My Craving To Be A Gold Card Holder Won't Go Away!! (it's the benefits I'll enjoy!)
Oct 6, 2015 | 4:47 am
#46
Original Poster
Ambassador: The British Airways Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 10,877
......... 
The main reasons in going for Gold, apart from the fact I love flying, travelling and the whole Aviation thing anyway and have done since an early age, is that it will be very enjoyable to enjoy the BA FLounge as well as other OW First Lounges worldwide, 100% Avios, V class availability if required, the choice of exit seats on longhaul (^), the choice of row 1 for a change etc etc........
Oct 6, 2015 | 5:03 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,488
PETER01 ... in your case I can see the additional benefits of "FLounge", "Exit Row' and the "100% Avios bonus".
I go along with #1 and #3 ... #2 is of lesser importance when flying J, of course
I go along with #1 and #3 ... #2 is of lesser importance when flying J, of course
Oct 6, 2015 | 7:31 am
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,854
If you're as keen on flying as you seem to be then go for it and get it out your system no matter what anyone else says. There are two distinct groups of Goldies on here, those who earn it solely through flying for work and leisure fliers like yourself who earn it through flying just for the love of it. The former do seem to feel superior at times but at the end of the day you all have the same coloured card.
I belong to a third group....
Oct 6, 2015 | 7:37 am
#49
Ambassador: The British Airways Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 17,021
What a splendid idea PETER01 ^ - for clarification the splendid idea is you Going for Gold not the idea that Ambassadors should fly long haul in Y ... that's just a preposterous idea 
I've just ordered one of these for you:
I've just ordered one of these for you:
Oct 6, 2015 | 7:55 am
#50
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 837
WIth you on this Peter... although I have only ever reached Bronze in the past, I am looking forward to being Gold at the end of this year ((two months into my membership year).
I have a HNL run booked back in the heyday of 1340 points and I'm on a JER-AMS run this weekend!
But also thinking now about whether I can squeeze another 1,000 points for the GU42 ...
Having been on quite a few sectors in the past couple of months - most of them in Y, I really do appreciate being able to use the lounge. And having been kindly guested into GF back in June, I certainly value the difference.
I also look forward to being able to guest my companions (and other flyertalkers) into the FLounge when I get the chance!
So, depending on how I feel when I get back, I can see an annual HNL run being factored into my diary!
I have a HNL run booked back in the heyday of 1340 points and I'm on a JER-AMS run this weekend!
But also thinking now about whether I can squeeze another 1,000 points for the GU42 ...
Having been on quite a few sectors in the past couple of months - most of them in Y, I really do appreciate being able to use the lounge. And having been kindly guested into GF back in June, I certainly value the difference.
I also look forward to being able to guest my companions (and other flyertalkers) into the FLounge when I get the chance!
So, depending on how I feel when I get back, I can see an annual HNL run being factored into my diary!
Oct 6, 2015 | 8:14 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 60
What are jokers?
What are GUFs?
A special phone line?
Every time we call BA we seem to get an ordinary phone number and long waits and pushing buttons.
Last edited by ParJA; Oct 6, 2015 at 8:54 am
Oct 6, 2015 | 10:42 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
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... and for those who are concerned about 'whether they can cope', if I could do the return trip to JER in one go back in January, I'm sure you youngsters can manage!
Oct 6, 2015 | 12:00 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Not for vanity reasons I can assure you, I won't use the luggage tags for example but I've been sitting on the fence for a while with this now and I am going to go for it early next year. Well, fingers crossed I am planning a TP run for then to get almost 2 years as a GCH since my membership year starts again then and I have quite a few travel plans for 2016 and 2017 anyhow.
I really don't mind WT and WT+, that's my budget range and CW or F is a BIG treat for me but I'm sure you'll all agree lounges do make a difference when travelling in these lower classes for those who do that?
The main reasons in going for Gold, apart from the fact I love flying, travelling and the whole Aviation thing anyway and have done since an early age, is that it will be very enjoyable to enjoy the BA FLounge as well as other OW First Lounges worldwide, 100% Avios, the choice of exit seats on longhaul (^), the choice of row 1 for a change etc etc so that's the cause of my 'craving'
Is such a craving 'normal'?
Do you have any cravings to get to a higher status? I'm just curious!
I really don't mind WT and WT+, that's my budget range and CW or F is a BIG treat for me but I'm sure you'll all agree lounges do make a difference when travelling in these lower classes for those who do that?
The main reasons in going for Gold, apart from the fact I love flying, travelling and the whole Aviation thing anyway and have done since an early age, is that it will be very enjoyable to enjoy the BA FLounge as well as other OW First Lounges worldwide, 100% Avios, the choice of exit seats on longhaul (^), the choice of row 1 for a change etc etc so that's the cause of my 'craving'
Is such a craving 'normal'?
Do you have any cravings to get to a higher status? I'm just curious!
Oct 6, 2015 | 12:14 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,594
The other advantage of being a Gold (OW Emerald) in the US is a complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack when flying in economy / coach on AA flights.
In addition you may also get an occasional upgrades to First when flying on AA. You apparently can't get on the upgrade list as OWE but AA will upgrade you nonetheless if they need to in order to free up an additional economy seat to get a standby passenger on board.
In addition you may also get an occasional upgrades to First when flying on AA. You apparently can't get on the upgrade list as OWE but AA will upgrade you nonetheless if they need to in order to free up an additional economy seat to get a standby passenger on board.
Oct 6, 2015 | 12:40 pm
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, CC Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,000
Oct 6, 2015 | 12:49 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,594
Oct 6, 2015 | 12:52 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,488
As OWE in AA Domestic First, we were discreetly given packets of nice snacks from a 'secret cupboard' in the galley, which we could see from our seats. Just the 2 of us, and one other pax in the F cabin, the rest had 'something else'.
Not sure that was totally worth pursuing Gold/OWE renewal, but these little things do sometimes make you feel "our business is important to them'.
Not sure that was totally worth pursuing Gold/OWE renewal, but these little things do sometimes make you feel "our business is important to them'.
Oct 6, 2015 | 1:10 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA GGL, GfL
Posts: 510
The GUFs are the upgrade vouchers you get at 2500 TPs, then 3500 TPs and beyond.
On the back of your BAEC card is a phone number which varies according to the flavour of card. I found the Gold line pretty good last year. Yesterday had my first need to phone since I got my GGL card and I was super-impressed with the quick response time and the help I got.
Oct 6, 2015 | 1:13 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA GGL, GfL
Posts: 510
I also like being able to select the Main Cabin Extra seats for free - though I think maybe Silvers can do that too??
Oct 8, 2015 | 1:42 pm
#60
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 837
