Originally Posted by
Mr Enthused
There is a good chance that they do want to make Gold truly exclusive with fewer members.
The problem is that the non-corporate travellers who can afford to drop several tens of thousands of £££ are not very many, or potentially not regular enough to maintain that status.
Sure, I have maintained my OWE or OWS for a marginal amount of spend, but there are many who have loyalty to BA because of the perks of status who will now go to *A or ST, or simply choose based on price.
BAH never benefited me being an Antipodean type, so I don't feel a sense of loss in that regard.
However I am choosing between QR, AY or MH after I obtain BA Gold.
I think the other issue is that the travelers (corporate or non corporate aside) who can afford to maintain status are now questioning the value proposition of Gold. Am I capable of maintaining Gold in the new 'Club'? Yes. Am I willing to? No. Paying CW J fares to be served brunch and supper .... just no.
Others have said it here and I completely agree with it - BAEC was successful in retaining loyalty from people like us who KNOW that there are better products on offers from competitors e.g. VS , but stuck with BA because BAEC offered us something more in return. Under the old BAEC I would have hit GGL this year with my new travel pattern. Now I'm barely making Gold. I've done some quick math and switching transatlantic J fares to VS will:
- maintain Gold within Virgin Flying Club
- maintain Sky Team Elite Plus
- earn me reward vouchers that can be used on cash fares
- seemingly a better onboard product (time will tell - first flight is soon)
- seemingly a better lounge experience (as above)
- maintain the above status levels for the missus too when factoring in 2x long haul J holidays.
- I will likely maintain BA Silver / OWS through flights between regional airport and LHR.
If I stick with BA and carry out the same travel pattern, I will:
- maintain Gold within 'BAC'
- maintain OWE
- inconsistent at best, mediocre/poor onboard product at worst
- as above for lounge, though credit where credit is due, protein has at least increased post covid. Though still stuck with nonsense like QR code food ordering disappearing from the Flounge
- missus will maintain Silver, when she was previously Gold.
Now sure, BA may make Gold more exclusive and improve the experience for the end punter. But as we've seen with brunch and supper gate, it's further enhancing your experience with little signs of that changing. I believe what I see in the product I purchase, NOT what BA tell me is happening.