BA treatment of EXPs
May 23, 2006, 1:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: JFK
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/ConciergeKey
Posts: 292
BA treatment of EXPs
Is it me? Or BA treats AA EXP just like non-Executive Club members?!?! I have a reservation for LHR-BEY-LHR. I called BA to get seat assignments, I was told they cannot assign seats except at the airport, apparently flight is full and only Executive Club members can be assigned seat. I will probably be stuck in a middle seat!!!
Doesn’t EXP count for anything?? Aside from Lounge Access, BA doesn’t offers EXPs much, am I wrong?
Is it the same with other non-BA one world carriers?
Doesn’t EXP count for anything?? Aside from Lounge Access, BA doesn’t offers EXPs much, am I wrong?
Is it the same with other non-BA one world carriers?
May 23, 2006, 1:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX...Ex MAD Ex SJC Ex ORD
Programs: US Chairmans, AA Lifetime Gold, SPG Platinum
Posts: 845
BA does not seem to assign seats in advance unless you have a Business Class booking on these shorter flights...AA status, unfortunately, does not help.
HOWEVER, as a Plat, I have been upgraded into C on European flights particularly when they are full in the back.
Your OneWorld status may well score you an upgrade, so I would recommend reserving judgement about BAs treatment of EXPs until after the flight
Good luck...
HOWEVER, as a Plat, I have been upgraded into C on European flights particularly when they are full in the back.
Your OneWorld status may well score you an upgrade, so I would recommend reserving judgement about BAs treatment of EXPs until after the flight
Good luck...
May 23, 2006, 1:49 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
Originally Posted by FlyACN
Doesn’t EXP count for anything?? Aside from Lounge Access, BA doesn’t offers EXPs much, am I wrong?
May 23, 2006, 1:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
AA elite status means nothing to BA in my experience. Truely absolutely nothing. CX is the best in recognizing AA elites.
May 23, 2006, 2:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
Originally Posted by FlyACN
...Is it the same with other non-BA one world carriers?
May 23, 2006, 2:41 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: JFK
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/ConciergeKey
Posts: 292
Originally Posted by Blumie
There have been reports of AA elites getting op ups on CX, but for the most part your AA status means nothing to other OW carriers except what they're obligated to provide according to the terms of the alliance. By the same token, can you imagine an AA agent bending the rules just because a BA elite flashes a gold card in his or her face?
If BA was not assigning seats to anyone, i would not expect them to bend the rule for me, but she specificly said "only executive club members at this point can pre-assign seats"
By the way LHR-BEY-LHR is not Europe... albeit it seems that BA treats it this way!
May 23, 2006, 3:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors DIA, Fairmont GLD they make me feel special!
Posts: 346
Originally Posted by FlyACN
BA Silvers and Gold can pre-assign exit row seats on AA. BA does not allow Exit row assignment except to BA Golds. The only exception is airport assignment.
If BA was not assigning seats to anyone, i would not expect them to bend the rule for me, but she specificly said "only executive club members at this point can pre-assign seats"
By the way LHR-BEY-LHR is not Europe... albeit it seems that BA treats it this way!
If BA was not assigning seats to anyone, i would not expect them to bend the rule for me, but she specificly said "only executive club members at this point can pre-assign seats"
By the way LHR-BEY-LHR is not Europe... albeit it seems that BA treats it this way!
May 23, 2006, 4:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 91
Sapphire gets treated even worse, in my limited experience. Admittedly, I use them only once a year, but they now get zero from me: I'll be utilizing Gulf Air AA codeshares for my DOH/BAH/DXB flight back to Europe.
May 23, 2006, 5:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
Originally Posted by FlyACN
By the way LHR-BEY-LHR is not Europe... albeit it seems that BA treats it this way!
From the BA website FAQ:
Pre-seating in Euro Traveller is not available on any route at anytime (Euro Traveller is our European leisure product).
Pre-seating is not available in emergency exit rows as Airport staff are required by law to actually see the people given emergency exit seats to ensure that they can assist in an emergency.
I certainly don't agree that EXP counts for nothing. I've had a transatlantic op upgrade, for instance, and the elite checkin line is a lifesaver compared to the zoos BA usually have for coach checkin....
May 23, 2006, 5:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,127
I have had great luck with BA (and all OW carriers) with EXP status... BA, in particular, while they do not allow advance seat assignments, has almost always assigned me the row just behind business class which is still the 2X3 seating on narrow-bodies.... without even asking...
May 23, 2006, 5:16 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
BA been kind to this EP
Originally Posted by mizzou miles
..BA, in particular, while they do not allow advance seat assignments, has almost always assigned me the row just behind business class which is still the 2X3 seating on narrow-bodies.... without even asking...
May 23, 2006, 6:21 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Anywhere but here
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 122
And they give you the ABC side of the aircraft which is usually set up as 2 seats not 3 giving you a bit more room.
I switched from BA EC to AAdvantage because of how I was treated as a BA blue. Honestly, as Plat and now EXP I am treated better by BA now than when I was with them.
Flying back from Oz earlier this year in J I did not have a seat assignment. I was put in 64k which some argue is one of the best seats on the plane. Also, the flight was over booked.
Yes they ask for cards for lounge access and yes seat assignments can be a pain but overall they are just fine.
I switched from BA EC to AAdvantage because of how I was treated as a BA blue. Honestly, as Plat and now EXP I am treated better by BA now than when I was with them.
Flying back from Oz earlier this year in J I did not have a seat assignment. I was put in 64k which some argue is one of the best seats on the plane. Also, the flight was over booked.
Yes they ask for cards for lounge access and yes seat assignments can be a pain but overall they are just fine.
May 23, 2006, 6:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 141
ba upgraded once from J to F in LHR-YYZ
iberia upgraded twice (yup) from LHR to MAD.
both of the ow carriers normally honor my emerald status .
G.
iberia upgraded twice (yup) from LHR to MAD.
both of the ow carriers normally honor my emerald status .
G.
May 23, 2006, 7:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: WAS & AGP
Programs: AA member since 1990 (lifetime PLT/OWS)
Posts: 242
Expanded Award Availability
Don't forget that EXP and PLT have access to "V" class inventory on BA for economy class award tickets.
May 23, 2006, 8:04 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA ex-EXP, 2MM (ex DL, ex TWA)
Posts: 1,427
You have missed the point. On the BritAer website you are required to let them know if you are a Lord or Lady, Sir or Dame. If not one of these then you are treated as befits your rank of knave, serf or yokel.