Originally Posted by
Tafflyer
Indeed. Why would anybody voluntarily transit the zoo that is LHR without having something in return? The cost as well as the hassle is disproportionate.
The more BA "enhances" the ground experience and the more HAL or the UK governent financially penalise those that see fit to transit this zoo, the tougher BA will find it to entice transfer passengers. Status would be one method, but they enhanced that too !
TBH I am part of the BA exec club (Gold) and live in London but I very rarely actually fly BA. I will generally fly them a few times within europe but for long haul i'd much rather fly one of the OW partners - QF, CX, QR takes care of my plans when flying east. And tbh I often even choose AA over BA these days when flying to the US if it's one of their 777-300's on the route.