Asking to be guested in on the escalator
Nov 7, 2016, 5:23 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
I would be very surprised indeed if we do not see restrictions to lounge access and/or tightened criteria, of one sort or another, within the next 12/18 months or so.
In BA's current world, it's open season on pretty much anything that could bring significant savings. This particular enhancement would offer the added benefit of instant implementation with virtually no organisational on-cost.
In BA's current world, it's open season on pretty much anything that could bring significant savings. This particular enhancement would offer the added benefit of instant implementation with virtually no organisational on-cost.
Indeed.
Just like VS did a couple of years ago (and unrelated to the DL JV) when it changed policy to 'guest must be on the same flight' rather than 'flying on a VS flight that day'
It wouldn't bring mega million savings but there would obviously be some both in cash and less crowding terms.
Nov 7, 2016, 5:23 am
#93
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
But you've paid already.
Say that I like picking up ladies in airports (apologies to Mrs TT) and part of the reason I decide to buy my ticket with BA is that they allow me to bring a guest into the lounge. I spot a lovely young lady in the security queue and get chatting to her. Twenty minutes later we emerge from the trauma of T5 security and I wave my non-shiny card at her. She is impressed and needs a glass of LPGS to calm her nerves. I take her into the lounge and she now knows I'm a big-shot because I walked through the millionaires' door. We all live happily ever after.
Why should I pay extra for her when I've bought a ticket specifically because I'm allowed a guest into the lounge. What's wrong with the situation above?
Say that I like picking up ladies in airports (apologies to Mrs TT) and part of the reason I decide to buy my ticket with BA is that they allow me to bring a guest into the lounge. I spot a lovely young lady in the security queue and get chatting to her. Twenty minutes later we emerge from the trauma of T5 security and I wave my non-shiny card at her. She is impressed and needs a glass of LPGS to calm her nerves. I take her into the lounge and she now knows I'm a big-shot because I walked through the millionaires' door. We all live happily ever after.
Why should I pay extra for her when I've bought a ticket specifically because I'm allowed a guest into the lounge. What's wrong with the situation above?
Actually you're making a convincing argument, when you consider that you have paid for the guest in your ticket price.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:09 am
#95
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Nov 7, 2016, 6:21 am
#97
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,254
Nov 7, 2016, 6:23 am
#98
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,254
The woman thinks you're being cheap - instead of taking her to Plane Food and paying for whatever she wished to have, you are taking her to somewhere that's free at the point of delivery but (allegedly) have a poor range of menu and the food is (allegedly) not great, and she ends up with tough as old leather piece of steak or something and she gets disappointed.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:28 am
#99
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
@LTNphobia ... the cheap date analogy made me smile ^
I'm really not sure a BA lounge (especially on a busy day) carries any impression of 'millionaire' lifestyle as portrayed by TabTraveller. Perhaps more like guesting someone to an "eat all you can" buffet where everything's free - but not exactly 'Good Food Guide' standard .....
I'm really not sure a BA lounge (especially on a busy day) carries any impression of 'millionaire' lifestyle as portrayed by TabTraveller. Perhaps more like guesting someone to an "eat all you can" buffet where everything's free - but not exactly 'Good Food Guide' standard .....
Nov 7, 2016, 6:33 am
#100
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,254
@LTNphobia ... the cheap date analogy made me smile ^
I'm really not sure a BA lounge (especially on a busy day) carries any impression of 'millionaire' lifestyle as portrayed by TabTraveller. Perhaps more like guesting someone to an "eat all you can" buffet where everything's free - but not exactly 'Good Food Guide' standard .....
I'm really not sure a BA lounge (especially on a busy day) carries any impression of 'millionaire' lifestyle as portrayed by TabTraveller. Perhaps more like guesting someone to an "eat all you can" buffet where everything's free - but not exactly 'Good Food Guide' standard .....
This episode explores how the airline tries to persuade people to spend more to fly, revealing the world found behind the 'millionaire's door' at Heathrow Terminal 5 - a lounge, restaurant, spa and champagne bar reserved for those select few who are happy to part with small fortunes to fly in the airline's first class.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:44 am
#101
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 774
For those who haven't seen it, I was poking fun at the BBC's 'A Very British Airline', about which the BBC says:
Was an interesting series. Perhaps they meant Avios millionaire? I mentioned the check in agent from JFK that appeared on this on another thread a while back.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:47 am
#102
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,254
Thanks TT! No offence intended, I liked the fact you mentioned that guesting is included in the ticket for J and F.
Was an interesting series. Perhaps they meant Avios millionaire? I mentioned the check in agent from JFK that appeared on this on another thread a while back.
Was an interesting series. Perhaps they meant Avios millionaire? I mentioned the check in agent from JFK that appeared on this on another thread a while back.
And I'm pretty certain that most walking through that door aren't millionaires. Or at least aren't if you don't count the cost of their London house anyway!
Nov 7, 2016, 6:48 am
#103
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
Fair enough TabTraveller ..... yes I do recall the particular episode, and I'm reassured to know that you weren't being serious !
What a weird set of programmes they were ......
What a weird set of programmes they were ......
Nov 7, 2016, 7:14 am
#104
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,828
The argument might not be so convincing after BA increases ticket prices to cover the marginal cost of every lounge visitor bringing in a guest from among the horde of Y passengers flocking to the escalators to pester the F passengers.
Nov 7, 2016, 7:40 am
#105
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,254
A certain percentage of 'X' will have access via another OW FF programme meaning they (and their guest) become a revenue source for BA. (Hurrah)
Those in 'Y' are simply adding to BA's margin as BA can take advantage of its statistical analysis to reduce the budget for lounge provisioning against what it should be based on the offer they make to those buying tickets.
Now arguably this means BA can keep ticket prices down by not over-provisioning, although the same argument could apply to the oversale of seats and in my view this is a means to increase margin rather than an attempt to drive down fares.
The above having been said, I've seen far fewer threads recently of dirty/overcrowded lounges so perhaps BA is provisioning lounges adequately and a few extra guests won't matter (or they have capacity to cope with them).
Conversely if the 'Y' group grows over time due to people being mean-spirited and not guesting people then budgets are likely to go unspent, meaning they'll be cut in the future.
So, basically you SHOULD be guesting people into the lounge to ensure BA doesn't cut future provision for when you want to bring friends and family in! It isn't even altruistic, it's in your own interests to do so.
