Originally Posted by
Raffles
A key driver is whether people who have requalified for 25/26 but have zero chance of requlifying for 26/27 continue flying BA in 25/26 (because they get their status benefits) or if they defect now to try to build status elsewhere.
I thought about this recently - as requalified GGL/imminent GfL but with no chance to keep GGL 26/27, I am finding that I retain a BA preference in 25/26, knowing they will continue to treat me well.
But where I would pretty much always have booked domestic / band 1-2 in CE for the TP, I have found myself saving the money in Y as GGL(fL) is now impossible.
Post April 2026 GfL will keep me on BA and AA for short-haul, albeit with more Y on short sectors. I'll also save money not being tied to an alliance on long-haul, as decent lounges are included with the ticket price.
This comes around to what I think BA have underestimated - from silver to GGL, BAEC kept customers flying BA as the perks meant they were offered a better product than the competition. The more people have cards, the more people prefer BA and therefore exert upward pressure on pricing. Yes, the lounges were too full, but getting rid of double tier points would have fixed that.
It feels like a classic case of a project losing its way - rebranding to remove 'Executive' and aim more at the growth in premium leisure... while disproportionately rewarding the shrinking numbers on rebated corporate full-fare.