Next Revenue Generator - Pay for Status [speculation, not fact]
Nov 11, 2018, 11:12 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 410
Airberlin offered status via credit card spend but I assume it was part of a revenue raising exercise by a struggling airline. I have a vague recollection of BMI selling status towards the end, but I may have misremembered.
Amex used to offer Oneworld Sapphire status (via Cathay Pacific) with the platinum card with a £450 annual fee. If they still offered this I would not be spending money on flights to get BA status, and would instead spend my avios.
I think Iberia have a credit card with fee which offers Ruby status. I can't see BA following suit, but if they did I'm sure it would follow the Iberia model, i.e. offering Bronze which offers very little which will cost the airline, but maybe just enough to make people feel slightly important enough to drive loyalty towards the airline.
Amex used to offer Oneworld Sapphire status (via Cathay Pacific) with the platinum card with a £450 annual fee. If they still offered this I would not be spending money on flights to get BA status, and would instead spend my avios.
I think Iberia have a credit card with fee which offers Ruby status. I can't see BA following suit, but if they did I'm sure it would follow the Iberia model, i.e. offering Bronze which offers very little which will cost the airline, but maybe just enough to make people feel slightly important enough to drive loyalty towards the airline.
Nov 11, 2018, 11:20 am
#32
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 423
Whilst I don’t think this will happen with BA, I for one would be happy for it.
Virtually all my fligts have been paid for using Avios and therefore I never climbed up on the status level. If there was a premium credit card with a £400 - £500 annual fee that would also grant Silver status, I would probably bite.
Virtually all my fligts have been paid for using Avios and therefore I never climbed up on the status level. If there was a premium credit card with a £400 - £500 annual fee that would also grant Silver status, I would probably bite.
Nov 11, 2018, 11:30 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
I dread ‘revenue based’ as we always fly cheaply in J, and use a 241 every year which would hit revenue. Not sure how AA sectors might also bite, despite the JV. That might drive me away from BA.
Purchased status seems an alien concept to me, but if BA went down that road I would also review our options, as fairly infrequent-flying Golds. Cost would be highly pertinent.
Purchased status seems an alien concept to me, but if BA went down that road I would also review our options, as fairly infrequent-flying Golds. Cost would be highly pertinent.
Nov 11, 2018, 11:54 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Silver,
Posts: 151
Whilst I don’t think this will happen with BA, I for one would be happy for it.
Virtually all my fligts have been paid for using Avios and therefore I never climbed up on the status level. If there was a premium credit card with a £400 - £500 annual fee that would also grant Silver status, I would probably bite.
Virtually all my fligts have been paid for using Avios and therefore I never climbed up on the status level. If there was a premium credit card with a £400 - £500 annual fee that would also grant Silver status, I would probably bite.
Nov 11, 2018, 11:57 am
#35
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
It would cost a hell of a lot more than £500 thats for sure. I'm not sure you can get 600 tier points and 4 sectors for any less probably £800. Getting to £1 a TP is very difficult and to get 600 of them for less than that whilst also taking 4 flights on BA (ruling out the Malaysian Runs on their own) near impossible.
Nov 11, 2018, 11:58 am
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
I dread ‘revenue based’ as we always fly cheaply in J, and use a 241 every year which would hit revenue. Not sure how AA sectors might also bite, despite the JV. That might drive me away from BA.
Purchased status seems an alien concept to me, but if BA went down that road I would also review our options, as fairly infrequent-flying Golds. Cost would be highly pertinent.
Purchased status seems an alien concept to me, but if BA went down that road I would also review our options, as fairly infrequent-flying Golds. Cost would be highly pertinent.
Nov 11, 2018, 12:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Berlin
Programs: BAEC; LH M&M; HH Diamond
Posts: 814
Well BA did use to sell status by the way...
the original programme was invitation only (late 1970s).
This migrated to a programme with an annual subscription of either GBP 25 or GBP 50 (1980s), can't remember which...
and this, in turn, morphed into the current programme, which came into being whenever it did (1990s?), and introduced levels that were based on flying patterns, rather than membership granted or payments made.
the original programme was invitation only (late 1970s).
This migrated to a programme with an annual subscription of either GBP 25 or GBP 50 (1980s), can't remember which...
and this, in turn, morphed into the current programme, which came into being whenever it did (1990s?), and introduced levels that were based on flying patterns, rather than membership granted or payments made.
Nov 11, 2018, 12:57 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: TK *G, BA Gold
Posts: 592
On AY you can exchange award points for tier points (plus a small fee) although this can only count towards maximum half of the tier points needed, you would have to earn the other half by flying. But since you can buy award points you can buy half your way to status.
Nov 11, 2018, 1:11 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
I suppose that's the risk one takes when 'manufacturing' status. One change, even a little one in the rules can affect your strategy dramatically. To be honest I'm more interested in getting from A-B in as comfortably and quickly a way as possible than getting status. If it earns me status then all well and good if not I wouldn't give a stuff.
I can understand your personal A-B perspective, but as slightly more frequent flyers you might appreciate we likewise derive the benefits on a fairly regular basis.
BTW, as a Scot, you never mentioned cheaply!
Nov 11, 2018, 2:08 pm
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
‘Manufacturing’ is an interesting term, my non-flying cyber-mate, We do the flights, pay the cash (bar one) and earn what BA requires for Gold status. Is that somehow inappropriate??
I can understand your personal A-B perspective, but as slightly more frequent flyers you might appreciate we likewise derive the benefits on a fairly regular basis.
BTW, as a Scot, you never mentioned cheaply!
I can understand your personal A-B perspective, but as slightly more frequent flyers you might appreciate we likewise derive the benefits on a fairly regular basis.
BTW, as a Scot, you never mentioned cheaply!
^If the BAEC changes things to your disadvantage then AA status may well suit you. I seem to recall when I joined the forum acquiring AA status was all the rage for those who enjoyed getting status cheaply. No idea why it went out of fashion though....did they move the goalposts?
Nov 11, 2018, 4:38 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
Nov 11, 2018, 5:01 pm
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
I think I remember (and I only think, I am not certain) that when I joined the Executive Club in 2006 you had to take a flexible World/Euro Traveller flight or travel in First, Club World/Europe or World Traveller Plus to even sign up. I checked in for my seat 14A overnight flight to DXB operated by G-YMMP on 31-Mar-06 and then signed up to the BAEC in the Terminal 4 Galleries Club before taking the flight. Happy days!
Nov 12, 2018, 1:13 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,111
Indeed, there did used to be a requirement to take at least one expensive flight to start your time in BAEC. I clearly remember discussing this with a friend sometime in the early 2000s, and it was a significant factor in keeping me on AA's programme where you could get top status by spending a posterior-numbing number of hours with your bum in an economy seat on cheap tickets only. At the time, my income was lower and my partner was more distant, so I spent a lot of time in economy long haul.
If you don't requalify for the lower status levels, AA will enthusiastically offer you the opportunity to buy it. Even now, as I am not quite at AA "Platinum Pro", they're offering me the chance to buy the status. They don't know I have a circuitous ex-EU flight coming up (on BA) for that (I'm aiming at AA EP, the only level really worth having).
If you don't requalify for the lower status levels, AA will enthusiastically offer you the opportunity to buy it. Even now, as I am not quite at AA "Platinum Pro", they're offering me the chance to buy the status. They don't know I have a circuitous ex-EU flight coming up (on BA) for that
(I'm aiming at AA EP, the only level really worth having).