[Globe_trotter]

I am currently BA Executive Club Bronze, based in Madrid and flew MAD/LPA return in July in Business with an I fare on Iberia Express. Having been surprised to see the flights appear on my statement as “ineligible” for Tier Points & Avios, I submitted a request for reconsideration and received a reply which stated:

“As part of IAG, our deepening relationships within the group allow us to offer enhanced frequent flyer benefits and a more joined up service as we progressively harmonise our systems.

I appreciate that Iberia Express is part of IAG, but as our agreement with Iberia Express only includes flights sold with a BA or IB prefix, I’m sorry to say I am unable to credit your account.”

This is a relatively recent change since flights to MAN in February 2023 booked directly with Iberia Express were allocated TPs and Avios and it would have been helpful to have been informed of the change in advance. In my experience, Iberia Express flights booked through the BA and IB websites tend to be slightly more expensive than when booked direct.

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Catalina, DavidSmith2

[DavidSmith2]

Sorry to hear about your experience Globe_trotter, but its helpful information for me to know. I am BA Gold card for now but planning to take a 1 year sabbatical in the Canary Islands from May 2024. I doubt I would retain gold status the year after, but would at least want to maximise my chances and maximise avios.

[JAXBA]

There’s some discussion about this on Flyertalk at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2093315-iberia-express-flight-tiers-points.html

I’d go back to BA and point out that I2 is an IB oneworld affiliate per https://www.oneworld.com/members/iberia and I2 should count as IB.

If they still reject, perhaps credit to IB instead if you have an existing account?

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Globe_trotter

[ESKY777]

Iberia Express, as with the case with Aer Lingus, Level and Vueling, while owned by IAG, is not a oneworld member, and will not award tier point/Avios/miles to any other oneworld frequent flyer program. However, as per BAEC T&Cs, tickets purchased for Aer Lingus flights but with a BA prefix flight number and tickets purchased for Iberia Express flights but with a BA or IB prefix flight number will accrue both tier points and Avios. If the ticket you purchased had an Iberia Express flight number prefix and not a BA or IB one, then unfortunately you will not accrue either Avios or tier points.

[MartynSinclair]

Without causing too much thread drift, I was recently surprised to find that avios and tier points were not awarded on some CX business class fares, where cheaper I class fares did benefit from avios and tier points. All oneworld!

[Gold-2K]

I had the same problem with Cathay P Class fare. Even though it is a more expensive fare than the I class business fare it gets zero tier points and Avios whereas the cheaper i class gets full Avios / TP credit.

I pointed out to exec club that Cathay P class fares attracts rewards with every other OneWorld member FF program but all I got was “it’s not an allowable class with us” …… even though it’s a totally illogical response.

After 3 separate “computer says no” responses I gave up 😬

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cwoodward, MartynSinclair

[MartynSinclair]

@Gold-2K – Tim F explained it to me along the lines that the P class fares were relatively new (around covid times) and the likelihood is BAEC and CX have not completed an avios/tier point award agreement.

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cwoodward

[Globe_trotter]

Hello ESKY777 – you’re right, IB Express is not a member of oneworld but, from information on the Iberia FF programme (“Iberia Plus”) website, flights booked directly with IB Express are eligible for elite points & Avios. Since I’m also member of Iberia Plus, I’ve followed JAXBA’s suggestion and submitted a claim for the MAD/LPA July flights; I will update this post with the outcome.

[Globe_trotter]

The MAD/LPA/MAD flights booked directly with Iberia Express (i.e. with an “I2” prefix) were rejected by the Iberia Plus FFP – despite an appeal through customer service – with no explanation although the resolution message did say that Avios had been awarded in accordance with the conditions of purchase and there is a pop-up box on the website which states that eligible flights should have an “IB” prefix.

So, the lesson learned is to book Iberia Express flights through the BA or Iberia websites.

[Author]

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