GGL enhancements
Nov 5, 2018, 4:19 am
#376
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,325
I also went through the F wing with a mobile BP the other week and when she scanned my BP she looked back at the screen and said "It's quite busy here today as one machine is down, if you've got a CCR card you'd be quicker going through Fast Track and into the CCR from there" - so the agent could immediately see I was GGL, but couldn't (quickly) see if that was GGL or GGL/CCR.
Nov 5, 2018, 5:49 am
#377
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Here
Posts: 1,907
Nov 5, 2018, 7:24 am
#378
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
Well, for it to appear of BPs, when you scan one etc.
The mention in an earlier post of more SS interaction would require someone along the chain to know if someone is GGL rather than plain old gold. We've seen how incredibly random things are with regards to GGLs flying AA.
Not sure if I've ever encountered anyone from SS and someone holding up a generic sign that doesn't say my name isn't going to get any interaction from me as this would come across as DYKWIA?
Whilst others aren't bothered, if I've made the effort to earn perhaps 3x the TP as someone hitting gold, then I would like to think that I would seen as a more important customer.
Still would like entry to the CCR to be simplified I know it's a few seconds more if you have to flash a white card, but I would rather not have to dig through my bag for it because I'm flying ET and my BP and the scanning of it tells the agent nothing.
On the whole, I'm not sure exactly where they could go with this.
I would like to see something like Lufthansa's chauffeur service at BA's home base of LHR but can't see all the practicalities in say being chauffeured to your plane. Then again, could a Qantas chauffeur service work if say in F? i.e. M25 area to airport.
Boarding either works quite well or is a total mess so would there be any benefit to "trying to" board first?
Is a GGL flying Y going to be more important than say someone flying F?
Vouchers. If you flown enough in possibly premium cabins to hit 5000TP or so, does an extra upgrade voucher or an Avios bonus mean a lot? May do to some, little to others.
Guaranteed space available upgrades as some hotels do? Or a sort of enhanced Joker?
The mention in an earlier post of more SS interaction would require someone along the chain to know if someone is GGL rather than plain old gold. We've seen how incredibly random things are with regards to GGLs flying AA.
Not sure if I've ever encountered anyone from SS and someone holding up a generic sign that doesn't say my name isn't going to get any interaction from me as this would come across as DYKWIA?
Whilst others aren't bothered, if I've made the effort to earn perhaps 3x the TP as someone hitting gold, then I would like to think that I would seen as a more important customer.
Still would like entry to the CCR to be simplified I know it's a few seconds more if you have to flash a white card, but I would rather not have to dig through my bag for it because I'm flying ET and my BP and the scanning of it tells the agent nothing.
On the whole, I'm not sure exactly where they could go with this.
I would like to see something like Lufthansa's chauffeur service at BA's home base of LHR but can't see all the practicalities in say being chauffeured to your plane. Then again, could a Qantas chauffeur service work if say in F? i.e. M25 area to airport.
Boarding either works quite well or is a total mess so would there be any benefit to "trying to" board first?
Is a GGL flying Y going to be more important than say someone flying F?
Vouchers. If you flown enough in possibly premium cabins to hit 5000TP or so, does an extra upgrade voucher or an Avios bonus mean a lot? May do to some, little to others.
Guaranteed space available upgrades as some hotels do? Or a sort of enhanced Joker?
all of it as GGL for life (except the chauffeur - if it matters you can book one privately yourself)
and yes at 7000 and 8000 tier points you do get extra avios or redemption jokers even as a regular GGL so not sure what your ‘ask’ here is?
Nov 5, 2018, 7:27 am
#379
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL
Posts: 1,342
much of that exists now for GGL
all of it as GGL for life (except the chauffeur - if it matters you can book one privately yourself)
and yes at 7000 and 8000 tier points you do get extra avios or redemption jokers even as a regular GGL so not sure what your ‘ask’ here is?
Nov 5, 2018, 8:50 am
#381
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,873
It does seem that many ground staff and cabin crew don’t really know what GGL is. In 7 years, I’ve never been greeted at LHR, on departure or arrival, never been preboarded, never had a car transfer from BA and very very very rarely get a free cup of tea on short haul, even on the odd occasions that I get an onboard greeting.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
i suspect that there are more GGLs than BA originally planned for - hence the difficulty / reluctance to provide any benefits which would add significant cost.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
i suspect that there are more GGLs than BA originally planned for - hence the difficulty / reluctance to provide any benefits which would add significant cost.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:01 am
#382
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,227
after having recently completed two AA transcons recently, it did strike me that while BA practically does nothing for GGL at LHR, on each of my AA legs, i was greeted by special services, and one flight, once boarding was complete she came back to find me in business specifically to ask if i needed help with anything on landing, or if i encountered any issues at JFK. i was honestly thrown aback that AA provides such great service for a BA person! mustve been a slow morning at JFK 
but was still very kind.
of course the way BA staff treats me at places like MIA or LAX or SFO is indeed stellar, again compared to LHR.
but was still very kind.of course the way BA staff treats me at places like MIA or LAX or SFO is indeed stellar, again compared to LHR.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:11 am
#383
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Geneva/Sydney
Programs: Mucci; BA, LT GGL; QF, platinum; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 926
It does seem that many ground staff and cabin crew don’t really know what GGL is. In 7 years, I’ve never been greeted at LHR, on departure or arrival, never been preboarded, never had a car transfer from BA and very very very rarely get a free cup of tea on short haul, even on the odd occasions that I get an onboard greeting.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
I think that you need to differentiate between on-board service and terminal services. On the ground, BA has significantly increased its Concorde (premium customer services) team. Mme M1 and I have been met every time we have passed through T5 and transferred by car between T5 terminals.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:18 am
#384
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,325
after having recently completed two AA transcons recently, it did strike me that while BA practically does nothing for GGL at LHR, on each of my AA legs, i was greeted by special services, and one flight, once boarding was complete she came back to find me in business specifically to ask if i needed help with anything on landing, or if i encountered any issues at JFK. i was honestly thrown aback that AA provides such great service for a BA person! mustve been a slow morning at JFK but was still very kind.
of course the way BA staff treats me at places like MIA or LAX or SFO is indeed stellar, again compared to LHR.
but was still very kind.of course the way BA staff treats me at places like MIA or LAX or SFO is indeed stellar, again compared to LHR.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:32 am
#385
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,881
Despite being ignored I have survived all the trips
Nov 5, 2018, 10:28 am
#386
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
I too have had a zero % rate of recognition. Even if I venture up to GC in T5, 99% of the time, there won't be "you can use GF you know?" and except for one occasion where I ventured out of the CCR (flying F) to get something from GF, never a mention that I could use the CCR.
Wouldn't even know what SS or AA CK staff even look like.
Apart from being escorted to the front to the security queue at JFK once as a "VIP" after using the AA First wing (and a couple of times at JFK when flying BA F, but that's for F passengers anyway), nada. Still can't say if the first instance was GGL or being Gold.
Never had GGL printed on my BP and have tried the First desks and the machines.
Wouldn't even know what SS or AA CK staff even look like.
Apart from being escorted to the front to the security queue at JFK once as a "VIP" after using the AA First wing (and a couple of times at JFK when flying BA F, but that's for F passengers anyway), nada. Still can't say if the first instance was GGL or being Gold.
Never had GGL printed on my BP and have tried the First desks and the machines.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:15 am
#388
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,744
GF is handy for acquiring a few bits that the other lounges don't tend to have lying about, and it has the odd interesting promo stand i.e. Gin, cold tea sachets, whiskies etc.
Sometimes I just want something like a piece of black pudding or one of those breaded salmon fishcake type things, and I prefer to help myself rather than be served.
At the end of the day, an enhancements will probably involve GGL becoming harder to achieve.
We all have different requirements from things such as some people really wanting a free cup of tea / coffee in ET whereas others are happy with paying for it as BoB. I've no intention of ever using BoB and that's my prerogative.
I would like it to be recognised by default rather than randomly someone gets some recognition either on BA or elsewhere. Whether that consists of little more than a faux greeting, GGL on any boarding pass or what, it's something. It may not be what others want, but it would be a nice start for me.
More clarity on things like Jokers would be good. They're not outlined that well, if it wasn't for these boards, I wouldn't know about them or half the uses for GUFs.
The spacing of GUF2, GUF1 etc. works fine for me, although I've never really understood the logic of the 50k Avios? bonus when you hit a certain threshold (7000 or 8000TP?). At that point you're either sick to death of travelling, or short of gifting / using them for someone, you may well have acquired 100,000s or millions like some here already with no real way of ever using them.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:34 pm
#389
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
It does seem that many ground staff and cabin crew don’t really know what GGL is. In 7 years, I’ve never been greeted at LHR, on departure or arrival, never been preboarded, never had a car transfer from BA and very very very rarely get a free cup of tea on short haul, even on the odd occasions that I get an onboard greeting.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
i suspect that there are more GGLs than BA originally planned for - hence the difficulty / reluctance to provide any benefits which would add significant cost.
However the published benefits tend to work well and the events can be good, so it’s generally not a bad place to be - but any idea of being a valued traveller does tend to totally disappear onboard in ET, even on the longer routes.
i suspect that there are more GGLs than BA originally planned for - hence the difficulty / reluctance to provide any benefits which would add significant cost.
But in ET short haul everyone gets the full Ryanair welcome (ie nothing special) inviting you to purchase the M&S leftovers
Nov 5, 2018, 12:36 pm
#390
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,899