Achieving BA status
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SHA, SIN, AMS
Programs: BA, SQ, EK, FB, SPG
Posts: 452
Achieving BA status
I had a friend asking; is BA the easiest program to earn Oneworld status in if you frequently fly long haul Y or PEY compared with J? I usually fly in premium cabins so I was wondering, do people flying on full fare tickets typically come out ahead compared with other programs?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: EY - Gold, BA - Gold
Posts: 512
i think AA is the easiest. it's the best as well, as you can earn loads of miles easily and cash them in for great seats on etihad for next to nothing. makes etihad members want to join AA. All depends where you're flying, but yeah, i'd say BA is one of the best.
#4
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Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SHA, SIN, AMS
Programs: BA, SQ, EK, FB, SPG
Posts: 452
You don't earn anything crediting to AA on Z class for EY But in terms of earning status, do people usually come out ahead; given the TP system?
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
One big question which ought to be answered first: What is their travel pattern? Many of the OW schemes have a minimum sector rule. So if your friend were to decide that AA is easiest, but never flies anywhere that AA goes, they could be very disappointed if AA enforced its 4-sector rule and they didn't actually earn any status.
#6
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Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SHA, SIN, AMS
Programs: BA, SQ, EK, FB, SPG
Posts: 452
One big question which ought to be answered first: What is their travel pattern? Many of the OW schemes have a minimum sector rule. So if your friend were to decide that AA is easiest, but never flies anywhere that AA goes, they could be very disappointed if AA enforced its 4-sector rule and they didn't actually earn any status.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: EY - Gold, BA - Gold
Posts: 512
If you have no long haul planned, then you'd most likely need at least five or six medium haul return trips in premium economy and double that for economy.
You can also achieve status through number of flights (50 for silver), but it is possible to miss out - someone took 49 and missed out a few months back, so a big factor can be distance of travel. Obvs, the greater the distance, the fewer flights required.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,914
One big question which ought to be answered first: What is their travel pattern? Many of the OW schemes have a minimum sector rule. So if your friend were to decide that AA is easiest, but never flies anywhere that AA goes, they could be very disappointed if AA enforced its 4-sector rule and they didn't actually earn any status.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HPN
Posts: 352
I've made Silver this year in just three TATL r/t in WTP with UK domestic legs attached (so 220 TP per r/t).
I've actually done more flying than that, with some more WTP legs but also discount Y which has me currently on 895 TP with a TATL WTP out, CW back booking to come over Christmas that will put me on 1125 TP by the end of the calendar year.
With my TP year ending on April 8th I have a decent chance of making Gold.
I've actually done more flying than that, with some more WTP legs but also discount Y which has me currently on 895 TP with a TATL WTP out, CW back booking to come over Christmas that will put me on 1125 TP by the end of the calendar year.
With my TP year ending on April 8th I have a decent chance of making Gold.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,888
See Head for Points
http://www.headforpoints.com/2015/11...e-uk-impacted/
For details.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,492
I had Silver for years, usually earning 600-700 tps a year... thanks to one trip to Vegas and clever routing I got BA Gold this year
#13
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sussex, UK
Programs: BA:Gold Amex:Green :IC Platinum Elite Amb
Posts: 660
#15
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New York
Programs: BAEC Silver, &c.
Posts: 446
To the original question: I'd say very tentatively yes.
I ran the numbers for a friend a while back, who travels mostly paid J or F, often full fare, and he would be better off with BA. Meaning, he would get a higher status more quickly with BAEC than with AAdvantage. Now with the recent AAdvantage changes that give 2 or 3 EQMs for business and first, it's now slightly less clear, but he still comes out ahead, meaning BA Gold (OW Emerald) versus AA Plat (OW Sapphire). The question is, though, if the redeemable benefits are better. BAEC has some perks; AAdvantage others. Will he get more out of Avios? Sure, complimentary lounge access on domestic US flights is nice, but would would upgrades on the (rare) occasions he flies paid economy be better? How frequently will he really be on BA versus AA metal? Maybe the lower tier on AA is actually more beneficial than the top on BA.
I ran the numbers for a friend a while back, who travels mostly paid J or F, often full fare, and he would be better off with BA. Meaning, he would get a higher status more quickly with BAEC than with AAdvantage. Now with the recent AAdvantage changes that give 2 or 3 EQMs for business and first, it's now slightly less clear, but he still comes out ahead, meaning BA Gold (OW Emerald) versus AA Plat (OW Sapphire). The question is, though, if the redeemable benefits are better. BAEC has some perks; AAdvantage others. Will he get more out of Avios? Sure, complimentary lounge access on domestic US flights is nice, but would would upgrades on the (rare) occasions he flies paid economy be better? How frequently will he really be on BA versus AA metal? Maybe the lower tier on AA is actually more beneficial than the top on BA.