Tobias-UK

Is it something you've said?

KARFA

Don't worry layz, I didn't mean you, and tbh I don't think anyone has advanced that argument on this thread. It was more a response to comments I have seen being made in other threads. I feel better now I have got that off my chest anyway - my therapist says it is best to express my feelings and not hold them in

layz

That's correct. There's no change for existing members.

Fly Baby

I was wondering about this only the other day! The difference between the semi-closeted world of the FT BAEC Forum and the world beyond our digital borders....

I got chatting to three men in the lounge last week (who were sat at the table next to me drinking quite a lot of fizz and consequently in a chatty mood...) They were travelling together on their 3rd TP run of the year to qualify for GGL. They'd done it last year too.

The interesting thing was that, when I questioned their lunacy (!) they all said they knew of other friends who'd been TP running every year to achieve GGL - especially for the jokers? I asked if they posted here on FT (expecting one of them to be a recognisable name) and they all looked at me with a blank face and then asked me all about it!!

Safe to say there may be more people out there wise in the ways of TPs and whatnot than we might initially assume?

Anyway...

I guess the really interesting part of this is "what happens now"?

It seems possibly inevitable that the basic GOLD qualifying threshhold needs to rise as a result. If you can qualify in one or two trips then it really isn't an 'elite' status is it?

Interesting times ahead I think.

HighLife

Some times have been easy as pie, others more difficult because other GGLs are already using their space releases on my flight.

For me it has always been resolved by shifting by a day or so though, so no great drama.

I wouldn't want the situation to become more difficult than that though, otherwise there is really no point having a so-called 'exclusive' tier for those of us who have to endure the (mostly) pain of very regular flying on business.

HighLife

Seeing how crowded the lounges are sometimes, this would be no bad thing.

headingwest

That's most intersting, and it's a point that I tried to make on another thread the other day. There are a lot of people who book CE/CW solely with the purpose of increasing Tier Points. I reckon that non-FT readers are a lot more canny with their bookings than some think.

corporate-wage-slave

The last time I met Mr. Hillier he said something along the lines that he had only rarely been inside the Concorde Room, so I cheekily offered to guest him. But yes I guess it's an irrelevant change from my perspective.

layz

Should have offered him a gold card!

crazyarmadillo

silver card please, don't need more peeps pinching my seat in the flounge....

Blueboys999

I've never been anywhere close to GGL nor ever likely to be even if the current criteria were to continue but this is yet another reason never to make long term plans with FF programmes. The rug can all too easily be pulled from under you without notice.

Very fair of BA to offer some protection and I'm pleased for those already through the door.

MrSimonR

I heard that Mr Hillier isn't a real person, but a blow-up doll occasionally lurking in one of the CCR cabanas.

layz

That's just what they told you. You asked for more access to that nice Mr Hillier and they provided it!

brentford77

Now that QR have joined, I suspect a lot more people are qualifying. I recently needed to go to Asia and instead of Club's mouthwateringly high £3,600 for the date in question, went with QR for £1,800. Needless to say, that trip was worth 560tps rather than 280. I would still choose the direct option every time if price is reasonable. Other additions to One world have not changed the game so much. E.g., flying MH instead of BA gives the same TPs on most routes, but because QR itineraries all stop midway necessitating 2 long haul flights for every Europe - Asia trip, that must have had an effect.

I am surprised they are not trying to introduce some more criteria relating to the number of TPs earned on BA.

MrSimonR

I have no problem using Jokers. I only once had to shift a CPT flight by one day, which wasn't a big deal.

What is most noticeable is the wait times on the GGL line; they used to answer without even a ring, not it's not uncommon to wait 3,4,5 minutes, or even give up try again later.

Also, it's noticeable over the years that the team has grown with a lot of new (less familiar with the rules and the "perks") team members. In the early years, you got to know all the team, and many of the got to know you and your travel patterns. It's great to have that rapport with some of the team who have been there since the beginning, and they are absolute stars.

But more often that not, the call will be answered by someone you haven't spoken to before and that "personal touch" has gone.