Originally Posted by
Adam Smith
I think the bottom line is AC has too few zones. I think the US3 are pretty much all doing something like:
- GS/ConciergeKey/whatever DL's equivalent is
- 1K/EXP/Diamond
- J/F/some lesser elites
- Even lesser elites + *G
- ~3-6 more groups after that
I think that the Star Alliance that has too few zones. I quite like the OneWorld tiers -- I think Star really needs a level above Gold to really encourage high-tier FFs to travel within the alliance. As a BA Gold (OneWorld Emerald, top tier) I was always amongst the first to board. As an AC SE, AC*G doesn't really feel like I'm getting comparable benefits from other alliance airlines and isn't much of an incentive for me to fly within the alliance. The only reason I'd fly Star on a route that AC doesn't fly is to get the AQM. Once I know that SE is in the bag for the year, it's open season as far as I'm concerned -- I'll go where I'll get the best service for my $$$/£££/€€€.
For what it's worth, I also thought that the BA Zones/Groups worked well -- they were a real benefit to FFs and other premium customers, but easy enough for everybody to understand:
- Group 1: First Class / BA Gold / OW Emerald
- Group 2: Business Class / BA Silver / OW Sapphire
- Group 3: Prem Economy / BA Bronze / OW Ruby
- Groups 4-5: Economy
Easy peasy!