scott97

Did it always mean something?

gordon0808

The odd complementary upgrade to CE is nice, as well as being able to use first class lounges. If they took away lounge access, I would propbably not fly BA, or bother with OW status at all.

OverTheHorizon

After a run of being totally ignored (i.e. the airline got me where I needed to go, safely and on time ), yesterday I had a lovely understated greeting on my HEL-LHR then a cringe-making grovelly performance on the following LHR-JFK... so I think I would agree that it is all down to the individual member of staff and how they feel on the day !

HIDDY

And I know which group is the happiest.

Your example of the £1500 tier point run for 1500 tier points says it all really and answers the OP's question.

Crampedin13A

TPloser

Would agree with this. In the old days after getting silver at 600 TP points they were reset to zero and you needed 1500 more to get to gold (so 2100) in total. In addition you did not get as many TP points. For instance LHR-FRA was 60 points return now 80. So to reach gold in the old days was like reaching GGL today.

pjh981

I think the more one expects to receive as a result of BAEC 'status' the more disappointed one is likely to be; expect nothing and when you do receive genuinely warm recognition then it will be all the more pleasing. We can all think of examples of great and mediocre customer service, but I think to a great extent that reflects more on the professionalism of the individual CC member than on the status of the passenger.

thebilly_b

I’ve just come off two Cathay sectors from LHR to Aus (first sectors with Cathay as BA Gold/OWE - previous were as silver) and I have to say the service really was a step above previous experiences (not to mention consistent). Flying in J, two greetings from the CSD and Cabin Manager on each flight, orders consistently taken and delivered first, plenty of extra items/drinks, asked at the end for feedback on the service, extra fast track immigration tickets for other (ineligible) members of my party etc. I felt it was the perfect level of recognition. I sensed they were light flights for OWE passengers (lots of leisure travellers due to time of year) but it was still markedly different from my experiences on BA as a OWE.

crazyanglaisy

My personal experience is that it depends on what status level you are. As a GCH, I can only think of a handful of instances of 'soft' status recognition over 5 years on BA, compared, for example, to flights on CX where a greeting and a water bottle was pretty much guaranteed. Since qualifying as a GGL last year, the amount of soft recognition experienced on the ground and in the air has increased substantially. Not on all flights, nor even on the majority indeed, but very noticeably so.

Indeed, I was speaking to a CSD about this recently, after he had looked after me very well on board, and he said that it's difficult to recognise the loyalty of GCHs, even with a brief greeting, as there are typically around 10-15 on board (we were on a SH flight). On the other hand, he told me that there's only likely to be 1 (perhaps 2 at the most) GGL members, so it's much easier to focus on them. All of this depends of course on encountering staff who are remotely interested in, or concerned with, their passengers' status level.

xenole

Might be much easier to focus on 1 or 2 GGL members, but they still don't bother 99.9999% of the time.
Computers on the ground just say Gold so that tells them nothing.

My CX experiences have mostly been in F so I can't say anything about additional crew interactions.
Other times, in J on half full flights so much the same there.

As for American Airlines, don't think I've ever had anything beyond a hello at the door and then the usual, reading from a printout, "Ah, Mr Xenole, I see you pre-ordered the chicken" sort of thing.
No CK greetings / boarding and nothing on board in F or Y (had an empty seat next to me on a Y flight from SFO-JFK in Nov, although a couple of others did as well in the MCE section)
Well, there was the one time recently from JFK-LAX in J where I used the Flagship check-in and I was escorted to the front of the security queue. No idea if it was due to me flying business, GCH, GGL, or just because I had used to check-in desks.

LCY8737

I don’t recall ever getting “special service” because of my status. The time I missed a flight I had to buy a new ticket. During irops I ended up on the next available flight - like everyone else.

Not complaining, the hard benefits are very useful. At the same time, my last operational upgrade was in 2012. BA, if you are reading this, another one would be appreciated...

rossmacd

I have had this 2 times now at JFK Flagship check-in. Taken right to the front of a very long line. A great perk when the queues are particularly bad. ^

225SG

I've not had higher than bronze with BA but had top tier with Singapore Airlines for a few years. The lounge access, J class check in and extra baggage were very useful.

Didn't get anything extra on board but SIN had so many top tier status pax I'm not surprised. It was a simple millage calculation with SQ and was quite easy to do with a couple of UK trips and regional flights.

It did come in very handy when travelling on a Chinese star alliance members which really overbooked Y, there was always a star on the passenger lists to mark you out as Gold. I was always the first to get bumped up with other top tiers.

crazyanglaisy

All I can say is that my experiences differ from yours, at least when it comes to flying on BA as a GGL member. I'm also pretty sure that the computers on the ground do recognise this status through special pop up messages that appear on the agents' screens - certainly I've been told this is the case for those working on check-in and at the entrance to BA lounges.

Betteronacamel

Same happened to me a few years back when I arrived at JFK on a EWR ticket. No problem getting away. Always felt the staff at JFK were about the best out there which I suppose makes sense as it must be one of the busiest out stations - probably the most important in terms of revenue. Does it really make sense to outsource this asset? Yes, obviously a short term saving to be made, but the long term effect? I find it depressing to turn up at airports to find the BA desk manned by staff who clearly do not really care as they are no employed by BA, and you just know that if something goes wrong that you are going to find it difficult to find any meaningful care and attention. After all, once the handling staff have 'clocked off'' that's them done for the day.

Back on track, I think status really comes into play with IRROPs in terms of separating the 'sheep from the goats' so to speak.