travel harbour

More than two million Airmiles members will lose their free flights. Participants in the country's largest high loyalty scheme will have to pay taxes when the programme becomes part of new scheme known as Avios. Flights within Europe which were hitherto free under the Airmiles programme will now cost £27 to cover the cost of taxes fees and charges. Longer distance flights will be even more expensive with anyone redeeming points having to pay all additional charges which, for a return trip to New York, could be as high as £360. Airmiles, which is owned by British Airways, is a ''frequent buyers'' programme, whose participants earn points by using some credit cards, shopping at Tesco, filling a car at Shell petrol station and using certain website. It is distinct from the airline's own frequent flyers' programme, BA Miles, which has more than seven million members worldwide. The two schemes are being brought under the Avios umbrella along with that run by the Spanish airline, Iberia, which was merged with BA earlier this year. However the real losers are the 2.2 million Airmiles members. Not only they have to pay taxes, but for some destinations they will need more points under the new scheme.

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