^

I think the voucher idea is a good middle ground. Provide all EC Silver/Gold members with say 2 single use vouchers each permitting 1 extra guest (travelling on the same flight as the sponsoring BAEC member). That way, families on the annual trip of a lifetime get in, but we don't end up with horrendously overcrowded lounges at every turn. Or people argueing that granny/grandpa/uncle/aunt/twenty-third cousin twice removed is family....

And with the vouchers, the dinkies/sinkies of this world can choose to extend lounge largesse on the occasions when we're travelling with non-elite friends.....