Originally Posted by
DaveBlaine
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Thank you! Hoping the new job means I stop skimming the forums without an account and start actually posting!
Originally Posted by
Mwenenzi
denkmit Welcome to FT
I see no compelling reason to change from BA.
AA would be the only option. USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit cards/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s)
For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your freq flyer programme (no codeshares) with your airlines upgrade instrument (e.g. SWU, miles) or complementary with status (if applicable). All subject to the t&c's of your FFP and your paid ticket. Low cost tickets are often not eligible for upgrades.
However as is the way with FFP's there are some upgrade exceptions
- on AA/BA/IB with higher priced economy fares using AA/BA/IB upgrade instruments
- on some BA tickets with Asia Miles
Lounge access is by status or class of travel or purchase a lounge membership. However AA status does not get you USA domestic lounge access on a USA domestic itinerary. But not likely to apply to you
Is the LHR-MEL flight (mainly) on BA or another Oneworld airline? BA codeshare on another airline? (And a good time to visit Melbourne)
The grass in not always
greener on the other side
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html
Thank you for the detailed response - it confirms what I thought. The main reason I've been swaying is that some colleagues who travel the same routes are big fans of Emirates - but I'd rather fly direct.
LHR-MEL isn't booked yet, but it'll probably be with Cathy or Qantas, so I'll get my tier points and get my silver status thankfully.