Free drinks trial for BAEC Silver and Golds on selected short haul routes
Apr 2, 2018, 2:01 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 418
A while back, when I just moved up from Silver to Gold, I was offered a free drink from the CE bar (while seated in ET) during both my outbound and inbound leg of my flight to LIS from LHR.
While I indeed appreciated very much the gesture, I would not find this easy to execute on busy business trips for all BAEC premium members. There are routes (like FRA, for instance) where Silvers/Golds are a huge proportion of the passengers and it would be somehow embarrassing for FA to give out freebies to some, while asking money to others.
Just give everyone free coffee or tea and provide food/alcohol for a fee.
While I indeed appreciated very much the gesture, I would not find this easy to execute on busy business trips for all BAEC premium members. There are routes (like FRA, for instance) where Silvers/Golds are a huge proportion of the passengers and it would be somehow embarrassing for FA to give out freebies to some, while asking money to others.
Just give everyone free coffee or tea and provide food/alcohol for a fee.
Apr 2, 2018, 2:15 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
I personally (and I mean personally with my own money) chose to fly CE so that I can avoid BoB. That’s my choice.
Free tea or coffee if you can’t or chose not to do that sounds fair enough.
Last edited by Prospero; Apr 5, 2018 at 2:04 am Reason: Remove remark that triggered a diversionary discussion
Apr 2, 2018, 2:19 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
Easiest way is to send a scannable voucher as part of check in procedure to each Silver, Gold end Economy Flex passengers with an amount to be used on BoB. Otherwise, the barcode could be used by those passengers to buy an item for free from BoB. That way cabin crew wouldn‘t worry about who‘s eligible or not.
Apr 2, 2018, 2:42 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
The fact that this makes their job more complicated?
The fact that they will have to deal with the grief from passengers who wonder why they have to pay but another doesn't.
Apr 2, 2018, 2:43 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
At the BA event in Tel Aviv this fall, Cruz mentioned that they were looking at providing some sort of free offering to status passengers travelling short-haul in economy. He was well aware that oneworld partners treated BA status travellers down the back better than BA. Presumably this stems from that review.
Apr 2, 2018, 4:41 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Glasgow
Programs: British Airways Silver, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, AMEX plat
Posts: 251
Apr 2, 2018, 4:56 pm
#44
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Brisbane
Programs: BAEC Blue/Bronze, Krisflyer, Qantas
Posts: 419
Fantastic to hear about this initiative, a cup of tea goes a long way in my world when it comes to loyalty (or patience/forgiveness when part of the trip might not have gone entirely smoothly)