BA Benefits using Oneworld Emerald card only
Jul 2, 21, 8:33 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 19
BA Benefits using Oneworld Emerald card only
I'm going to be switching from my current carrier, where I have Oneworld Emerald status, to BA due to a move to London. Unfortunately, they don't match status in any way, so I'm going to need to log flights using my Exec Club number to get up to Gold status. In the interim, would the check in desks and lounges at Heathrow allow me to use my Emerald status using a card, even if it's not listed on the booking? Skipping the lines and using first class check in is not something I'd particularly embrace losing during the transition. Thanks in advance for any guidance or recent experiences.
Jul 2, 21, 10:02 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,955
Originally Posted by Zigzagdc
Yes, I am. That's perfect. Thank you. I guess seating assignments was too much to ask....
Jul 2, 21, 10:30 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,891
Originally Posted by 1Aturnleft
The only way to get around seating is to input your AA EXP into your BA booking. If you do this you'd need to update your booking with your BA details at check in or at the lounge and get a boarding pass reprint with your BA number on it. Do not scan any boarding pass at the gate that shows your AA number on it as it's at that point your booking will track/credit to your AA EXP and not to your BA.
this, and yes to the earlier question about flashing your card to enter lounges or check in areas. that is exactly what i had to do for the year i switched from AA to BA. requires a bit of a think the first few times to ensure you do not lose out on the BA tier points but you get used to it.
Jul 2, 21, 10:40 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Silver, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,Sixt Platinum
Posts: 13,308
Also a reminder that do not use your AAdvantage number on AA bookings if you are planning to credit AA flights to BAEC in the future.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
Jul 2, 21, 7:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 99
Originally Posted by ISTFlyer
Also a reminder that do not use your AAdvantage number on AA bookings if you are planning to credit AA flights to BAEC in the future.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
Last edited by sbgmiles; Jul 2, 21 at 8:03 pm Reason: left out a word
Jul 2, 21, 10:52 pm
#8
Moderator, Cathay Pacific
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,738
Originally Posted by VSLover
this, and yes to the earlier question about flashing your card to enter lounges or check in areas. that is exactly what i had to do for the year i switched from AA to BA. requires a bit of a think the first few times to ensure you do not lose out on the BA tier points but you get used to it.
Jul 3, 21, 4:09 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Silver, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,Sixt Platinum
Posts: 13,308
Originally Posted by sbgmiles
I have had luck doing this for my husband. I wait until right before he wants to check-in. I call the general Aadvantage number and when the automated system asks for his AA number, I say that I don't have one. I then get routed to a general number where they do not seem to know the rules. I ask to have them change his AA number to his BA number. I have done it about 4 times in the past year and his seat assignment remained, but he did lose priority boarding.
It's definitely a YMMV situation and it's the risk of the passenger to take it.
Jul 3, 21, 7:11 am
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 383
You might have already reached Million Miler Lifetime Platinum with AA, but if not it might be worth considering if it is worthwhile to continue to credit to AA until you do, especially if you could reach it in a reasonable time frame. That way you could lock in Sapphire status. The flip side of that is of course if your travel patterns are heavy then BA Lifetime Gold may be achievable in the distant future, and anything you credit to AA pushes that further away.
Jul 3, 21, 7:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 99
Originally Posted by ISTFlyer
Your husband might have a positive experience in the past but once things go wrong, there is no way back on AA flights.
It's definitely a YMMV situation and it's the risk of the passenger to take it.
It's definitely a YMMV situation and it's the risk of the passenger to take it.
Jul 14, 21, 12:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington,DC
Posts: 1,732
I have a similar question
I have no BA status (Blue) but have lots of Avios.
I am AA Lifetime Platinum
If I use Avios for a BA redemption flight in CW is it possible to then change and add my AA number so I can select a seat. If so how do you do this?
I have no BA status (Blue) but have lots of Avios.
I am AA Lifetime Platinum
If I use Avios for a BA redemption flight in CW is it possible to then change and add my AA number so I can select a seat. If so how do you do this?
Jul 14, 21, 2:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 791
Originally Posted by ISTFlyer
Also a reminder that do not use your AAdvantage number on AA bookings if you are planning to credit AA flights to BAEC in the future.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
American wouldn't detach any AAdvantage number over a partner FFP, thus you shouldn't save any of your reservations to your AAdvantage account or use AAdvantage benefits when flying AA. This does not apply for BA flights but AA has a strict rule which doesn't allow cross-benefiting on their own flights.
Also, is it ok to enter a BAEC number at booking (if the issue here is merely trying to change an AA FF# to a BAEC number after booking), whether or not one saves the reservation to his/her AAdvantage account?
Jul 14, 21, 2:14 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 19,810
Originally Posted by SteveinA2
I have a similar question
I have no BA status (Blue) but have lots of Avios.
I am AA Lifetime Platinum
If I use Avios for a BA redemption flight in CW is it possible to then change and add my AA number so I can select a seat. If so how do you do this?
I have no BA status (Blue) but have lots of Avios.
I am AA Lifetime Platinum
If I use Avios for a BA redemption flight in CW is it possible to then change and add my AA number so I can select a seat. If so how do you do this?
