Cap'n Benj

your statement is still utter madness!

Nimrod1965

Me too.

Recently I have flown with EZY, Swiss and Austrian (economy) for business flights and they have all been a much more relaxed experience than the BA flights.

T8191

A combination of benefits, Sir.

• Certainly the 100% Avios bonus, to support the annual 2-4-1. Remember we only travel 4/5 times a year, and grocery shopping won't generate too many Avios.
• Seat selection we had as Silver, but as Gold gets access to potentially even better seats [although we're not fans of bulkheads].
• The BAEC Gold phone line usually gets answered.
• First check-in has been VERY beneficial at LGW in the holiday season. The CW queues at LGW were horrendous!
• Baggage allowance was useful, but our wardrobes are now full to capacity
• Priority Boarding with AA [who can operate it, unlike BA] is nice too. As I age further, standing in line for ages becomes less appealing
• Better Lounge access in the USA under OW rules? Not sure - it seems to work.

But there is, I acknowledge, a 'status' thing in play as well. I like to be GOLD

icegirl

Yes he bought it and integrated it into IAG. Has it gone down hill since then also?

Flexible preferences

deleted

T8191

And the reputation of BA, EI, Vueling and the impending illegitimate child 'Level' is what?

Just asking, I'm not an expert, and we only fly l/h in J.

knicksplayer

I think BA's had their ups and downs over the years but have always corrected things. I am talking more on a Business/First class level.

T8191

Hey, welcome aboard! Do please stick around and continue to contribute! These are troubled times, so do please excuse a bit of controversial comment occasionally. We're usually quite placid, and even nice

Yes, that's a fair call. Every company/airline has its ups and downs. My reading here suggests BA is just DOWN over the last few years, and we're really looking forward to some UP. A replacement flower in the First Class toilet isn't going to convince anyone

navylad

Indeed, market forces and all that, and also a warm welcome to FT and the BAEC board from me too!

KeaneJohn

This is interesting.. I will become Gold in a few months after many years of Silver both that's to this place.

I do like the concept of BA Holidays secure a flight and hotel or whatever else you want based on a deposit and pay it off in dribs and drabs until 5 weeks before. Can't think of anybody who matches that.

Lounges mostly Ok, a few misses , cabin crew one of the best assets, in board experience good to poor to underwhelming.

Customer Relations/Service Recovery from wow can't get better to really... an OMG moment.

Enhancements it's give with one hand take with another... e.g. Nice meal in CE to RAK but downgrade lunch and dinner flights to PRG to a panini..

I think the latter really irks me the most.. revenue fares with LX much of a muchness. Acanthus try the new lounge at T2. Seamless transfer at ZRH even wi delays.. door to door times on way home much of a muchness if flying into LCY 10 minutes from home..

I've not seen any other airline offer a similar holiday option.. like Uncle T warming to the joys of AA on westbound flights.. not been east for 8 years keen to give some of he ME3 a try.

I'm hoping BA smell the coffee and realise that you can't chip away at things constantly but bearing in mind how long it's taken for them to reinstate seat assignment on HBO fares and the fact that despite a 100% non availability of Tanquaray Gin on CE and with this being fed back each occasion I'm not holding out much hope.

harryhv

It's not just BA in a race to the bottom, seems other OW airlines are falling apart too
- AA is the new UA in terms of unreliability, LCC-style "enhancements" and cramming in more seats to the cabin.
- AB is going bust
- Qatar is flying huge detours around Saudi & Egyot
- Even Cathay is losing money and making enhancements
- Avios are pretty worthless for most routes due to BA's colossal surcharges, best value was for shorthaul eg AA domestic flights. Except AA has blacked out almost all domestic award seats, ha ha.
- Add the spiteful attitude to latecomers at T5, and it's an easy decision to go with Star Alliance

FlyingSalami

This isn't exactly QR's fault, if you read the news, Qatar is currently experiencing a major diplomatic incident that has resulted in land and air being cut off and Qataris being banned from GCC countries (asked to leave many within 14 days). This isn't due to a race to the bottom but requirements put in place by other countries.

lotus918

While I genuinely like most things about BA, I'm going to give Air New Zealand a shot on the LAX LHR run

Gig103

You say "if"... But with them outsourcing the call centres, it's proof customer service is last place and BA is only looking to the next quarter.

Munoz (UA) and Cruz might as well be sharing a flat.

tamalien

Soon it will be no tablets for any of us Westbound (so it would appear!!!)

It is hard to keep loyalty to a company that shows no loyalty in return. I feel for the dedicated professional BA crew who have served the original BA for many loyal years only to see it mutate into the current corporate monstrosity it has become. Enough to destabilise anyone's foundation. I applaud the many of them who still do an excellent job!