T8191

Indeed, the curse of the 241

We've got ourselves caught for 2018/19 with exactly that issue. Can't resist the 241 to ZA in December, and the rest of 2018 is largely booked ... so just 960 TP in MMB for now. We will 'have to' pack in a some extra in Feb-Apr 19 to renew - probably a PHX [ex-DUB] for 720.

HIDDY

As you fly in J anyway I don't see the point in spending that amount of money just to get Gold status.

so3003

Welcome to flyertalk OP!

As others have said, Gold benefits are really in the eye of the beholder. Some things that may make it worthwhile for you, if you usually fly in premium cabins anyway (in which case you'd get lounge access and priority security regardless):

- additional Y reward seats (which may be useful for short haul)
- ability to force open reward seats for double the usual avios cost
- (in my experience) significantly better IRROPS handling
- access to some really great lounges around the world, eg QF First, CX The Pier / The Wing / all the others, and not forgetting CX First in LHR T3 (Also Finnair Premium lounge, various AA Flagship lounges etc etc)
- preferred seats, eg 1A/K on the 747 (which is particularly fun, albeit your fellow traveller also needs to be a Gold to take advantage), 1A/K on A380 / 777 / other aircraft, row 1 CE etc etc
- on a non-full flight you have a better chance of an empty seat next to you in economy, courtesy of the FLY system (I enjoy this quite often on domestic travel)
- First Wing is significantly easier for connections than going through usual airside transit on arrival at LHR from a non-domestic flight
- more chance of your first choice of meal in flight, which is a particular issue in premium cabins where there are likely to be a lot of other status passengers (who would otherwise be ahead of you), and bearing in mind BA have a longstanding tradition of loading significantly less catering than is actually required for a given flight...

In addition to what others have suggested re creative routings to maximise TPs, you may also wish to consider starting your trip from INV, which doesn't have APD as a quirk of the APD regulations, and the positioning flights there / back would obviously earn additional TPs - not sure about fare pricing but presumably it won't be a lot more than starting ex-LHR, and may be cheaper / easier than a traditional overnight TP run. Also ex-DUB is relatively smooth.

Happy travels

710 77345

Why are you after gold status? Even silver would cover you for lounge access on your economy trips.

T8191

For numerous reasons cited above

Yes, we only ever fly J, so a lot of benefits come with that. However, our holiday regime entails sufficient l/h travel to get us Gold (or perilously close anyway). If in doubt, we just take an extra holiday to somewhere warm. This year is a bit of a muddle due to external influences (visitors, hospital treatment) so not quite as smooth as usual!

Calloway

With the helpful hints provided in this thread it shouldn't cost that much more, or even any more, with judicious routings.
Flying in J wouldn't get you access to first class lounges if having silver status. The food and especially the drink is much better in first class lounges. You would also get group 1 boarding, First Wing check-in, etc. To some this is worth it.

nick.t.davies

For me the biggest formal benefit to being gold is the increased Avios earning rate and the First Wing.

But I will say I've also noticed a marked change in the "soft" benefits on both BA & AA since rising above Silver, which certainly makes me want to retain Gold. So to the OP I'd say go for it if the cost isn't too high, or through more FT appropriate routing to the US

TPRun

I'm chasing gold at the moment (for the first time) and this thread has provided some excellent points of views, both for and against.

It does seem, however, that it's purely down to people's perception of the benefits received with Gold. Some people like one lounge, some like another. Some people use the increased Y seats, the F lounges in global destinations and have had better handling of tricky situations than others. Thanks for sharing these opinions - makes for a great thread to read!

subject2load

layz

I fail to see how the Upper Class (I'm assuming you mean VS at LHR) check-in could possibly be better than the BA offering. Isn't it the case that the security lane is on the side of T3 security that makes you walk through a duty free shop (which the regular, but busier, fast track bypasses). Then once through security you have to walk through the main terminal to the lounge. I'm sure VS would make it on a par with the first wing if it was feasible but the layout of the terminal makes it impossible.

The BA one means you don't even see a single shop after clearing security you're straight into the lounge. It can't get easier than that. You mention not seeing the point of having to walk from N to S to get to first check-in which implies you use the HEX or tube rather than getting dropped off by a taxi. In that case T5 wins on that too as you have to walk through a bunch of underground tunnels before reaching T3 so I'd say the route from T5 station to first check-in is shorter than T3 to UC wing.

All She Wrote

Aaaaand we're back, that was quite a frustrating 24hours. I've just planned out my trip in November to YYZ via Dublin (J) and a AA connection to PIT from there (F), earning 520 TP for around the £1900 mark, all things well I think that'll get me there this year now, thanks a lot to everyone for the valuable insight, the past day has been quite the learning curve!

In short haul you'll often get group 2 and 3 members that'll stand at the front of the priority boarding line and just go up immediately. I've often seen the gate agents not even bother calling C/E or Group 1 first, they've just called the whole line forwards. In long haul they're quite picky about making sure Group 1 boards first, from time to time maybe they get lazy, but I've always been amongst the first 10 non special assistance pax when I've boarded long haul in first up until now.

subject2load

gliderpilot

Never done the First wing. But speaking as a former VS Gold, their drive-thru drop off, private check-in area and security is quite a unique experience and although you do come out in the main terminal, it is at most 2 minutes to the lounge - probably about the same distance walking overall as walk from taxi through to First wing and onto the lounge. Most importantly, is for J !!

This gives you an idea (albeit idealised!)

All She Wrote

Some people see the first wing being so out of the way as a negative, I can imagine it would be if you used the 96KG baggage allowance, but it's a very quiet end of the hall which is nice. As you say for a business class product VS is much nicer than BA CW, I don't think anyone would argue with you there, the queue in J check in for BA can be outrageously long.

layz

The private drop off and security channel does look impressive although I'd still have to put the BA first wing ahead just because of the direct lounge access.

That doesn't mean that the BA ground product is better overall. I find the VS lounge (thanks to BD gold back in the day) better than the Flounge so travelling J or below then I'd say VS would still win.

It shouldn't be underestimated though how useful the first wing is to a regular BA traveller.