The system (inc the AmEx voucher)
can work but it depends on your circumstances. When I was travelling regularly on business, it was a doddle. Now I am self-employed and can rarely plan more than three months in advance, so most of the long haul upgrades/purchases have gone, or are on dates I cannot use.
Airmiles has been uselss for many years and I fully expect BA Exec Miles to follow them. As to paying taxes with cash - I have no complaint about that - OTHER than that they inflate them and then prevaricate. It's a simple cheat that many companies have been using and not just the LCCs but no UK administration has yet tackled. Too many free flights and upgrades?
