Why BA (Executive Club)?

TonyHancock

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So what has driven me to the fickle mistress that is BA? :?:

Well......where do I start? First up QF has played a big part, the changes last year really knocked me for six. I used the mASA extensively and also traveled on OW airlines. Whilst relatively minor the lack of Lifetime QF Platinum also played its part.

That is all very well I hear you say but why BA and not AA? The redemption rates with AA are much better I am told.

Whilst redemptions do matter they are not the most important thing for me. My travel is booked the best part of 12 months out and is primarily to the UK, 5-7 times per year. In order to maximise the benefits of status I like to fly with the airline I hold status with. I have been P1 with QF for four years and enjoyed the benefits associated with it.

The use of mASA's with QF, alongside two or three paid J fares allowed me to average about $5k per UK trip in J. This also allowed me to maintain P1 status and reap the rewards of multiple complimentary upgrades and excellent service recovery when things went, or looked as though they might go wrong.

I worked out that if I could hit GGL in year one, 5000 TP's, I had a shout at maintaining that level in subsequent years. (3000 TP's per year) Why did GGL matter I hear you ask? Well on the way to that level one picks up upgrade vouchers and upon reaching GGL one collects "jokers" that allow redemptions into revenue buckets. In some respects this will give me similar opportunities as mASA's. :idea:

What I did not realise is just how inexpensive some ex Europe fares could be, and by using MH/UL for positioning into the UK I could book a series of returns from Norway for under $5k per flight in J. :D Of course there is a bit of faffing about, four hours of unnecessary flying and the associated time on the ground.

So for the foreseeable future I have a sustainable means of flying J and maintaining status. As with all FF schemes there is always the spectre of devaluation lurking in the background but for the time being I am happy with my lot.

I hit GGL in just over ten months and in the penultimate flight to make GGL received an op up to F on a LHR-SIN sector.

Three of my UK/US work colleagues are particularly happy as I was able to gift a gold status and two silvers. :cool:

So for the next nine months I will be a QF P1 and a BA GGL..........but it is the P1 that will go by the wayside.
 
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They seem quite happy to welcome the Indian, African and even the American dominions and colonies.
It's just those beyond the seas they keep out.
 
Hmmm, I just confirmed this (I joined years ago with a UK address).

Seems odd. It made sense during the JV years, but now they are effectively a competitor for QF.

I wonder if they are worried Aussies will rack up status flying QF with little to no benifit to them?
 
Hmmm, I just confirmed this (I joined years ago with a UK address).

Seems odd. It made sense during the JV years, but now they are effectively a competitor for QF.

I wonder if they are worried Aussies will rack up status flying QF with little to no benifit to them?
In theory, flying QF and crediting to someone else is good for QF. Less costly in points, lounge fees etc
However, it's when people choose not to fly QF as they have lost the handcuffs (only exacerbated by the Simpler & Fairer enhancements) that QF misses out. This compounds if they are then less likely to take out a QF credit card, shopping at WW, but QF wine etc
 
For those who have watched the videos from Dennis B in Adelaide, I have not forgotten his comments that the best J seat on a BA was window facing back at the rear of the cabin, but the best J seat for long haul was on another airline.
 
It also has LT (OWE). ;)

Yes indeed and now my next batch of flights are booked I will reach that milestone on April 5th - 4 years, 3 months and 10 days after first crediting BA....not that I am counting. :) ........and no, LTGGL is not even a remote possibility for me... :p

For those who have watched the videos from Dennis B in Adelaide, I have not forgotten his comments that the best J seat on a BA was window facing back at the rear of the cabin, but the best J seat for long haul was on another airline.

I am no fan of BA's J product but the bed is one of the best I have slept on. The benefit of BAEC is the upgrade vouchers offered at 2500, and 3500 tp's and then optionally at 7000, 8000 and 9000 TP's. These allow automatic upgrades into F when booking J for all BA flights on a PNR, :)

Whilst the thread is entitled "Why BA?" the reality is BAEC is what it is all about.
 
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Now I need to study this thread.

Achieved QFF Lifetime Gold some time ago, and WP1 has been quite underwhelming (so far).

I need to start crediting to BAEC, with our plans to live in Europe in the next year or so.
 
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From your experiences, is GGL worth it especially from an Australia based flyer? I understand that Jokers are a huge benefit but besides that do we get anything worthwhile considering for? We don't get the concord room but I do plan to fly to the EU 3-4 times a year.

I'm considering chasing the GGL this year given that 3750TP cutdown requirement but having a difficult time justifying it. I'll hit Gold on an upcoming holiday but still have the odd 2500~TP to chase.
 
From your experiences, is GGL worth it especially from an Australia based flyer? I understand that Jokers are a huge benefit but besides that do we get anything worthwhile considering for? We don't get the concord room but I do plan to fly to the EU 3-4 times a year.

I'm considering chasing the GGL this year given that 3750TP cutdown requirement but having a difficult time justifying it. I'll hit Gold on an upcoming holiday but still have the odd 2500~TP to chase.
It is difficult to comment because everyone's circumstances are different. I was traveling as much as 6 times a year between Australia and the UK and then into Europe and also the US. I got a lot of benefits - particularly in the US where I was, on several occasions, treated like an AA Concierge Key member.

Using Avios for QF flights internally is a big benefit to me now, or will be when I get back to Australia. As JessicaTam mentioned earlier Gold for Life (OWE for life) turned into a huge incentive and is safely secured.

I join the ranks of the self funded flyer now as I approach retirement, so access to the OW F lounges is handy.
 
From your experiences, is GGL worth it especially from an Australia based flyer? I understand that Jokers are a huge benefit but besides that do we get anything worthwhile considering for? We don't get the concord room but I do plan to fly to the EU 3-4 times a year.

I'm considering chasing the GGL this year given that 3750TP cutdown requirement but having a difficult time justifying it. I'll hit Gold on an upcoming holiday but still have the odd 2500~TP to chase.
The value of the GUF1/2s has just improved. (GUF: Gold Upgrade For ...) They now work on AA flights where before they were limited to BA.

The agreement with QR also means that Avios can be earned, burned and transferred on/between both QR and BA.
 
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I've recent booked an award which ended up being in a revenue bucket (A) and when I put my BA number and look it up on MMB on BA, it says I'll earn TPs. Can anyone confirm this will actually happen?
 

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