msm2000uk

Also a July renewer, and had a call from GGL on Monday to try and explain the email to me.

The agent advised there is a spreadsheet, onto which they are making comments based on how people react to the news.

The spreadsheet goes to NR at Waterside for his consideration - but having spoken to him directly a couple of times this week, I already know the outcome.

Having renewed GGL/CCR in March, the lack of flying opportunity in April-July didn't have an effect on my TPs, but I was told the extension therefore won't apply.

Annoying, but I'll retain GGL through organic flying, and may well make CCR at the reduced 3,750 level (albeit I need the USA to open up!).

M

crazyarmadillo

That isn't great news for July's. Im a June, so it doesn't affect me, but it does seem somewhat unfair, they won't review it, with the feedback.

GinFizz

Thanks for the update - that certainly makes sense. I have an August TP reset date (already requalified in January for GGL until 2021 by the "-30% rule", such that the extension is somewhat irrelevant for me) so if flying gets back to something close to normal (from a BA route perspective) before November (3 months after my August reset date), then a 25% reduction in the TP requirement for my next renewal in Aug 2021 is arguably reasonable, though perhaps not generous. If that doesn't happen (and personally I doubt if it will, but let's see) then given the way BA has handled things so far I assume that they will come up with other adjustments to the requirements.

Personally it is looking increasingly likely that I am going to be grounded for a fair while still - but that is because I am based in China, and the information I have so far is that the border will be closed to non-Chinese passport holders until at least the end of the year (well, strictly speaking I can travel out of China whenever I like - but without any guarantee that I will be able to fly back in again - which wouldn't go down too well I think with my wife ). As such I have pretty much already resigned myself to the possibility of dropping from GGL at my 2021 renewal, but again we'll just have to wait and see how things pan out. I certainly hope to be on my travels visiting friends around the world well before then!

TonyVD

This is the problem. I am also a July renewer and given all the border closures which don't seem to be getting lifted any time soon (in my case USA and South Africa) it seems like it will be very hard for me to renew next year even with a 25% reduction in TP requirement. It seems like I will lose half my TP collection year and that is assuming there is no 2nd spike in the winter which might lead me to lose my whole year. The July renewers are really the losers here (along with Apr-Jun who didn't meet the lower renewal) since we have to start earning from July and that is going to be really hard.

FlyerTalker6823123456

That's good news but I'm not sure I see where it's been published... both the BA website and HfP's summary are ambiguous as to whether the reduced TP requirement applies immediately for current years, or is just for your membership year after an extension?

Confusing!

cosmo74

It's all about as clear as mud as I think effectively not everyone is actually getting an extension. I used the online form to try and clarify a few points as I'm currently Gold on 1320 TP with YE in Sept and wanted to know whether it was worth trying to get to 1,500 before then so that I would effectively be extended until Sept 2022. The initial response was:

- You would not need to earn any further Tier points for this membership year. The 1 year extension you your Gold membership will be in effect from 9th September 2020 to 8th September 2021 and will be applied automatically.
- You would need to earn 1125 tier point inside your next tier point collection year to retain gold for the year 2021/22.
- We would not roll over the extension for a further year if you achieved the 1500 Tier Point threshold in your own right by September.

I went back to them and asked 'so effectively there is no status extension if you have already renewed this year?'. Their response was: 'If you have already renewed then this is correct, however we will only require the lower threshold in order to renew your status once the 1 year tier extension has expired.'

That last sentence has left me confused all over again, as it implied that I don't need to start earning until Sept 2021, despite their second point above suggesting that I need to start earning in Sept 2020, whether I renew this year or not?

ThatT1Feeling

That's certainly confusing! I think we will all know more once July 9th comes around, seeing what the thresholds are for that group (which includes me), as you would effectively get the same target.

krispy84

Did you get any indication if this possible future flex was GGL only or would apply across the tiers?

I’m a July renewer, have sufficient TPs to renew Silver but have only 2 qualifying flights. I will re-qual under both the previous flights waver (if still applicable?) and the recent 12 month extension, but then need to earn TPs from 09 JUL, not an easy ask.

ThatT1Feeling

Hi - it's a good question - the person I spoke to was (as you'd expect) talking about my specific circumstance - which isn't particularly specific - just that client travel has dried up and lots of countries are effectively off-limits at the moment. I don't have any other specifics which would make me different from anyone else! So, I don't know - but I suspect it would have to be across the board as it would be hard to justify any other approach.

ILikePancakes

Another data point, I never got a reply to an email I sent over a month ago about being bumped to silver based on tower points I would have got. I sent a Twitter message a few days ago, and got the happy news that I will be silver. I'm hoping that I'll also get the extra year extension. Fingers crossed! (Tier collection end was 8 June)

crazyarmadillo

theres some good news! good luck with with the extension, I think you will be be just fine!

jay_cee87

My scenario is this:

I was a silver member and have over 1300 TP's with a collection year end of 8th July (with card benefit expiry of Aug 2021) My May 2020 trip that would of got me gold for first time was cancelled by BA and I took a future travel voucher.
BA were kind enough to grant me gold as I would of achieved it had the trip not been cancelled (although it now seems the lower TP requirement would of meant I got it anyway?) So now I am sat with a gold card with expiry of Aug 2021.
Last week I got the email saying an extra 12 months gold membership - so surely that means I should have gold until Aug 2022? Am I interpreting things correctly ?

After reading everyone's comments I am confused by this whole situation now, BA emailed to say an extra 12 months gold membership, if they don't provide that then is the email misleading ?

Thanks all

Jay

Sam Lewis

Ok im currently bronze sitting at 590 points. Does this mean that due to the lower thresholds I will bump up to silver even if i dont take another flight? And other thing is ive flown 3 out of 4 qualifying BA flioghts. Is the waiver still applicable for THIS years collection?

ThatT1Feeling

The general understanding is that if you have an 8 July end date, then you get Gold to Aug 2021, but have to earn the lower threshold between 9 Jul 2020 and 8 Jul 2021 in order to extend to Aug 2022.

They don't provide an extra year (or even an extra month) and, yes, the email is therefore misleading.

krispy84

This does highlight the cliff-edge of benefit between June and July renewals.

I’m not ultimately sure what BA should or could do to remedy it. As a July member, I’m reasonably content with knowing my status is secured through to Aug 21 and that renewal targets are 25% less between Jul 20 and Jul 21. Would guaranteed status until Aug 22 be too much? 🤔 Undecided.