<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Merry:
I hate to jump this thread around, but I just have to go back to number_6's comments.
Without getting all technical, if you are a regular BA First passenger you will attain category 5 Gold in the EC. This presents you with some benefits which only the top BA levels will give you:
- 24 hours seat guarantee.
- A greater level of assistance from Special Services.
- Easier access to your prefered seat choice.
to name a few. Is QF Platinum "more valuable" than BA Gold? No way. In fact BA Gold has more benefits on BA that even the top QF level.
My list was in no specific order, as I don't think there are any real service differentials (in First) between any of the top four. Sentiment always tells me SQ and CX should offer a better service than BA, but in practice I think this is something of a myth.
As far as I am concerned a First Class product is not just about the in the air element and on that basis LH - in my opinion - cannot be in the 'first divsion'. The seats do not go fully flat; the inflight entertainment system is actually worse than BA's; the lounge network is very poor; the meal options and service are less flexible; there are no single seats and therefor much less privacy; there is no guest dining option; etc etc...
Quote "And no Krug on one fligh I was on", Krug was actually gone for over a year and is still only an option, in other words even now not all flights have got Krug back.
I know I will be accused of being biased in my comments about carriers, but of the three we are talking about I have no special allegiance over the others, those of you that frequent the LH forum willl know that I think it is a fine airline and I have inviation only level membership in LH and QF (Hons and Chairmans).
Nick</font>
This thread is moved from the "LAX-LHR in Y" thread as it has a slightly different focus.
Thank you Merry for your excellent insight -- much more informative than what BA has been able to tell me about why I should fly BA!
Can you clarify exactly what are the intangible benefits, such as the "greater level of assistance from Special Services"? Maybe I am naive, but I presumed that a paid F ticket already merits such assistance, and the few times that I have required assistance, it has been amply provided by various airlines. But the assistance I've required have been simple things, such as delivering delayed baggage to my hotel (albeit it involved a 200 mile taxi ride for the luggage, and a hefty fee for the airline). In any case that is hardly special service, it is the airline fulfilling it's contract.
Does the 24-hour ticket purchase guarantee apply to F or J? I believe it is for Y only, which many airlines offer.
As for "easier access to preferred seat choice", this seems to be a very artificial benefit that is constructed by BA. Most other airlines allow me to pre-select my seat without limitation, particularly at top-tier level ... in any case, I find all seats to be acceptable (even the F seats with the built-in showers).
As for QF Platinum being more valuable to me than BA Gold, my rationale is that when I am flying QF it will be on routes where there are few flights and few empty seats, while on BA there are flights every hour on the hour and 10 airlines to choose from. Thus rerouting on QF or coping with a delay is difficult and status becomes useful, while rerouting on BA (holding a paid-F ticket) is trivial and BA would go to some trouble to accomodate me, irregardless of status.
The second consideration is that QF Platinum has much fewer members than BA Gold, thus the priority status value is greater (on the rare occasions that it comes into play). This year the planes are empty in F (except on those airlines that fill it up for free), thus it is easy to get a seat anytime, on any flight ... but that will change.
I suppose the answer lies in the original topic: what are the BA Gold categories and what are their benefits?