Originally Posted by
dark_horse
Furthermore, they are less valued anyway. Remember that those who fly with BA are the ones who earn the TPs (although it's only been in the past few years that you could earn those on cheapest economy).
Indeed.
It has become two different programmes. The BAEC for status and Avios for points/miles call them what you will.
Having status has its published benefits...of course it's only natural that those who have it will always want more to differentiate themselves from those who don't. C'est la vie.