firestarter197

Yeah it's a shame that it's the most loyal Conc flyers who are probably most hard done by. Like you said, I wouldn't rule out some additional gestures being made at a later stage, for me I'm just looking forward to a day where EI status goes beyond EI metal and it really starts to feel like being part of an alliance, as opposed to needing a 100% commitment to flights ticketed & marketed by a single airline to earn TCs.

blagger

I'm sure most haven't forgotten the change from Gold Circle to Aerclub. GC point balances devalued by 80%+ in the conversion to Avios, and I was burned on status (only 4 months into status year and just short of next level up). I was told tough luck, so I took the hint and took most of my spend elsewhere.

DELLAS

Controversial I know but there are Concierge members who are bagging 2-3K tier points a year so unless those kick up I doubt HQ care that much to be honest.

Rowley_Birkin_QC

Maybe a daytrip to Donegal is in order!

huruburu

I am a member of the British Airways Executive Club though haven't been active as yet. Everything about how British Airways is going about this looks carefully thought through, planned and communicated, with protecting membership interests in mind https://www.britishairways.com/conte...ection-changes
Is AerClub just plain making a thoughtless and damaging mistake? That's what it looks like to me. April 1, 2025 makes sense as the start date of the new universal qualification period. Nothing about AerClub's approach makes sense.

FlightDetective

Yes, that's pretty much what I would have thought as well.
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I also agree with the others on here, I'd take the plunge. As I mentioned up thread, I've taken flights to get me over the line before. Never regretted it!
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There have been rumours about this for a long time. Since British Airways and Aer Lingus are aligning the years to the same date, which is also Iberia's collection year, one would think this is another step towards something. I would be happy if status was recognised even across the IAG airlines, because it would mean my BA Gold would give me benefits on Aer Lingus which would actually make me fly Aer Lingus more. I've been living in hope since Aer Lingus left oneworld - it's the only reason I switched to BA, as there are so many more partners. I'd also hope that there would be reciprocal recognition among the Atlantic Joint Business partners, which would also mean American Airlines and Finnair. Here's hoping!

However, if BA are going to take another year to get their ducks in order with the collection date harmonisation, we'll be waiting at least that long before anything happens, imho.
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When you look at the BA changes, they are virtually identical to what Aer Lingus are doing, even down to the lookback adjustment - they have just pushed it out by a year.

As I mentioned before, I do believe the usual issuing of Platinum and Concierge upgrades will take place for those going up a tier and also for those who retain their existing tier based on the recalculation, as would happen if you retained the status in any other year. I assume that would also mean you get the year plus the following year to 31 March 2026 just like if you renewed your status any other time. It wouldn't make sense to do it any other way.

huruburu

We're obviously looking with different eyes. I see the British Airways plan as really respecting members' planning. Their communication is clear, thoughtful, with consideration given to every possible scenario for members, giving examples of process for each current anniversary date, month by month. The AerClub approach is extremely disrespectful, to the point of mindlessness. Also, I am very aware of the position of Green Tier members with current anniversary dates late in the year. In my own case, under the advertised and known rules when I purchased flights, I would move up to Silver in May, 6 months ahead of my anniversary, and have Silver status from May 2024 until November 2025. Instead, I had to change an AerSpace flight from April to March, losing a full week of a planned stay in Spain, and at an additional cost of €91. Furthermore, it seems I will have to start accumulating points all over again from April 1. This is just one example. I'm sure there are many members in similar positions, i.e., very close to moving up a tier and with anniversary dates late in the year. Flight Detective, I can do an analysis of the British Airways Executive Club plan and communication versus AerClub, but even on first reading I see a vast difference in respect, thoughtfulness, clarity and consideration. I'm ashamed of AerClub. We can talk away here but AerClub doesn't even answer emails! And that's an entrenched policy. I'm Irish and I work in the US and have had very long experience with Aer Lingus. Even after 30 years, I like traveling with Aer Lingus and it would be my preference. But I'm more and more interested in British Airways Executive Club because of how they are handling this transition. In the second year of the pandemic, AerClub extended members' status as we hadn't been able to fly frequently or at all. I really appreciated that. My feeling is that AerCLub has just botched this transition and hasn't thought it through. I know we see their performance very differently. I think there's been a huge breach of trust (changing the rules after the sale). I feel we are a privileged lot and this is not a complaint I necessarily would like to bring to Joe Duffy or the Irish Times, I'm glad to be able to write here though. I think what AerClub is doing is reprehensible.

gjc31

I can see your point huruburu. I would also have liked a longer transition period/more advance notice, a month really isn’t enough. And yes, replies to emails are woefully lacking which really isn’t good enough for an international airline. I was aiming for platinum before September which would have given me status until Oct 2025, then a soft landing to silver until Oct 2026. I have a day trip to Dublin next week which will hopefully get me bounced up to platinum from April 2024 then silver until April 2026 - so in theory I will lose 6 months, but it is what it is. Realistically, given that they are using the retrospective from April 2023, I’m (hopefully) reaching platinum much more easily than I would have otherwise. Whichever way they did it some people would lose out.

I’m also in BAEC and this is the first time ever I’ve had any status with any airline. I rather like Aer Lingus. It is so much more convenient for me to travel through Dublin rather than having to get to Heathrow. It’s less crowded, and I’ve always found staff to be really helpful, so I’ll be sticking with them 🙂

huruburu

I like your balanced, granular attitude, gjc31. If you think about it, tier credits are an asset, acquired according to stated rules. AerClub is stripping members of those assets. It won't matter to some members. It will matter significantly to others. In a program managed according to an annual calendar, there's a world of difference between a month and a year. The Aer Lingus crew and staff with whom I have interacted in person are usually excellent! The phone service is okay if you can tolerate long wait times. The email communication is next to non-existent. When something goes wrong with a flight, support on the ground and compensation can also be non-existent. It seems as if the various departments in Aer Lingus are divided from one another. AerClub is a prime example of this. It's also divided from its members and literally doesn't seem to think, respond, or communicate effectively. In a loyalty program, that's bad. And suddenly and clumsily changing the goal-posts to the detriment of members (any or many) makes it disreputable. I guess the Better Business Bureau might be a somewhere to consult if it still exists! Hmm it's North American! Well, maybe the Ombudsman! Nope, that's not for airline complaints. There is an Aer Lingus Complaints Action Group with 9.4K members on Facebook. I think I'll drop in there and maybe at least learn where to make a formal complaint.

Rowley_Birkin_QC

Thanks! I'm new to the forum but I saw your calculations above reckoning that approx. 947 on the countback would tip the balance. I'm most likely going to book a day trip somewhere with a Plus x2 to take me up to 965 or thereabouts. Can I ask how you are basing the calculations?

If not comfortable sharing, no problem and thanks again for the insight!

soy

Where you are going wrong is with the idea that EI leadership actually cares about the loyalty program. They don't and never have. I think BA leadership have a very different attitude towards BAEC.
That said EI profits were up in the recent results, so in their mind (and IAG's), its all going great

alserire

That forum is full of people who fly a couple of
times a year and have hardly any idea how air travel operates. I try and pitch in to help people and then you get abuse when the information doesn’t help them.

There’s nothing there to help. This forum is far more informative

huruburu

Thanks Soy. Unfortunately I am well aware of the sorry situation. Yes, you're right about the profits, I believe.

huruburu

Thanks for the warning, alserire. It's good to get an endorsement for this forum.

FlightDetective

Welcome to FlyerTalk - there are a few new people who seem to have joined as a result of the changes. Hopefully you stick around and drop in from time to time if you have a question or even better, if you can answer one! It really is the brain trust here, with some great knowledge from the members. I've learned a lot of the granular detail on the programme from this site. I would expect that booking will do you well!

If EI leadership didn't care about the programme, they'd remove it and redeploy the staff and save any overhead. That's business 101. Since the harmonisation is going on and it's all on one IT platform, it sounds to me like IAG certainly value it, and I'd say whatever they value, the owned airlines must value too.