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Airmiles alters terms of loyalty scheme
2 Sep 2011

Business employees who are signed up to the Airmiles scheme will no longer qualify to receive completely free flights under new regulations.

According to reports, individuals flying to locations outside Europe could face paying hundreds of pounds in airline taxes, fees and surcharges as part of the changes.

News of the loyalty scheme alterations emerges just two months before Airmiles will be rebranded to Avios to follow the merger of British Airways and Iberia to form IAG.

Andrew Swaffield, Managing Director of scheme operator the Mileage Company, addressed the changes to conditions and suggested it was not possible to subsidise the flights.

"We had been unique in offering [free flights]. But taxes and fees have increased a great deal, so customers will have to pay money on top of their points."

Under the current Airmiles system, the 2.2 million members are able to collect credits on a range of items including travel shopping, mortgages and groceries.