British Airways has quietly launched new extra business class award availability between North America and the UK for additional miles. US airlines generally offer all or most seats on their flights for additional miles, it used to be roughly double miles but now is often much more especially in premium cabins.

BA, which normally offers double miles awards to ‘Gold Guest List’ elites, is offering this for less than double miles. (HT: Turning Left for Less)

• This is for members with US and UK addresses only, and requires ‘I’ discounted business class inventory to be available.
• It’s available by phone only, you won’t see it online.
• This extra inventory is also available for upgrades from premium economy to business class.
• You can’t use credit card companion award tickets with this inventory however Gold Upgrade vouchers apparently do apply.

New Airbus A350 Business Class Suite, credit: British Airways

British Airways Executive Club is a transfer partner of both American Express and Chase, so US members have plenty of opportunity to access these points. This is a new option that at this point isn’t replacing traditional saver awards.

Sample prices:

• New York JFK – London 194,000 miles (vs. 100,000 off peak, 120,000 peak)
• Los Angeles – London 224,000 miles (vs 125,000 off peak, 150,000 peak)

Notably British Airways sells business class inexpensively, especially originating in Europe, and these awards are based on availability of discounted business inventory. Often a UK-US-UK roundtrip paid ticket in discounted inventory may be less than $2000 meaning you’d be getting far less than a penny apiece in value out of this award considering you still pay cash surcharges in addition to miles. US-originating itineraries are often more expensive than UK-originating trips.

British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class Middle Seats

This is a useful option as a pure add-on (more choices are better than fewer), better than double miles if a Gold member would have spent this, and available to all members.