Senior Partner!
Aug 9, 2019, 9:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 456
Senior Partner!
I have been a lowly Blue BAEC member now for a few years (since retirement), not least because most of our BA flights are either redemption or an annual 2-4-1. So, imagine my surprise when Mrs Definitas received notification from BA that she was being elevated to Bronze. My first thought was, how can that be? The answer turned out to be simple. Her membership year is 6 months different to mine so a CW to Chicago and a couple of CE and ET flights and she made the threshold whereas the flights in question were spread across two membership years for me. I'll have to make sure she doesn't read some of the posts on FT or she will be looking at TP runs to make it up to Silver!
Aug 9, 2019, 9:42 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA silver
Posts: 1,850
That's how it all starts. You suddenly reach bronze, but then think it would be a lot better if it was silver! Being retired you can hunt out cheap CE tickets and just go. Easiest way to get to silver in my opinion.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:45 am
#3
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: 63,811
And in a way, if you are retired (presumably semi-retired, I doubt you are watching Cash in the Attic all day long), then going for Silver is the sweet spot: you can book flexibly to get the bargains, hopefully get the quiet flights, get the extra Avios churn, get the decent seats, and get lounge access along the way.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:51 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
And in a way, if you are retired (presumably semi-retired, I doubt you are watching Cash in the Attic all day long), then going for Silver is the sweet spot: you can book flexibly to get the bargains, hopefully get the quiet flights, get the extra Avios churn, get the decent seats, and get lounge access along the way.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:53 am
#5
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: 63,811
Aug 9, 2019, 9:53 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
And in a way, if you are retired (presumably semi-retired, I doubt you are watching Cash in the Attic all day long), then going for Silver is the sweet spot: you can book flexibly to get the bargains, hopefully get the quiet flights, get the extra Avios churn, get the decent seats, and get lounge access along the way.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:56 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: 63,811
It's horses for courses, since pan Star Alliance benefits aren't great. If Lufty is your machine and the lounges are on your route then it will work for some people. I actually think they should perk up Bronze a bit (2 off peak lounge passes a year?), but seat selection at 7 days is definitely worth something.
Aug 9, 2019, 10:00 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
It's horses for courses, since pan Star Alliance benefits aren't great. If Lufty is your machine and the lounges are on your route then it will work for some people. I actually think they should perk up Bronze a bit (2 off peak lounge passes a year?), but seat selection at 7 days is definitely worth something.
As for 'free seat selection', I stick with the I'm scared of flying, I need a window seat approach on the phone/with the checkin agent at the airport, it has worked so far!
Aug 9, 2019, 10:09 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA silver
Posts: 1,850
It's horses for courses, since pan Star Alliance benefits aren't great. If Lufty is your machine and the lounges are on your route then it will work for some people. I actually think they should perk up Bronze a bit (2 off peak lounge passes a year?), but seat selection at 7 days is definitely worth something.
On a similar vein- I am a member of a Las Vegas UK forum and it is amazing just how many find themselves upgraded to Club. Again, once you have experienced Club you will want to continue to do that. So you look at the FF club, and carry on from there.
Aug 9, 2019, 10:40 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
OK, friends ... points taken!
I have to say that getting on the rollercoaster ride of TPs, extra holidays, and the jolly pursuit of renewing Gold has made our retirement years filled with endless fun, global travel and (thanks to BAFT) reasonable expense. Long may it continue!!
PS: only 3 holidays before Christmas, and 2020 is still a work in progress
I have to say that getting on the rollercoaster ride of TPs, extra holidays, and the jolly pursuit of renewing Gold has made our retirement years filled with endless fun, global travel and (thanks to BAFT) reasonable expense. Long may it continue!!
PS: only 3 holidays before Christmas, and 2020 is still a work in progress
Aug 9, 2019, 11:04 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
I am presuming you mean 2 passes - for the bronze card holder and guest? I think that would be a great idea. You can start to see the advantages of silver. I may in a year's time go down to bronze as OH and my holidays just don't work out (October, December, April). We have set holidays. We would quickly go back to silver as I may be retiring next August. However, once you take in lounges and free seat selection alone you realise that silver is worth it.
On a similar vein- I am a member of a Las Vegas UK forum and it is amazing just how many find themselves upgraded to Club. Again, once you have experienced Club you will want to continue to do that. So you look at the FF club, and carry on from there.
On a similar vein- I am a member of a Las Vegas UK forum and it is amazing just how many find themselves upgraded to Club. Again, once you have experienced Club you will want to continue to do that. So you look at the FF club, and carry on from there.
Aug 9, 2019, 11:06 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,547
Some element of flexibility would be cool at all levels, i.e. choose from a list of different benefits depending on your wishes. It happens at 6000 TPs when you can choose Avios, extra joker, etc. Just wondering if it would be a good thing to include at all levels, e.g. at Bronze, choose a couple of accesses to lounges per year or increase baggage allowance or earlier seat selection. At silver, chunk or avios, couple of gold style RFS (double use of avios) redemptions or access to first lounge twice a year.
I do imagine, however, that it will all start to get rather complicated.
I do imagine, however, that it will all start to get rather complicated.
Aug 9, 2019, 11:16 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
Yeah ... Silver and Bronze running up costs for BA, which could be taken out of our Golden hide? Sod the proles!!
Yes, C-W-S and rapidex, this worm is fully turned.
Yes, C-W-S and rapidex, this worm is fully turned.
Aug 9, 2019, 11:34 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Lost Angeles
Programs: BA/American
Posts: 45
Definitas, can we talk? Trying to convince the little woman (zero chance she’ll see this) of the wisdom of a couple of TP runs to make Silver. Trench warfare at this point. But it was the same a few years ago when I went ‘over the top’ and got her out of WT+ and into CW. Now that that is resolved I’m confidant that a good steady barrage of reason will make the final assault a done deal. Of course, like any good strategist, I am looking at the end game by making plans on the assault of Fortress Gold next year! 
Last edited by Samolyot; Aug 9, 2019 at 11:48 am
Aug 9, 2019, 12:09 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 456
Definitas, can we talk? Trying to convince the little woman (zero chance she’ll see this) of the wisdom of a couple of TP runs to make Silver. Trench warfare at this point. But it was the same a few years ago when I went ‘over the top’ and got her out of WT+ and into CW. Now that that is resolved I’m confidant that a good steady barrage of reason will make the final assault a done deal. Of course, like any good strategist, I am looking at the end game by making plans on the assault of Fortress Gold next year!