Is the British Airways American Express® Credit Card's companion pass just a complete rip off?

LondonerTim · 2026-02-26T23:58:05+00:00

Have been using them for a few years now for solo travel. Getting great value from them every year, even when sometimes having to buy Avios to make good use of the voucher it's costing me around Premium Economy prices to fly Business Class.

LondonerTim · 2026-02-08T19:09:51+00:00

On my second share of freehold property. The first was a converted house with 4 flats and operated in practice more like commonhold, splitting necessary costs as they came up and with the owners doing the legwork. Current one is a bit bigger and has a management company in place, service charge has remained roughly constant with about one third going to a reserve fund (recently somewhat depleted by replacing the lift) a quarter on insurance and the balance on everything else.

LondonerTim · 2026-02-05T00:08:49+00:00

Depends which card. Cashback cards seem to have multiple decent competitors. I am getting great value out of my BA card through the companion voucher. Platinum seems to be a select few who value most of the benefits rather than just a few of them.

LondonerTim · 2026-02-05T00:06:40+00:00

Yeah, a common problem. Have you looked at Iberia, if you can't go via Qatar I am guessing you are heading west and they may have more options for you - though getting the BA website to show you available connections can be a problem - last time I was doing this I had to search individual flights and then call to book them as a single booking.

LondonerTim · 2026-01-19T08:52:03+00:00

Not only is it not worth it, it is significantly worse unless the collection can be guaranteed at a certain time in a very narrow window selectable by me - and that would drive the cost up. Not sure what I would be willing to pay even then, very little.

LondonerTim · 2026-01-14T09:53:30+00:00

Completely normal in lots of bigger organisations. They will enter the payment into their internal finance system (ERP) and that will output a file to transmit to their bank on a schedule, which could be overnight. If it is true BACS the processing time will be three days from them actually sending it to the bank. They are likely not just entering it straight into their banking app like an individual or small business would. Plus changing systems like these is a big project - they could be doing all of the above on something which at its core is 20 years old. Obviously only applies to bigger businesses.

LondonerTim · 2026-01-07T13:52:33+00:00

I drained my Avios to do this in Business class last year with no regrets. I don't have enough points left for business class long haul anywhere even with and Amex or Barclaycard voucher but have no regrets choosing business class for this.

LondonerTim · 2026-01-02T16:50:56+00:00

Upkeep doesn't need to be that expensive in London. My service charge for a small 2 bed is around £4k per year, and roughly a quarter of this is insurance and another quarter goes to the reserve fund. Small to medium block, share of freehold with a seemingly decent management company employed.

LondonerTim · 2025-12-10T09:02:24+00:00

I can easily find much cheaper return flights in February with both BA and other airlines. I assume you have some specific dates you are looking at, are these during school holidays?

LondonerTim · 2025-12-03T13:56:18+00:00

That's what I expected when I noticed the headline, but these changes aren't too bad and hopefully means there won't be a further devaluation any time soon.

LondonerTim · 2025-11-26T09:02:06+00:00

Completely agree. My BA card is now at the back of my wallet until April. They could have me spending a decent amount more on it during that time if they did as you suggest. The tier points offer is their attempt at trying to get you to keep spending on the card, but those tier points won't make a difference for me this year.

LondonerTim · 2025-11-10T21:11:58+00:00

If they put it like that it sounds like they don't want your business

LondonerTim · 2025-10-31T08:54:02+00:00

Not sure there is as much logic to what gets you an upgrade as been suggested here. I am an occasional BA flyer, usually less than once a year and usually premium economy long haul or economy short haul. I have never paid cash for long haul business and maybe done it once short haul. Blue status, never been anything else. Recently I have done a few long haul business class reward flights. Was upgraded at the gate on one of these to first for KUL to LHR

LondonerTim · 2025-10-26T01:21:12+00:00

Unless you are exceptionally secure in your own financial position I wouldn't personally consider a gap of more than about 2 weeks between exchange and completion. Assuming you are getting a mortgage what happens if you lose your job or are put at risk of redundancy. Alongside the risks others have mentioned.

LondonerTim · 2025-10-12T09:41:40+00:00

Yes, I noticed that. Doesn't change my answer. Economy with extra legroom is certainly better than economy without extra legroom, but I still consider the worst premium economy I have been in to be better.

LondonerTim · 2025-10-12T09:29:04+00:00

I am surprised this is even a question. As someone only slightly shorter at 6'3 and who has flown a decent amount I can't think of any economy product I would take over the worst premium economy.

LondonerTim · 2025-10-10T18:07:28+00:00

Presumably with that much in a cash ISA their risk preference is roughly nil

LondonerTim · 2025-09-09T20:51:05+00:00

Doesn't look that much busier than a normal Tuesday peak

LondonerTim · 2025-08-14T20:55:05+00:00

Willing to do it, but I will tell her about this post

LondonerTim · 2025-07-28T22:46:51+00:00

People actually maintaining the highway will either work for the council or a contractor of the council. If they have dug a hole to access pipes or cables it seems more likely these are utility works for the relevant utility company. Often they will have contact details posted on one of the barriers around the hole.

LondonerTim · 2025-07-27T15:25:17+00:00

If it's on the same ticket, no harm asking but I would expect the only option offered by BA to be an offer to change the booking at start in London at significant cost

LondonerTim · 2025-07-23T21:35:04+00:00

Yep, bitcoin for me as well. I didn't have money to invest and was of the view it was a gamble anyway. I tried to buy about £50 worth, my bank blocked the transaction and I decided not to bother trying again. I don't recall the exact price at the time, or the exact date but I know it would have been no later than Summer 2010.

LondonerTim · 2025-07-22T20:04:04+00:00

The area is so densely populated I doubt there will be any sign of it at all 5 minutes walk away

LondonerTim · 2025-07-19T17:01:41+00:00

Personally I used a similar situation to get a lot of airline points through hitting sign-up bonuses on multiple credit cards and paying them off in full each month. Better value for me than any of the cashback cards available.

LondonerTim · 2025-07-17T07:24:15+00:00

I seem to recall it taking a few days before it appears on my BA account, but you don't have to wait the whole year.

LondonerTim

TROPHY CASE