Dear BA, why don't you want me to become gold?
May 8, 2013, 4:47 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 833
I reached gold for the first time last year after much frequent flying and not chasing it.
I've struggled to find redemption availability on any of the popular routes, and particularly at short notice. LHR-TXL, LHR-BCN, LHR-TLV .... the list goes on. Either zip availability or nowhere near the dates you need.
Flounge access.... meh.... Flounge is generally too busy with all the gold diggers anyway and the food is average !
1A / 1K .... only for the DYKWIA types with a big ego. Row 2 gets me there just as quickly, off the plane just as quickly and the same inflight service..... I don't see the big deal with 1A apart from ego massaging.
May 8, 2013, 5:12 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Really - a number of my redemptions went into V.
In KUL there were 3 other pax in the F lounge and the steak fillet was excellent as was the red accompanying it. At the GF in LHR T3 there was a grand total of 2 pax (myself included) last time I was there. JL F lounge at NRT is not too bad either.
But YMMV
But YMMV
May 8, 2013, 5:18 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MAN/BHX
Programs: ABBA
Posts: 6,027
Totally agreed. The improved catering made the F lounge worth it on its own in my mind. The improved catering was the best part for me (although that's gone downhill with the new caterers I'm hoping feedback makes them restore it to at least it's previous standard), but better drinks selection and generally less busy are good points too. When subjected to T3 it was also nice to be able to try out the CX F lounge (already used AA flagship when flying them - nothing special).
I've also had the message when trying to book reward flight savers that some of the flights are showing extra reward availability due to being gold (presumably the V bucket), that's been useful to me on occasion too.
I've used the extra bag just once, so not vital to me, but it did save a bit of money.
I especially like being able to select row 1. When sitting in 1C/D the person in the Window/Middle can walk out without you having to get up. When sitting in 1A/F vice versa.
Not having a seat a few inches from your face makes a big difference too, far less claustrophobic.
I flew with an infant in a row further back once (booked <24 hours to go, and couldn't move my seat because of the infant!). It was horrendous, fortunately it was only the MAN-LHR hop though.
May 8, 2013, 5:46 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
May 8, 2013, 5:58 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,433
As others have noted, the benefits become significantly more apparent when you fly other OneWorld in terms of both the published and softer benefits. Booking exit rows on BA is another important perk.
Silver is pretty generous for a low tier status for sure.
Silver is pretty generous for a low tier status for sure.
May 8, 2013, 6:13 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 142
Really ?
I reached gold for the first time last year after much frequent flying and not chasing it.
I've struggled to find redemption availability on any of the popular routes, and particularly at short notice. LHR-TXL, LHR-BCN, LHR-TLV .... the list goes on. Either zip availability or nowhere near the dates you need.
Flounge access.... meh.... Flounge is generally too busy with all the gold diggers anyway and the food is average !
1A / 1K .... only for the DYKWIA types with a big ego. Row 2 gets me there just as quickly, off the plane just as quickly and the same inflight service..... I don't see the big deal with 1A apart from ego massaging.
I reached gold for the first time last year after much frequent flying and not chasing it.
I've struggled to find redemption availability on any of the popular routes, and particularly at short notice. LHR-TXL, LHR-BCN, LHR-TLV .... the list goes on. Either zip availability or nowhere near the dates you need.
Flounge access.... meh.... Flounge is generally too busy with all the gold diggers anyway and the food is average !
1A / 1K .... only for the DYKWIA types with a big ego. Row 2 gets me there just as quickly, off the plane just as quickly and the same inflight service..... I don't see the big deal with 1A apart from ego massaging.
May 8, 2013, 8:18 am
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Another forum
Programs: Good Riddance FT!
Posts: 2,005
I've struggled to find redemption availability on any of the popular routes, and particularly at short notice. LHR-TXL, LHR-BCN, LHR-TLV .... the list goes on. Either zip availability or nowhere near the dates you need.
Flounge access.... meh.... Flounge is generally too busy with all the gold diggers anyway and the food is average !
1A / 1K .... only for the DYKWIA types with a big ego. Row 2 gets me there just as quickly, off the plane just as quickly and the same inflight service..... I don't see the big deal with 1A apart from ego massaging.
Last edited by BizFlyin; May 8, 2013 at 8:37 am
May 8, 2013, 8:29 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,328
Gold is really handy when flying QF in Australia. It's also nice on domestic AA flights as you're listed (and therefore treated) as ExPlat.
May 8, 2013, 8:37 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,500
Indeed - silver is the best value FF card BA offers. If you are flying enough to just scrape gold on BA, you may well be better off obtaining silver and putting the rest of your travel in to Star Alliance or Skyteam.
May 8, 2013, 8:43 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,056
More gold benefits are :
Free seat selection at the time of booking, whatever cabin you're travelling in, for everyone in your party - even people on other bookings as long as you are travelling in the same cabin on the same flight
Silvers can't do that for those on seperate pnr's (not officially anyway) and they cannot put blues in exit seats free whereas golds can.
Also an additional checked bag in any class of travel (excluding hand baggage only fares).
May 8, 2013, 6:22 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
My my, even though I have been on FT for 15 years and 3 days I still surprised at how a topic can go in different directions.
I don't believe I'm chasing gold. My travel has increased a lot in the last 18 months and I have been able to direct most to one world. I had a BA account and collect avois via Amex, tescos, etc and it was therefore a logical choice to pool as many miles into the same place. I was blue 18 months ago, have quickly gone up the metals, and I'm still 5 months from year end.
The benefits of gold to me are indeed limited but useful. GF lounge will be nice but often I'm travelling with more than one colleague or family. The three things I will use are; access to the front five rows of seats on domestic bookings greater than 3 days out, booking of seats for others, and redemption telephone booking fee.
Now back to celebrating my 15 year and 3 day FT joinday.
I don't believe I'm chasing gold. My travel has increased a lot in the last 18 months and I have been able to direct most to one world. I had a BA account and collect avois via Amex, tescos, etc and it was therefore a logical choice to pool as many miles into the same place. I was blue 18 months ago, have quickly gone up the metals, and I'm still 5 months from year end.
The benefits of gold to me are indeed limited but useful. GF lounge will be nice but often I'm travelling with more than one colleague or family. The three things I will use are; access to the front five rows of seats on domestic bookings greater than 3 days out, booking of seats for others, and redemption telephone booking fee.
Now back to celebrating my 15 year and 3 day FT joinday.
Do make sure you secure your return.
May 8, 2013, 7:28 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Gold/HH Diamond/IC Plat Amba
Posts: 5,989
May 9, 2013, 2:12 am
#30
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,056