Changes for BA Silver (emerald) card holders??
Jul 5, 2016, 1:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: UK
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 63
Changes for BA Silver (emerald) card holders??
At Vienna now and at check in was informed that as of 1st July my BA silver card (Sapphire one world ) does not grant me priority boarding or fast lane check in on Air Berlrin Flights. Did I miss something?
Last edited by Bratislava Blade; Jul 5, 2016 at 1:24 am
Jul 5, 2016, 2:06 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: UK
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 63
Update: I called AB service line just now and was informed BA Silver card (Sapphire) flying AirBerlin now has NO priority boarding, NO security fast track, NO lounge access. I was told this was from 1.1.16
Jul 5, 2016, 2:24 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
You likely got an agent who confused AB Silver (=BA Bronze, OW Ruby) with BA Silver.
Fast Track Security is a benefit nominally reserved for Emeralds, and you may indeed not get it.
You will get lounge access and priority boarding, though. Those remain standard OW Sapphire benefits.
Fast Track Security is a benefit nominally reserved for Emeralds, and you may indeed not get it.
You will get lounge access and priority boarding, though. Those remain standard OW Sapphire benefits.
Jul 5, 2016, 8:14 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: UK
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 63
[QUOTE=bhomburg;26871549]You likely got an agent who confused AB Silver (=BA Bronze, OW Ruby) with BA Silver.
I thought the same initially but the Vienna groundstaff of AB all said no (both check in and ticket office staff) and that for Sapphire BA it had changed and then the agent at AB who I phoned afterwards said also said the same,no. I'm confused.
I thought the same initially but the Vienna groundstaff of AB all said no (both check in and ticket office staff) and that for Sapphire BA it had changed and then the agent at AB who I phoned afterwards said also said the same,no. I'm confused.
Jul 5, 2016, 9:51 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
Did you show your card?
Oneworld clearly states lounge access, priority boarding and priority (business class) check-in are and remain Sapphire benefits: https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/sapphire-privileges.
This very perplexing as VIE is an AB/HG hub, and staff should definitely be trained in OW policies. Wouldn't shock me much if they weren't, though. I've seen AB GAs at TXL only call topbonus members and not their oneworld equivalents out during priority boarding announcements.
It's been awhile since I've been through there, but the lounge had the color-coded oneworld symbols at the entrance as well.
Oneworld clearly states lounge access, priority boarding and priority (business class) check-in are and remain Sapphire benefits: https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/sapphire-privileges.
This very perplexing as VIE is an AB/HG hub, and staff should definitely be trained in OW policies. Wouldn't shock me much if they weren't, though. I've seen AB GAs at TXL only call topbonus members and not their oneworld equivalents out during priority boarding announcements.
It's been awhile since I've been through there, but the lounge had the color-coded oneworld symbols at the entrance as well.
Jul 5, 2016, 10:53 am
#6
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
BA does indeed have a confusing tier system when Silver is Sapphire (Silver normally corresponding to Ruby) and Gold is Emerald (Gold normally corresponding to Emerald).
I think the incident above was simply comfusion.
I think the incident above was simply comfusion.
Jul 15, 2016, 2:47 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: CBG
Programs: BAEC Silver; M&M FT
Posts: 233
Data point: flew MUC-CGN on Wednesday, OWS - the online and self-print boarding passes did not show the usual "fast lane" etc. I then asked for a printed boarding pass at the check-in counter at the airport; and that one showed all the benefits as usual.
Jul 23, 2016, 3:52 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,703
Did FRA-TXL-PRG this morning and my home printed BP had both Priority Boarding and Fast Security Lane printed. The implementation of those benefits is a different story though (no priority boarding at TXL, no fast track security at TXL C either). I also could access the lounge at FRA after presentation of my BA card).
Jul 26, 2016, 1:55 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,703
And one more data point: currently sitting in PRG lounge after presentation of my BP (no card needed this time ). Home printed BP has again Fast lane security and priority boarding printed. All this on a standard Eco fare as BA Silver.
I even got a priority tag for my checked luggage.
I even got a priority tag for my checked luggage.