andymcdonnell

For a number of years I’ve been BA Gold. Based in DUB, most of my flying is in J with 3/4 transatlantic trips each year plus a long haul to somewhere else such as South Africa or the Far East. Whilst BA were never anything amazing, I was happy to give them my €€ for what I got. Now however…

I fully understand BA are under huge financial strain but so too are all other airlines so I’m cutting them the same slack as any other carrier.

Obviously with the US still closed to EU tourists, my opportunity to earn TPs is limited. Other carriers have already announced further status extensions but with <6 months to go until my gold status expires I’m still in the dark. (Yes I know of the double TP offers but if you can’t actually get into a country it’s useless).

At the same time, I’m flying to DXB next month and I’ll have no lounge access at my home airport because BA haven’t bothered to renew the lounge contract despite other OW carriers having done so.

I’m starting to plan my travel for next summer and BA have decent fares to USA. They’re a little more expensive than UA/AC & involves a more circuitous route via LHR but in the past the ability to upgrade to F with avios has always swung it. But for the whole month of July (11 months out) there’s no F availability to the 6 destinations I’m looking at for myself & my partner.

As a final (and not the fault of BA) but transit via UK now means added Covid tests versus transit via another EU hub.

For the first time, I’m really wondering if I should just ditch BA

HIDDY

I've been using the airline that suits my needs best all my life. Doesn't everyone?

ermis177

Why not have both? It is fairly easy to maintance status with Aegean or Turkish and on the same time probably have BA silver or gold status.

Like this you have more options

mikeyfly

For genuine leisure travellers not USA tier point runners, I’d say it’s never been easier to achieve and maintain status!

andymcdonnell

How so? USA, South Africa, most of Asia, Australia all closed / effectively closed to tourists

mikeyfly

400 or so tier points for up to two years silver is no trouble. Double TPs on holidays through to March…. A Malta in CE for five nights and car hire starting from the regions (inc DUB) will do this for a very small sum of money. What other alliances are making it so easy. Remember, lots of folk get status through short euro trips not big long haul jaunts

garykung

Not worth the effort.

Not a BAEC member and never earned a single Avios in my life. But I can tell you this - all airlines are suffering from COVID-19. If you honestly believe moving is the solution, then do it. But grasses are not always greener elsewhere.

binman

Club Cabin of 48 from Santorini today. I priority desk and final priority passengers accepted long after Euro traveller cleared. You have to ask where the premium experience is when this is how they handle. Guy in front travelling with partner but she was on easy jet, she had checked in and came to say bye bye. They’d arrived at same time! He waited another 40 minutes to checkin.

PGberkshire

at LHR allowing Bronze to check in in business class desks is fine, plenty of capacity. at outstations its nuts, should be Silver and above

HIDDY

A result of the fares for CE being too cheap maybe?

SonicStar817

Yeah because those are the only places BA flies to right?

binman

€703 one way a week out. Hardly cheap!

binman

i think it’s even simpler than this. Pull from front of priority queue and use all available desks. There is then no need for anyone to wait more than 10 mins or so. But it needs focus, attention to detail and manning. Simply something BA does not do!

Fatdickie

Just had notification of seat change
26th Sept. Edinburgh to Heathrow BA1445

​​​​Kicked out of my exit row seat to halfway back up the plane

12 rows or CE on a one hour flight
Really, what's the point
the cabin crew will have to move to serve that lot

# just checked the price
Ł267 one way
Ouch hardly cheap for a one hour flight
​​​​​​

stevie

I have been BA gold for 20 years or so but regularly fly BA metal less than 10 times a year.
I generally use CX/JAL/AA and only BA if it suits my timetable better.