,000 miles

What Has Changed?

This is how the award pricing has changed…

Japan Airlines

• Zone 1 Economy – up from 6,000 Avios to 7,500 Avios
• Zone 1 Business – no change
• Zone 2 Economy – up from 9,000 Avios to 10,000 Avios
• Zone 2 Business – up from 16,500 Avios to 24,000 Avios
• Zone 3 Economy – no change
• Zone 3 Business – up from 22,000 Avios to 24,000 Avios

Cathay Pacific

• Zone 1 Economy – up from 6,000 Avios to 7,500 Avios
• Zone 1 Business – up from 12,500 Avios to 16,000 Avios
• Zone 2 Economy – up from 9,000 Avios to 10,000 Avios
• Zone 2 Business – up from 16,500 Avios to 25,000 Avios
• Zone 3 Economy – no change
• Zone 3 Business – up from 22,000 Avios to 25,000 Avios

Some Odd Results

1. Zones 2 and 3 now cost the same number of Avios for Business Class flights. The relatively short Hong Kong to Shanghai flight on Cathay Pacific in Business Class now costs the same number of Avios as the 5-hour Hong Kong to Tokyo flight
2. If you fly between Hong Kong and Tokyo, you will save 1,000 Avios by flying JAL instead of Cathay Pacific

Does it Really Matter?

Even though devaluations such as this one – especially no-notice devaluations – are never welcome, regular travellers to Asia know that these short flights are often quite expensive. So you are still going to use Avios whenever you can find award space and you will still consider it to be a bargain.

The wider implications for Avios collectors are becoming clearer though – hidden within a ridiculous amount of complexity – and it isn’t good news. But I’ll save my thoughts on that subject for a future post.  Stay tuned…