I am BA Gold and *A Gold and for what it's worth I don't think any of the schemes are worth anything! I travel in business in Europe and Intercontinental so i get lounge access, the class I want and my company wants to pay. I get a pre assisgned seat on ful fare and I get a seat when I need one as no airline is really going to turn away a full fare ticket.

I have only once had to call on BA for use of its assistance service for being offloaded off a flight and received no help woth mentioning. Travelling as I do, free flights are OK but I maybe use them once a year because I would rather pop in the car and meander through France or some other European country.

I also find once they have you in their elite status the offers seem to dry up!