Originally Posted by
Farringdon
Interesting. Is this going to be related to the Heathrow by Invitation service, which is basically a paid-for VIP service. Maybe a lower end version of that?
I also wonder how the airlines feel about a premium BAA product. It obviously wouldn't get you any benefits once you're on the plane, but if you can get fast track service and possibly some kind of lounge access through a BAA product, how much does that undercut the airlines' own offerings?
I'd say it would undercut the airlines' own offerings minimally at most. Check in and and boarding are still priority for premium cabin and card holders. The same is true for baggage at the other end. Then there's the priority when things go wrong. These are worth more than the lounge access (and don't expect a BAA/Priority Pass type lounge to come close to BA's offering at LHR though I'd love to have an option for when I'm not silver anymore
).
It will be interesting to see if BAA negotiates with the airlines for access to this for their premium passengers (which I believe is what happened at SYD).