Does BAEC Hate TP Runs?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 564
Does BAEC Hate TP Runs?
I know it's perfectly accepted however an airline must recognise when someone is on a TP run to achieve a certain status for as little as possible.
Or would this not even be on a radar for an airline, other than a soulless computer?
Like a buffet restaurant. They bank on people having say 2 plates or less because their breakeven point might be 1.5 plates to leave some profit but when a rugby team rock up and eat 5 plates each... they lose out.
See where I'm going?
Or would this not even be on a radar for an airline, other than a soulless computer?
Like a buffet restaurant. They bank on people having say 2 plates or less because their breakeven point might be 1.5 plates to leave some profit but when a rugby team rock up and eat 5 plates each... they lose out.
See where I'm going?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
Generally I think they don’t care. It makes very little difference to their profits. They even gained a little publicity at least once with a story in the media about delivering a new gold card to a punter as they landed at the end of a TP run.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
The percentage who TP run is probably very small and if they tried to introduce ‘multi sector ticketing with reasonable stop over periods’ it probably wouldn’t save them much.
Last leg dropping fare abuse may be slightly more significant.
Last leg dropping fare abuse may be slightly more significant.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,551
I’d suggest that those people are a minority in the overall scheme of BAEC, the view gained from these pages may somewhat distort the impression of how material they are. Other airlines have moved their FFPs to be more spend-based, BA has not (yet) done so, but has other ways of identifying high value (as opposed to simply high status) customers. IAG thinks with its wallet, if it became convinced that moving to a spend-based programme was more lucrative overall (and I would imagine that’s a pretty complex calculation to make, full of what-ifs), I guess it would happen.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Mucci Chevalier des Internautes Amables; BAEC
Posts: 967
I would guess that, given those on TP runs do so to genuinely enhance their follow-on experience of BA, it’s a win-win. The runner gets better travel and the airline ties in the runner to using BA more regularly (or perhaps that’s more loyally). Outside of the airline at most levels the status is otherwise pretty useless.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: VS Flying Club (Gold), BA Exec Club (Silver), Hilton Honors (Diamond)
Posts: 59
I think they probably see the intrinsic value in TP runs for them as an airline.
In doing a TP run you are still buying inventory that they have for sale so still are getting revenue.
Everyone I know that has done a TP run mainly for BA but also for VS do so because they are already a high user and want a better experience and so channel more spend to BA!
Case in point a friend of mine is BA Gold for leisure and does a TP run every year! I know there’s at least 3 people who have increased their spend on BA because of him including myself, because they see his benefits as aspirational! I have chased and got BA Silver as a direct result of being influenced by him!
In doing a TP run you are still buying inventory that they have for sale so still are getting revenue.
Everyone I know that has done a TP run mainly for BA but also for VS do so because they are already a high user and want a better experience and so channel more spend to BA!
Case in point a friend of mine is BA Gold for leisure and does a TP run every year! I know there’s at least 3 people who have increased their spend on BA because of him including myself, because they see his benefits as aspirational! I have chased and got BA Silver as a direct result of being influenced by him!
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,711
On an average week, 900,000 passengers land or depart from LHR, LGW, LCY and STN. So it's like BA are moving the entire population of Exeter every day of the week. So long as they get their 900k passengers (and they pay for the privilege), I doubt BA know or care what happens next.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,028
Considering how indifferently BA treat many Gold and especially Silver members, why would BA be anything other than thrilled if certain people want to spend money to reach status?
#11
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,402
Probably depends on the TP Run. I could imagine BAEC not being all too happy about you flying 3 times to Asia on a cheap QR fare and then flying 4 BA legs to get to BA Gold. If, however, you're making a TP Run on BA, then they've sold another seat that may have stayed empty.
Considering that BA transports over 45 million passengers annually and that a tiny minority of those passengers will do TP runs, I seriously doubt that BA cares.
Considering that BA transports over 45 million passengers annually and that a tiny minority of those passengers will do TP runs, I seriously doubt that BA cares.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,958
Even doing a TP run, you are buying seats from BA at a price BA is happy to sell them to you for - your buffet analogy doesn’t hold up here as you’re not consuming more seats.
Furthermore, with newly-achieved status, you’re more ‘locked-in’ to BA - as are, potentially, your family.
Why would BA not be happy?
Sure, it will cost BA a couple more bowls of slop in GC, but that’s already factored into its pricing model (though your buffet analogy is perhaps more relevant here - someone with a propensity to TP run may be more likely to consume greater quantities in the lounge!).
Furthermore, with newly-achieved status, you’re more ‘locked-in’ to BA - as are, potentially, your family.
Why would BA not be happy?
Sure, it will cost BA a couple more bowls of slop in GC, but that’s already factored into its pricing model (though your buffet analogy is perhaps more relevant here - someone with a propensity to TP run may be more likely to consume greater quantities in the lounge!).
#14
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 263
While there are quite a few genuine TP runners, some on here aiming for thousands of TPs per year in reality from posts on here is that an individual's spend is often higher because of the TPs and the status chasing than it would be were status not available. While the overall profit from these individuals isn't going to be particularly high, the revenue generated is higher than it would have been had there been no status to chase.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
They clearly liked this TP run enough to deliver the gold card by hand and enjoy the publicity.
https://www.businesstraveller.com/ne...for-gold-card/
https://www.businesstraveller.com/ne...for-gold-card/
A British Airways passenger has travelled 18,479 miles on 12 flights in five days to earn an Executive Club Gold card.
Adam Rowland, 30, flew with three airlines and travelled through nine airports, three countries and seven cities. He spent 45 hours in the air and stayed in two hotels.
The online marketing manager from Epping, Surrey, was presented with his Gold card in the First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 yesterday....
Adam Rowland, 30, flew with three airlines and travelled through nine airports, three countries and seven cities. He spent 45 hours in the air and stayed in two hotels.
The online marketing manager from Epping, Surrey, was presented with his Gold card in the First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 yesterday....