SonicStar817

I just got an email from Virgin Atlantic stating that their status freeze is coming to an end on the 31st. So that may be an indication that BA may not do anything further.

That being said, as a July year ender I've already retained Silver back in October and I'll hit the normal 600 point threshold after this weekend's trip to Manchester.

FlightDetective

On the 31st of when? March? December?

SonicStar817

March

GBOAC

So not looking promising then.
Thankfully as indicated earlier, I've already hit Gold so am already safely carded through until 31Oct 2023, but still feel its unfair on those who are not in that boat, and for many reasons may not make it.

firstlight

This might sound harsh, but life is hard and unfair and if renewal of FFP privileges matters that much to people then they need to take steps to make it happen for them. BA will take a commercial decision to maximise their revenue and will set rules accordingly. Clearly one aspect of this is BA attempts to encourage premium leisure passengers through BAH offers while business travel is reduced.

crazyarmadillo

The email from virgin Atlantic does also mention reduced thresholds until March 23 versus Dec 22, so that may be of use to some people here, should BA follow.

UKUAFlyer

Apologies in advance if I am missing anything obvious with this question:
I am a GCH. Year end is 8 July, 2022.
Is there any benefit to earning 1125 TPs before 8 July versus taking a more 'relaxed' approach and ensuring they are earned by 31 Dec. 2022?
(I ask as I am currently on 645 TPs and have an east coast trip to make taking in FL & NY in May. Am wondering if it makes sense to try and earn 480 TPs or as close to, on this trip, prior to 8 Jul, or is there no real benefit). Many thanks.

zen100

Based upon the timing of previous annoucements, we woudn't expect to hear until the end of March anyway. But is it feeling less likely there will be another extension.

FlightDetective

Well, since your TPs reset to zero on 8 July, you would need to then earn 1,125 by 31 December to renew Gold at the lower rate. If not, you would need to reach 1,500 by July 2023. It would depend on what you have planned flying wise, I imagine.

babyg_wc

Based on the rammed lounges alone i think BA have enough silvers/gold etc already, the last couple of times I've travelled the the long snaking queue outside the first wing seem to support the fact BA might have enough status members (thou the extra paperwork checks at check in dont help)
Personally id love another extension as my 3 family members are july\aug\september end of collection respectively, so currently we all drop down to silver... would rather stay gold.. but lets see in a few days time if anything comes out from BA.... usually somebody has heard something by now.. but there hasnt been a beep...

UKUAFlyer

Thank you this. I think I've misunderstood how the qualification period works, so appreciate the straightener.
I thought I had until 31 Dec 2022 to earn 1125 TP's which would then re-qualify me as gold through 31 Dec 2023.
Is this not the case?
And as such my TP balance will return to 0 on 8 July 2022 and I can then earn 1125 between 8 July - 31 Dec to qualify as gold through 31 Dec 2023?
Failing this, I would need to earn 1500 TP's between 8 July '22 and 7 July '23 to then qualify for gold through 7 July 2024?

With HK out of bounds at the moment, all my major earning will come via work trips to the east coast of the US, which happens on a quarterly basis. As it's my company, I tend to be careful with the routings, class of travel etc, as paying for a LHR-NYC in J is prohibitive (give current J fares on this route).

FlightDetective

You will need to earn 1,125 between 8 July 2022 and 31 December 2022, which will qualify you for your 8 July 2022-8 July 2023 year - aka - if you do this, you will have status until 8 July 2024.

If you do not make the 1,125 before 31 December, the total will revert to 1,500 as it would be in a usual year, and you will need to have earned that 1,500 in the 8 July 2022 to 8 July 2023 period.

Essentially all that is happening is that on 1 January, the total returns to 1,500. If you've met the lower total before that, great, you earned it at a lower level, and if you have not, then you still have 6 months to reach 1,500.

UKUAFlyer

Thank you @ FlightDetective, very much appreciated.

I guess the one point I'm a little confused on is I thought I had until 31 December 2022 to earn 1125 TP's to retain gold for a further 12 months. (Irrespective of the July membership date).
I didn't realise my TPs go back to 0 on 8 July 2022 - I thought any TPs I earned from 8 July 2020 to 31 Dec 2022 went towards the 1125 required.

FlightDetective

You're welcome!

Yes, nothing changed with regards to the resetting to zero on your anniversary date - the resets continue as usual. Your July to July annual earning period remains the same as well, as it has done throughout the pandemic. All that changes is the amount as previously mentioned.

stephenjc

Edit: all TPs reset on your anniversary date, so whatever you've earned by flights up to and on 8th July will be reset to 0 on 9th July.

If you are gold now and earn 1125 TPs by 8th July, you'll renew gold for a further 12 months, until 8th July 2023.
If you let your gold lapse, i.e. don't earn 1125 TPs by 8th July, drop to silver, then earn 1125 TPs between 9th July and 31st December, you'll get upgraded back to gold which won't expire until 8th July 2024.
If you don't get 1125 TPs by 31st December 2022, you'll need to get 1500 by 8th July 2023 and you'll upgrade to gold until 8th July 2024.
Even better, as your card doesn't actually expire until end of August 2022, if you were to get 1125 TPs by between 9th July and August 31st 2022, you'd renew/upgrade to gold without actually losing gold and get it until 8th July 2024.
Does this.help?