Full disclosure, I'm GGL (last 10yrs), and have been willing to stick up for BA for a long time because of the overall benefits. I know, from the many responses on this forum, there are options to vote with my wallet (which I have done this year), so this is more a post about the sad decline of BA and it's FFP over the years I have actively engaged with it vs a full on rant, but there will be some who view it as an entitled post, and so be it. For those who closely follow this forum, you know my loyalty has been to BA with the Fleet Status thread and Fleet updates, but I just have lost interest.

I am currently typing this from 1K on the BA283 to LAX, a position which many will say I should refrain from throwing stones when sitting in a glass house, but the experience just proves why I am right to move to other carriers.

1) Booking - I started ex-DUB, because I refuse to pay the 'green tax' the UK Govt insists on charging when none of it goes on green issues, but BA revenue says no to the use of a GUF since the move to PoC, so I have to use a joker to open award space when ex-UK is F7/A7 (commercial issues, fair enough, but why give GUF's out if you limit their use)
2) Boarding - 1 airbridge with a huge queue, partially HAL's issue - but not very premium
3) Onboard - CC member says hi, but is under pressure, admits she is solo in First awaiting stand-by crew member to join her, so things will be delayed. I thank them for the explanation, but why wasn't an extra CC member assigned to the First cabin during boarding by the CSD to cover the basics until the relief crew member arrived. We got the PJ's, then wash bag and finally PDB (just before take-off), but no snacks because of the crew issue, but this is LAX in First - a premium route for any airline and the standards are more akin to Norse vs BA!
4) After take-off, try to log-into WIFI to be told my log-in has already been used, same for O/H, so CSD says she will log it, but it's a recurring problem, so I buy two passes as I have to work on this flight. WIFI has been very poor, the sooner Starlink is rolled out the better, but it is not worth £20 for the flight based on drop levels.
5) Meal is very average, foods standards have definitely dropped and that can be lumped in with brunch gate and the lack of hot meals from UK / Ireland morning flights since last week - we are paying more for less!
6) First bathroom had only hand cream in it, I brought soap up from Club (and was thanked by the CC), again basics just not acceptable for the price BA want to charge. I haven't paid for F in years because it doesn't match the premium charged, but I enjoy the extra space, and was lucky enough to travel in it 12 times last year, of which 6 had major service issues.

I have been lucky enough to experience Swiss, Qatar and a few other airlines First, but BA's slide down the rankings while abusing their status at LHR to charge a premium and gutting their FFP does make me laugh. I was booking CPT flights for next Xmas this week and even then my GUF was useless (as well as the Joker because they blocked A class from the UK). Why reward FF members with one hand and take with the other!

Many will say, vote with your wallet and move program's / airlines, and while I have moved airlines (Qatar is my preferred carrier going East now, followed by Finnair), I'm 3/4's of the way to GGLfL status, so it seems a waste to start again. Come April, I will have passed the £40K spend threshold, but only £15K will have been with BA. I will drop from GGL status and will partially miss the hit or miss perks, but the overall services levels have disappointed me so often these past 24 months, the release will actually feel like an awakening.

BA - you were my first love in terms of FF status - but I 've found others who love me more and show it, so thank you for the good times and I hope you find your level (eventually!)

Pilot37