Gold For Life achieved - Time to change strategy?
Dec 12, 2018, 7:28 am
#1
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
Gold For Life achieved - Time to change strategy?
I've managed to hit Gold For Life due to some rather manic flying for work over the past 4.5 years. Big woop, and I expect a trumpet salute when I next travel through LHR.
Anyway, having hit the target, I am now minded to switch to a different approach when booking flights. However, I wanted to see what the forum thinks.
I will never hit GGL For Life, so knowing thats off the table, I'm minded to fly on different airlines and alliances.
How much more do we pay to fly BA over a competitor? How much more would you pay to fly with OneWorld over Star Alliance or Skyteam?
Well, for me, I've always been willing to pay Ł200 more for a trip than a comparable competitor. That is to say, if LX had a flight to HKG for Ł1800 from CDG, I would be willing to pay Ł2000 to fly QR or BA for a similar routing. To most, this logic made no sense, but I had a target I wanted to hit.
Now that I've made the goal, should I continue to pay the extra? Should I focus on timings opposed to routing via X to pick up the extra Avios/TPs? Should I focus on one particular alliance over a scatter-gun approach?
I'm curious what others would do.
Safe travels,
M
Anyway, having hit the target, I am now minded to switch to a different approach when booking flights. However, I wanted to see what the forum thinks.
I will never hit GGL For Life, so knowing thats off the table, I'm minded to fly on different airlines and alliances.
How much more do we pay to fly BA over a competitor? How much more would you pay to fly with OneWorld over Star Alliance or Skyteam?
Well, for me, I've always been willing to pay Ł200 more for a trip than a comparable competitor. That is to say, if LX had a flight to HKG for Ł1800 from CDG, I would be willing to pay Ł2000 to fly QR or BA for a similar routing. To most, this logic made no sense, but I had a target I wanted to hit.
Now that I've made the goal, should I continue to pay the extra? Should I focus on timings opposed to routing via X to pick up the extra Avios/TPs? Should I focus on one particular alliance over a scatter-gun approach?
I'm curious what others would do.
Safe travels,
M
Dec 12, 2018, 7:42 am
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
I'd try Asiana for a status match. Their *A programme is probably one of the easiest to maintain status in because you only need to meet any of their listed criteria and from memory you don't even need to set foot on one of their planes to meet any eligibility requirements.
And once you've hit gold, miles don't expire for something like 12 years.
And once you've hit gold, miles don't expire for something like 12 years.
Dec 12, 2018, 7:46 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,926
For me, hitting LTG was the trigger to stop building in routings solely created for the purpose of maximizing TPs, but I still concentrate my flying on OW whenever possible (although no longer BA, since I live in the US and no longer fly internationally for business). The whole point of LTG, as I see it, is to get benefits when flying OW. So it wouldn’t make much sense to suddenly stop flying OW, having attained LTG.
It is a relief to be able to fly straight to Hawaii now without going through the Bahamas first though
It is a relief to be able to fly straight to Hawaii now without going through the Bahamas first though
Dec 12, 2018, 8:15 am
#5
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
I'd try Asiana for a status match. Their *A programme is probably one of the easiest to maintain status in because you only need to meet any of their listed criteria and from memory you don't even need to set foot on one of their planes to meet any eligibility requirements.
And once you've hit gold, miles don't expire for something like 12 years.
And once you've hit gold, miles don't expire for something like 12 years.
Any ideas who to contact for the status match?
For me, hitting LTG was the trigger to stop building in routings solely created for the purpose of maximizing TPs, but I still concentrate my flying on OW whenever possible (although no longer BA, since I live in the US and no longer fly internationally for business). The whole point of LTG, as I see it, is to get benefits when flying OW. So it wouldn’t make much sense to suddenly stop flying OW, having attained LTG.
It is a relief to be able to fly straight to Hawaii now without going through the Bahamas first though
It is a relief to be able to fly straight to Hawaii now without going through the Bahamas first though
I agree that in order to enjoy the benefits I need to fly with OneWorld, but a lounge is a lounge - and if I can book a lower cost J fare with another airline (in a different alliance), then surely its something to consider.
M
Dec 12, 2018, 8:22 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,899
Thanks Cymro and Tiger_lily.
Any ideas who to contact for the status match?
I've done one TP run, and that was, ironically, the set of flights which took me over the edge! Most of my other flying however, did have a degree of TP optimisation within.
I agree that in order to enjoy the benefits I need to fly with OneWorld, but a lounge is a lounge - and if I can book a lower cost J fare with another airline (in a different alliance), then surely its something to consider.
M
Any ideas who to contact for the status match?
I've done one TP run, and that was, ironically, the set of flights which took me over the edge! Most of my other flying however, did have a degree of TP optimisation within.
I agree that in order to enjoy the benefits I need to fly with OneWorld, but a lounge is a lounge - and if I can book a lower cost J fare with another airline (in a different alliance), then surely its something to consider.
M
Dec 12, 2018, 8:27 am
#7
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
Dec 12, 2018, 8:29 am
#8
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
One thing you could consider:
As long as you are flying J or F, the status doesn't really do a huge amount when you fly, i.e. you get the lounge access anyway, and with a lot of airlines you get to choose the seat free of charge (except for some 'premium' ones, but they may even be blocked for their own status ones), and you don't have to queue in a long Y queue, and where available you get the priority security.
You get some bonus miles with status, but with a lot of airlines only give you a pesky amount of extra miles.
You might get some extra reward availability but quite a few airlines restrict that to their own members, and not make it available alliance-wide.
The real savings in travel actually come with hotel status (e.g. free breakfasts) IMO, more so in some ways than with flying.
If you want solid benefits, I'd recommend spending extra money on hotel statuses
As long as you are flying J or F, the status doesn't really do a huge amount when you fly, i.e. you get the lounge access anyway, and with a lot of airlines you get to choose the seat free of charge (except for some 'premium' ones, but they may even be blocked for their own status ones), and you don't have to queue in a long Y queue, and where available you get the priority security.
You get some bonus miles with status, but with a lot of airlines only give you a pesky amount of extra miles.
You might get some extra reward availability but quite a few airlines restrict that to their own members, and not make it available alliance-wide.
The real savings in travel actually come with hotel status (e.g. free breakfasts) IMO, more so in some ways than with flying.
If you want solid benefits, I'd recommend spending extra money on hotel statuses
Dec 12, 2018, 8:32 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,926
Indeed, I agree. The one other thing to consider is Avios (or other FFP) earning. Being Gold and flying OW gets you that extra slug of Avios, if you are interested in continuing to collect them. If you fly another airline where you do not have status, you might be giving up the opportunity for earning the extra points, or be crediting points to a program where you might not ever get enough points to be usable for your purposes. YMMV here of course. (I have not credited a single point to BA since I achieved LTG...these days they are all going to AAdvantage.)
Dec 12, 2018, 8:32 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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What are the OP's current travel patterns and is he/she still traveling extensively for business?
Even if lifetime GGL is impossible, it might be worth earning it during the next several years.
Even if lifetime GGL is impossible, it might be worth earning it during the next several years.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:35 am
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
Dec 12, 2018, 9:03 am
#12
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
One thing you could consider:
As long as you are flying J or F, the status doesn't really do a huge amount when you fly, i.e. you get the lounge access anyway, and with a lot of airlines you get to choose the seat free of charge (except for some 'premium' ones, but they may even be blocked for their own status ones), and you don't have to queue in a long Y queue, and where available you get the priority security.
You get some bonus miles with status, but with a lot of airlines only give you a pesky amount of extra miles.
You might get some extra reward availability but quite a few airlines restrict that to their own members, and not make it available alliance-wide.
The real savings in travel actually come with hotel status (e.g. free breakfasts) IMO, more so in some ways than with flying.
If you want solid benefits, I'd recommend spending extra money on hotel statuses
As long as you are flying J or F, the status doesn't really do a huge amount when you fly, i.e. you get the lounge access anyway, and with a lot of airlines you get to choose the seat free of charge (except for some 'premium' ones, but they may even be blocked for their own status ones), and you don't have to queue in a long Y queue, and where available you get the priority security.
You get some bonus miles with status, but with a lot of airlines only give you a pesky amount of extra miles.
You might get some extra reward availability but quite a few airlines restrict that to their own members, and not make it available alliance-wide.
The real savings in travel actually come with hotel status (e.g. free breakfasts) IMO, more so in some ways than with flying.
If you want solid benefits, I'd recommend spending extra money on hotel statuses
!Luckily I only had to do the TP run stuff for about 2.5 years, after I retired and before I got to LTG. (While I was working it wasn’t necessary, since I re-qualified for Gold easily every year.) My friends and family got quite a kick of my various insane routings during that period!
Indeed, I agree. The one other thing to consider is Avios (or other FFP) earning. Being Gold and flying OW gets you that extra slug of Avios, if you are interested in continuing to collect them. If you fly another airline where you do not have status, you might be giving up the opportunity for earning the extra points, or be crediting points to a program where you might not ever get enough points to be usable for your purposes. YMMV here of course. (I have not credited a single point to BA since I achieved LTG...these days they are all going to AAdvantage.)
Try the LHR number on this page https://flyasiana.com/C/GB/EN/conten...02220000728520
M
Dec 12, 2018, 9:17 am
#13
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: 5,893
Dec 12, 2018, 9:37 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Madrid
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 157
msm, I had the same thoughts about two years ago when I achieved GfL and, because I had just retired and stopped travelling very much, I had no chance of getting GGLfL.
There are some good suggestions above, but some of my key thoughts were:
One of my regular routes is MAD > ABZ. LH stopped flying to ABZ; avoiding AF and the CDG zoo was a no-brainer. KLM via Schiphol is no picnic either. The T5 transfer experience is pretty straightforward, so I keep going BA or IB.
As I now fly on my own Euro, I usually book Y and using another airline or alliance would not give me the benefits of fast track, lounge access, etc.
When researching travel I always check pricing. Sometimes BA/IB win, sometimes they don't. Last year I used AF/KL for a USA trip - notwithstanding my comments above - they simply beat BA on price. I was looking for a trip in J to Asia next year and the ME3 all came in around the same - then BA came in 20% less, so I booked with BA.
Keep in mind that if you book with BA in CW, you might (might!) be in line for an upgrade to F - when travelling on business my success rate was probably 33%.
I think a little bit of loyalty to BA can pay off - I don't know how it all works in the background, but I've had a few IROPS recently and they fixed it very quickly and smoothly.
Horses for courses, of course.
Whatever you do, enjoy!
(A pedant note for some: In BA it is called 'Gold for LIfe', not Lifetime Gold.)
There are some good suggestions above, but some of my key thoughts were:
One of my regular routes is MAD > ABZ. LH stopped flying to ABZ; avoiding AF and the CDG zoo was a no-brainer. KLM via Schiphol is no picnic either. The T5 transfer experience is pretty straightforward, so I keep going BA or IB.
As I now fly on my own Euro, I usually book Y and using another airline or alliance would not give me the benefits of fast track, lounge access, etc.
When researching travel I always check pricing. Sometimes BA/IB win, sometimes they don't. Last year I used AF/KL for a USA trip - notwithstanding my comments above - they simply beat BA on price. I was looking for a trip in J to Asia next year and the ME3 all came in around the same - then BA came in 20% less, so I booked with BA.
Keep in mind that if you book with BA in CW, you might (might!) be in line for an upgrade to F - when travelling on business my success rate was probably 33%.
I think a little bit of loyalty to BA can pay off - I don't know how it all works in the background, but I've had a few IROPS recently and they fixed it very quickly and smoothly.
Horses for courses, of course.
Whatever you do, enjoy!
(A pedant note for some: In BA it is called 'Gold for LIfe', not Lifetime Gold.)
Dec 12, 2018, 12:17 pm
#15
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
msm, I had the same thoughts about two years ago when I achieved GfL and, because I had just retired and stopped travelling very much, I had no chance of getting GGLfL.
There are some good suggestions above, but some of my key thoughts were:
One of my regular routes is MAD > ABZ. LH stopped flying to ABZ; avoiding AF and the CDG zoo was a no-brainer. KLM via Schiphol is no picnic either. The T5 transfer experience is pretty straightforward, so I keep going BA or IB.
As I now fly on my own Euro, I usually book Y and using another airline or alliance would not give me the benefits of fast track, lounge access, etc.
When researching travel I always check pricing. Sometimes BA/IB win, sometimes they don't. Last year I used AF/KL for a USA trip - notwithstanding my comments above - they simply beat BA on price. I was looking for a trip in J to Asia next year and the ME3 all came in around the same - then BA came in 20% less, so I booked with BA.
Keep in mind that if you book with BA in CW, you might (might!) be in line for an upgrade to F - when travelling on business my success rate was probably 33%.
I think a little bit of loyalty to BA can pay off - I don't know how it all works in the background, but I've had a few IROPS recently and they fixed it very quickly and smoothly.
Horses for courses, of course.
Whatever you do, enjoy!
(A pedant note for some: In BA it is called 'Gold for LIfe', not Lifetime Gold.)
There are some good suggestions above, but some of my key thoughts were:
One of my regular routes is MAD > ABZ. LH stopped flying to ABZ; avoiding AF and the CDG zoo was a no-brainer. KLM via Schiphol is no picnic either. The T5 transfer experience is pretty straightforward, so I keep going BA or IB.
As I now fly on my own Euro, I usually book Y and using another airline or alliance would not give me the benefits of fast track, lounge access, etc.
When researching travel I always check pricing. Sometimes BA/IB win, sometimes they don't. Last year I used AF/KL for a USA trip - notwithstanding my comments above - they simply beat BA on price. I was looking for a trip in J to Asia next year and the ME3 all came in around the same - then BA came in 20% less, so I booked with BA.
Keep in mind that if you book with BA in CW, you might (might!) be in line for an upgrade to F - when travelling on business my success rate was probably 33%.
I think a little bit of loyalty to BA can pay off - I don't know how it all works in the background, but I've had a few IROPS recently and they fixed it very quickly and smoothly.
Horses for courses, of course.
Whatever you do, enjoy!
(A pedant note for some: In BA it is called 'Gold for LIfe', not Lifetime Gold.)
Like you, I'll fly BA when it suits and when the price works - but I'll be much happier to not pay through the nose, just to hit the TP target.
M