Originally Posted by
IAN-UK
It's difficult to phrase the question without it sounding like an attempt to needle you - which is not the intention! But what are the joys of GGL above vanilla Gold that make it worth the effort + time and cash?
My take has always been that travel beyond Gold requalification is better channelled into status with another alliance, giving me a wider spread of comfort across global networks. Perhaps I'm missing something, and should have aimed higher within BAEC, but i thought GGL offers some upgrade paths with BA I never really understood, and lounge privileges at LHR.
On the other hand Turkish elite+ (quite easy to get) earns me two relatively straightforward, long-haul upgrades through Istanbul at no cost (except for the uplift in APD if travelling from UK), and STAR Gold privileges cross the alliance network.
In short, the benefits work for me. Not really that fussed about the CCR but:
- Being able to give my partner Gold is helpful as he travels in Y a lot for work
- Being able to give my sister in Oz a BA Silver card gets her access to the Qantas Club / Business class check-in (She doesn't care about points and only flies Y)
- Between my partner and I, being able to use A Class availability for 2-4-1 Avios redemptions twice a year (although maybe the A class Jokers will go)
Originally Posted by
IAN-UK
But back to the Sri Lankan trip. I've done it a number times, but I've never been through any sort of credit card inquisition. I was prepared for it on my first trip because I'd got a replacement card between buying the ticket and the date of travel: but the letter confirming this, which I'd wheedled out of MBNA, wasn't needed. Perhaps I was lucky...
I guess that all depends on how you pay, in my case Amex on UL. The website was pretty clear on
Mandatory Plastic Check and I would rather not take the risk (just one less thing to worry about if I can sort it before travelling and doing a B2B at AUH).