Gold Guest List beginner's guide
21 Attachment(s)
Attachment 12889
When I first reached GGL, I realized that there's not a good centralized guide to GGL. This guide attempts to fill that void! Overview The British Airways Executive Club has several status tiers. The highest status that can be earned directly through flying is Gold Guest List (GGL). This guide attempts to help both new and experienced GGL members get the most from the perks and benefits available with GGL. Qualifying The detailed guide to earning status has information on requirements to reach all status levels, including GGL. While requirements were changed in early 2015 to require 5,000 TP to initially qualify for GGL, you currently only need 3,000 TP to renew your status. Lifetime GGL may be attained at 100,000 TP. (During covid the qualification levels were reduced by 25%, though this is scheduled to end at the end of 2022, regardless of your BAEC calendar year) GGL is somewhat complicated to explain in that it's not a truly separate status level above gold, in that if you fail to reach 1,500 tier points as a GGL, your soft landing will be to silver, not to gold! For those people more familiar with mileage based systems, it's worth comparing what it takes to earn GGL status compared to status in other programs. The following oversimplified scenarios would earn GGL:
So reaching GGL requires a significant amount of flying in Club World or First on BA and its partners each year, a significant number of ex-eu tier point runs, or a very regular connecting route! For the original author of this guide who is based in the US, the first year of qualifying for GGL looked like this (primarily in business and first class): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...1&d=1453032582(Note: FlyerTalk seems to have lost the original images for this post :( ). And as noted in the detailed guide to earning status, you must have at least 4 eligible flights. The simplest is to fly 4 BA or IB flights per year, but BA codeshares on AA also meet this criteria, for example. Starting as GGL A few days after you reach 5,000 TP, your account should update from Gold to GGL. So typically 1-2 days for your tier points to post, and another day for your status to change to GGL. Shortly thereafter, you will receive the following:
You will also no longer pay fees for cancelling, changing or booking award tickets with more than 24 hours noticed. And you can transfer Avios to another member for free. And you may bring an extra guest into each BA operated lounge. Some members report getting a welcome phone call (sometimes in the middle of the night if you live in North America!), whereas many others report never receiving such a call. This may be a new benefit, or it may only apply for those that choose to answer their phone. When I reached GGL, I called the GGL line within a few days, so that may have counted as my welcome call. GGL card Attachment 12890(FT has lost this image as well) The GGL card looks nearly identical to the BA Gold card, with a small crown logo and the letters GL in the top right corner. Your background on the website when logged in while also change to show the GGL crown. This card contains a new phone number for the GGL Priority Assistance line. GGL Priority Assistance line After getting GGL, you get access to the GGL Priority Assistance line, no matter where you live. It's open 24 hours a day, unlike most of the BA phone lines. You also get a direct email address, though you typically need to ask for this during a telephone call to the GGL helpline. Note that you will need to verify your status when calling, so there's no point in dialing this line if you are not a GGL. If you need to find the GGL line, dunk’s BA contact number tool is very useful. And if you cannot find the GGL email address, a message to the general BA email with your BAEC number will result in it being forwarded to the GGL team. The GGL priority assistance line is incredibly useful, with a very helpful staff that is very proactive in offering their help and reminding you of your benefits. Note that the GGL team has a break between 10pm and 6am UK time. Between 10pm and 6am, calls are routed to the GGL team based in India. This team is generally perfectly capable, but some queries still get handled by the UK team. CCR access GGL gives you Concord Room access to the following lounges that are usually reserved for first class passengers only, regardless of your class of travel:
If you need to use CCR before your card arrives, then you can call the GGL helpline and they will email the relevant CCR so they know to expect you. If you forget the card, then there is a file binder with a list of names, but it's best not to rely on that as it will slow down your entry into the lounge. You can also take a photo of your card and show it on your phone, should your card arrive at home while you're on the road. The secret handshake of the CCR when not flying in First is a subtle flash of your GGL card to the poor BA agent with the job of turning away the 90% (or more!) of people who try to use the direct door to the CCR at T5 south just past the security checkpoint. Be sure to check out the CCR dining menu as food choices are updated monthly. Gold and silver partner cards Attachment 12892Attachment 12893(missing image, FT) You can nominate one person to Gold status and two people to silver status. To nominate them, simple add them to either your household account if desired, or as friends/family if not part of your household, and then click on nominate in the friends and family section in your account. As soon as your family or friend has been added, you should be able to nominate them instantly. Also, all nominees need to be at least 18 years of age to be nominated via the website, though you can call the GGL line to nominate one of your under age 18 children. There are several strategies for optimising the maximum time for a partner to have status. The GGL timing thread has recent details. Note that it is not 100% clear if a partner will receive a soft landing or not when their year expires and they do not earn enough tier points to retain their status, but it is not a published benefit. Also note that when you first qualify for GGL, you will not receive a new batch of partner cards until you qualify again for GGL. So reaching GGL right before the end of your tier point year will not earn you double the number of partner cards in a short stretch of time. Transferring Avios In addition to the partner cards, you can also help your friends and family , even those that do not reside at your address, through the transfer of Avios. For non-GGL, you are generally limited to sharing Avios via a household account. There are two ways you can transfer up 324,000 Avios per calendar year:
Attachment 12894(missing image, FT) You will also achieve Hilton Diamond status when reaching GGL. To receive this, email the GGL team and give them your Hilton Honors number. It may take up month to process. The main benefits of Diamond status are:
Otherwise you may find yourself on the Hilton equivalent of the dykwia thread. It seems to be pot luck whether requesting this will be a simple short phone call to BAEC armed with your Hilton Honors number, or whether it'll involve calling several times over a month or two before the Heath-Robinson machine that makes it happen kicks into action. For me, the Diamond status was active within about ten days of requesting it. GGL Redemption/Jokers/Space Release This is by far the most sought after benefit, as it allows you to make two return bookings per year on BA flights with Avios booking into revenue available seats as follows:
The GGL redemption (otherwise known lovingly on FT as the 'joker') makes it possible to create redemption space where none existed subject to the criteria noted above. The GGL team now refers to this as a Space Release so you may wish to use that term in your correspondence. Once this space is created it can be used just like any other redemption space. For example, it can be booked in full with Avios or by upgrading a revenue ticket. In addition, it can be used with a GUF1 or GUF2 and/or with any of the two for one options such as the AMEX 2-4-1 or the Chase Travel Together coupon. Note that you may not use Avios + GUF to upgrade two cabins of travel on a revenue ticket. You'll get two jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases for each qualifying membership year, meaning two on initial qualification (which need to be used by the end of that year) and two when you roll over to each new membership year. So if you reach 5,000 tier points in March and your year expires on April 8th, you'll get two to use almost immediately, which expire on April 8th, and then two more on April 8th, which expire 12 months later. This will then repeat each year that you qualify for GGL. So you may get a boost of extra jokers the first time you qualify for GGL. The expiration date for a GGL redemption is the date you need to book by, not the date you need to travel by. So you can book a redemption for up to the usual 355 days in advance, well beyond the date of the GGL redemption deadline. Jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases may also be used to open upgrade space on a paid booking (to one class of travel higher, e.g. CW to F or WT+ to CW). When calling the GGL priority assistance line, it is best to ask about a GGL redemption space release rather than a joker, and politely ask for the dates, travelers, class of service, and route you seek to fly. Also, you may be told that space needs to be confirmed (typically when A class availability doesn't exist in F, or similar for other cabins), and you'll receive a call back in 20-30 minutes once it is confirmed (which is much better than waiting on hold!). Once confirmed, you can either pay any tax and surcharges that are due, or place a complimentary hold for 72 hours. Example: First year of GGL redemptions Given the number of questions about how to use GGL redemptions, the OP will share the first year of GGL redemptions (qualified in early March, tier point year expires on April 8th): In March, I had two GGL redemptions to use prior to April 8th. I used one redemption to upgrade an existing BA booking from CW to F on LHR-PHX//LAX-LHR using Avios. I then used the other joker to book our family of five in F, PHX-LHR-PHX using Avios, Chase 2-for-1 certificate, 2 GUF1, and 1 GUF2. This was approximately 7-8 months in advance, and the outbound did not have sufficient availability, so the agent called revenue management and cleared availability and then called me back to complete the booking. After April 8th, I had two more GGL redemptions to use prior to the next April 8th. I used both on separate occasions to upgrade LHR-PHX-LHR from CW to F using avios. Beyond 5,000 tier points GGL earn extra GUFs based on tier points, beyond the 1 GUF2 and 2 GUF1 that are earned by Gold and GGL members at 2,500 and 3,500 TP, respectively An additional joker/GGL redemption is earned at 6,000 TP. At 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 TP, you can choose one of the following:
To the disappointment of corporate-wage-slave, there are no further benefits above 9,000 TP other than reaching lifetime GGL more expediently. Special services India generally gets Special Service style meet and greet, arriving and departing. Less frequently in Miami, Singapore, JFK, LAX, and LHR for Concorde Team support. The OP has had by far the most frequent Concorde Team interactions at LAX, though he did receive a few car transfers at LHR during peak covid when he was typically the only GGL or Premier flying on that day. Special services / Concorde Team is not provided by default, but is provided when available. It should probably be thought of as a special surprise when it happens, rather than something to expect as a GGL. Premier members BAEC Premier members, an invite-only status typically reserved for the senior decision makers at companies and government bodies with substantial spend with BA, can earn the other perks such as GUF and the additional rewards at 7,000, 8,000, and 9,000 TP. These are earned when a member earns the same number of tier points required for non-Premier members. They remain Premier cardholders with Concorde Room and BA lounge access in all circumstances ("open doors") with 2 guests. Premier cards can be withdrawn at anytime, it's not a lifetime invitation, at which point the cardholder typically drops to Gold or GGL level, depending on recent TP history. GGL renewal If you reach at least 3,000 TP, your GGL status will renew, and you'll receive a new set of GGL cards, two silver & one gold nominations, 2 fresh jokers with any remaining jokers from the previous year expiring. Lifetime GGL After 100,000 TP, you will receive GGL for life (normal requirement to stay active in BAEC). Lifetime GGL members also receive a CCR card. LTGGL members do not receive an alternative benefit to the CCR card when earning 5,000 TP. |
Good guide. The only comment I have is that for the JFK CCR guide you may be better off linking to the LHR CCR dining guide as well. The JFK menu is often posted in the LHR CCR thread so that is probably the best place to find an updated menu.
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Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
(Post 26027455)
Didn't someone do this a week or so ago????
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Originally Posted by bafan
(Post 26027516)
Yes. So much fuss over such a little thing. And are there really so many GGL card holders on FT ?
If the guide isn't relevant to you don't read it. |
Superb guide dylanks ^
I know this took a great deal of time and effort to collate and publish so I am indebted to you for making this happen. |
Originally Posted by bafan
(Post 26027516)
Yes. So much fuss over such a little thing. And are there really so many GGL card holders on FT ?
Looks like I saw this post before the closure of the original post. |
Originally Posted by bafan
(Post 26027516)
Yes. So much fuss over such a little thing. And are there really so many GGL card holders on FT ?
I was looking to fill in a gap in the guide, as the info was spread across many threads. Sorry about the noise of a new thread, but I thought that a clean thread for the guide would avoid any confusion from the earlier work in progress. |
thanks dylanks for pulling together! I know from my own and other experience how much work it is to do this and it's greatly valued by the community - especially as we get many questions on GGL benefits etc.
great guide for both existing and aspiring GGLers. ^ |
I would change the 90% to 97% being turned away from the "million pound door". :)
Good work, it is it a bit sobering as a Y pax, that I'd need 800,000-odd miles to achieve GGL, or about 7x as much flying as I currently do. :eek: |
I couldn't be further from GGL :D
However, I appreciate the effort and time that has gone into this, and will enjoy reading (fantasizing?) about it :) |
Thanks for posting this dylanks. That was a very interesting read and I'm sure that it took quite a while to compile. I'm certain that this will be a very useful thread on this forum.
Originally Posted by bafan
(Post 26027516)
Yes. So much fuss over such a little thing. And are there really so many GGL card holders on FT ?
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Wow. This whole "Joker" thing is mindblowingly awesome!!!!
I will never achieve this level of flying (I do about 150,000 miles per year--all leisure), but this sounds like an amazing benefit. Are there any other airlines that offer something similar that opens up award space? |
Originally Posted by dylanks
(Post 26027544)
Well someone's grumpy today! I won't apologise for my enthusiasm. :)
I was looking to fill in a gap in the guide, as the info was spread across many threads. Sorry about the noise of a new thread, but I thought that a clean thread for the guide would avoid any confusion from the earlier work in progress. |
Thanks for this dylanks but more importantly for introducing me via the Diamond Member link to the xtranormal film creation programme -- hilarious!
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Originally Posted by bafan
(Post 26027516)
So much fuss over such a little thing.
Originally Posted by KARFA
(Post 26027529)
Some one taking the time and effort to make a guide that might be helpful to some people is a fuss??
It'll be a valuable point of reference if I ever make GGL. |
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