What changed

Surcharges raised again. Frankfurt to New York business round trip now about 1,495 EUR in surcharges (930 EUR in February).

Autumn cash sale, 1 to 4 October, up to 15 percent off business for travel to 31 March 2027.

Buy points at 55 percent bonus (about 0.81 US cents) to 23 November 2026. Transfers at 3:1 plus 5,000 per 60,000 make this about 1.94 cents per airline mile.

100 percent buy-points bonus ended. Current offer about 30 percent off, which is a poor buy. Next large sale expected by late November.

Dropped the rule that you must first earn Avios from a flight or co-brand card before adding people to My List or Family and Friends.

Light, Standard and Flex award fares introduced. The old 60,000-mile saver is now a restrictive Light fare; 75,000 is the new normal for business.

Fuel surcharges added on Cathay-operated award flights: about 174.60 USD per long-haul segment.

Hyatt points now convert instantly to Aeroplan at 2:1, and 50,000 Hyatt points buy a 30,000-point Aeroplan certificate.

Call-center booking fee raised to 30 USD, on top of the 20 USD partner fee.

20 USD partner booking fee per person per direction, non-refundable on cancellation.

KrisFlyer and Asia Miles transfers cut to 3:1 on the Platinum Charge (Velocity and Qantas 2:1). Exact day in July not confirmed. The 300,000-point welcome bonus now funds one to two business one-ways, not three.

Etihad Guest removed as a transfer partner, as in every Amex market (Canada 20 June, UK 22 June, India 1 July 2026).

Free cancellation for LifeMiles+ subscribers ended for new subscribers. LifeMiles is now a poor program for speculative bookings.

'My List' rule: Burgundy and Silver members can book awards only for four named people, locked for six months. Book friends through BA Club instead.

No more First Class or saver business ('I' bucket) awards released to partner programs. Lufthansa First is now Miles & More only.

Partner award chart repriced. Europe to Asia business (5,001 to 7,000 miles) 80,000 to 92,500; Air Canada's own Atlantic to Pacific business floor 60,000 to 100,000.

Surcharges raised again on Avios awards on BA flights. London to New York Club World round trip about 176,000 Avios plus 499 GBP.

Premium award prices up 15 percent. New one-way Business Saver awards on some routes.

Award prices raised without notice, now set per carrier and route. US to Europe business on United 80,000 to 92,400; Swiss, Austrian and TAP 55,000 to between 63,530 and 81,290; LOT unchanged at 69,000. Third increase in 13 months.

Business Light fares launched: no seat selection, reduced baggage. Expect most sale fares to be Light.

Cathay Asia Miles transfer ratio cut to 5:4 (Emirates Skywards has been 5:4 since 16 September 2025).

Repriced into three tiers: 6.99, 12.99 and 19.99 USD per month.

Contract of carriage now bans any combination of tickets used to circumvent fares or inventory rules, not only Saturday-stay avoidance.

Airline transfer rates worsened by about 50 percent (400:250 to 600:250 for KrisFlyer and others).

Iberia off-peak business Madrid to US East Coast raised from 34,000 to 40,500 Avios. Several 2026 blog posts still quote the old price.

Polaris saver awards moved to a member-only bucket. Aeroplan and LifeMiles see almost none.

Value awards became non-refundable; Comfort awards forfeit 25 percent of miles on cancellation.

Emirates Skywards transfer ratio cut to 5:4.

One-way awards allowed on ANA and partner flights at half the round-trip price, for tickets issued from this date.