BA, Sotheby's sign reward points deal

The agreement makes Sotheby's International Realty the exclusive residential real estate partner of British Airways in South Africa, which operates regionally from Joburg on routes to Mauritius, Livingstone, Harare, the Victoria Falls and Windhoek as well as to Cape Town and Durban.

And the partnership means that SA owners who mandate Sotheby's International Realty to sell their homes can elect to earn Avios at the end of the process. These points can be used to purchase flights, upgrades, hotels and car rentals in SA and many other countries.

Two years to cement

"It has taken two years to cement this deal, but we are very proud and delighted to be associated with another iconic brand such as British Airways," said Lew Geffen, chairman of Sotheby's International Realty in SA.

"And we are especially excited about the huge value we believe the alliance will add for our real estate clients. The British Airways Executive Club is a global organisation and Avios are like an international currency, valid everywhere and accepted as payment for upscale travel adventures and luxury accommodation all over the world."

British Airways and Sotheby's International Realty will, he said, be co-branding their new initiative, with the real estate company promoting British Airways to its largely high-nett-worth clients, and the airline telling its business class passengers on every SA flight about the possibility of earning Avios by doing business with Sotheby's International Realty.