Impact of IB marketed flights for BAEC members if QR leaves OW
Mar 6, 2019, 8:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 489
Impact of IB marketed flights for BAEC members if QR leaves OW
Yet more threats of leaving OW by His Excellency at the ITB Berlin. Assuming the worst happens, would BA change the provisions for earning TP for IB marketed flights. Perhaps a slight deviation from the existing policy to allow QR operated, IB marketed flights to count towards TP?
At present BA marketed, partner operated (both OW and non-OW) flights allow for TP accrual.
However with IB, that is not the case, where only IB marketed, OW partner operated flights allow for TP accrual. If QR does leave OW, an IB marketed QR operated flight would not earn TP.
It would seem then sensible to include IE in the scope of work, to ensure consistency and neutrality across the IAG full-service portfolio.
Keen to hear your thoughts.
At present BA marketed, partner operated (both OW and non-OW) flights allow for TP accrual.
However with IB, that is not the case, where only IB marketed, OW partner operated flights allow for TP accrual. If QR does leave OW, an IB marketed QR operated flight would not earn TP.
It would seem then sensible to include IE in the scope of work, to ensure consistency and neutrality across the IAG full-service portfolio.
Keen to hear your thoughts.
Mar 6, 2019, 11:03 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,536
Why on earth would they allow that? If QR is no longer OW, then IB operated by QR will. Be just the same as, say, IB operated by LY or Bulgaria Air and undoubtedly a less convincing case than IB operated by VY, none of which are eligible. Making an exception for QR on the ground that they ‘once were’ OW would not make any sense in my view.
Mar 6, 2019, 11:25 pm
#3
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,155
Theres also a thread in the Qatar forum discussing QR threatening to leave OW.
AAB threatens to leave oneworld
AAB threatens to leave oneworld
Mar 6, 2019, 11:26 pm
#4
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
Whilst BA and IB continue to have separate FFPs, which is exceptionally unlikely to change, I really don’t see any reason why qualification arrangements should be altered. The IB operated, IB marketed provision counting towards status is something of an exception in its own right, so I really don’t see any reason why BA could, should or would extent this.
An acid test, ignoring if there are or aren’t IB codeshare arrangements with them: would you be asking the same if RJ left oneworld?
An acid test, ignoring if there are or aren’t IB codeshare arrangements with them: would you be asking the same if RJ left oneworld?
Mar 7, 2019, 1:13 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
The comments made here by both orbitmic and NWIFlyer are undeniably logical. If Qatar were to exit OW, there would seem no rationale to continue to treat them as a member, or create some sort of exception in terms of current BAEC status qualification provisions.
The only additional point perhaps worth making is that the relationship between BA and QR is of course a unique one, in the sense that Qatar are the largest single shareholder in BA’s parent, ie. the IAG.
The only additional point perhaps worth making is that the relationship between BA and QR is of course a unique one, in the sense that Qatar are the largest single shareholder in BA’s parent, ie. the IAG.
Mar 7, 2019, 1:28 am
#7
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: 63,818
And the relationship between IB and QR is fairly similar. But I don't think that counts for anything since Vueling is 100% owned by IAG, and IB marketed Vueling flights don't credit under BAEC, but do under Iberia's scheme. Ditto Aer Lingus credits (sort-of) under BAEC but not Iberia.
Mar 7, 2019, 2:33 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
The similarity of AAB threatening OW with QR's imminent resign from the alliance, has a similarity with the doomsday preacher on the street corner repeatedly trying to convince passers-by that "The End is Near". Next performance to be expected in 4-6 weeks, if not sooner.
Mar 7, 2019, 2:37 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Would there really be a tangible impact for BA flyers if QR decided to leave OW? In or out of OW, QR will still have a better J product than current BA (possibly only until BA reveal their new J product, and route dependent) so I'm not sure it will be significant in any way.
I, of course, except those that depend on QR to make their OW status, most likely through BAEC - where there will likely be some disappointment.
I, of course, except those that depend on QR to make their OW status, most likely through BAEC - where there will likely be some disappointment.
Mar 7, 2019, 4:16 am
#11
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
Would there really be a tangible impact for BA flyers if QR decided to leave OW? In or out of OW, QR will still have a better J product than current BA (possibly only until BA reveal their new J product, and route dependent) so I'm not sure it will be significant in any way.
I, of course, except those that depend on QR to make their OW status, most likely through BAEC - where there will likely be some disappointment.
I, of course, except those that depend on QR to make their OW status, most likely through BAEC - where there will likely be some disappointment.
Mar 7, 2019, 4:29 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Do you mean BA flyers, or do you mean FT participants? ISTR that there was little interest around these parts in flying QR until QR joined OW. It may be that QR's products have vastly improved since that time, but I do sometimes wonder whether QR's membership of OW was what triggered the enthusiasm amongst FTers for flying QR.
Mar 7, 2019, 4:35 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Do you mean BA flyers, or do you mean FT participants? ISTR that there was little interest around these parts in flying QR until QR joined OW. It may be that QR's products have vastly improved since that time, but I do sometimes wonder whether QR's membership of OW was what triggered the enthusiasm amongst FTers for flying QR.
I actually mean BAEC members who may or may not fly BA, but primarily fly QR for the TP benefits.
Whichever way the broad BAFT church swings upon the potential confirmation of QR leaving OW, it will be an interesting point of discussion on this board, that is for sure!
Mar 7, 2019, 4:51 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
The QR product itself has - as you say - vastly improved.
And so once a very high quality business class (notable for innovations such as dine-on-demand service seen normally only in F class, PJ’s + slippers, and, more latterly, fully-enclosed private suites) became eligible for Avios and TP earning, it was I guess, the final piece of what is - for many folk - a rather attractive jigsaw.
How long this continues remains to be seen.
Mar 7, 2019, 4:52 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,441
I do think QR’s product has evolved in parallel with their OW membership. When they joined the majority of the fleet had wedgie seats, they might leave with the leading J class seat in the world. So I think some people (eg an LTG like me) would be interested as the production is world class regardless of TP earning.