Originally Posted by
marwah0
I have been reading this thread with interest as a primarily DL and UA flyer from across the pond...and having a conceptual understanding of the (soon to be extinct) BAEC program but no firsthand experience. Many of the comments and perspectives I have read here are very similar to when DL announced wholesale changes to its program in September 2023. While DL did "retract" from its original plan somewhat (there is some speculation this was part of the plan all along), 2024 was the first year of earning under the new criteria and the changes to status and lounge access go into effect in just a few weeks on February 1. We will see what happens in the coming year, but so far, the projections of large customer defections (and associated revenue shortfall for DL) have not materialized.
Looking at the DL program - it looks like similar status would actually be similar in $ terms as the new BA program, but the economic reality and discretionary spending is very different in the UK.
Additionally, up to 2,500 TPs will be able to generated via CC spend (in the UK and US only). For DL, you can get a card that will give you a $2,500 MQD head start every year just by paying the annual fee. I know plenty of people who could spent enough for the MQDs to be a non-issue if using DL cards but that can only get you so far in this program.
For EU based members these changes are even worse as they will have the full minimum spend but no way to get any TPs from anything else.
This is why I would expect that BA is either going to come out soon with additional ways of earning TPs, or will find that at least a portion of members will find that they are better valued elsewhere.