2358

I have found myself using AA recently a little more on my transatlantic flights and was wondering whether there is any reciprocal treatment by AA for GGL (or even gold) members.

I am often asked when I check in at an AA lounge whether I have status with BA, and then the attendant just looks at me blankly as though it means nothing.

Invariably in group 2, which means by the time I board after those called by name, preboards, Concierge key and Group 1, I am several rows away from my bag.

Perhaps I have got used to the subtle signs that BA recognise me - the extra bottle of water, always getting my first choice of meal, etc.

Are there any advertised, or unadvertised benefits of having BA status when flying AA?

crazyarmadillo

Yes they do. Or they do for us.

Best way to discover these 'perks' is when you don't expect them to happen.

ISTFlyer

Since AAdvantage Platinum Pro became OWE, BA Gold's started to get Platinum Pro treatment rather than Executive Platinum as crew members now see BA Gold as Platinum Pro since that upgrade, as an example, there were downgrades such, elimination of the one free food item from the BoB menu which was given to AA EXP's for BAEC Gold's. As a new GGL, wondering if AA crew still see GGL's as CK on their tablets/phones or as PPRO. So the main question is, was your reference from late 2021 or 2022 or pre-COVID.

crazyarmadillo

Pre and post COVID.

There's another thread somewhere, which I'll try and link in, if i can find it, that had examples of the perks.

I do buy all our BA/ AA, UK USA trips on a 001 ticket, which may or may not matter.

2358

On BA, I get more perks now as a GGL than I did when I was Silver, or Blue - I consider them offered to me as a loyal customer rather than a "perk". That is why I fly mainly on One World. My question is whether i only see those benefits on BA.

i do like to be able to be close to my bag, which is why I appreciate early boarding on BA, which I am clearly not getting with AA - ie I board with whatever the ticket gives me.

Not looking for special treatment, but wondering if I should restrict myself to BA if my "perks" are limited to travelling with them, and otherwise UA/Delta will offer a similar experience as AA, which would give me greater flexibility.

aztimm

Are you selecting MCE or an exit row seat? As an AA Plat Pro, I board with group 2 (unless I get upgraded), and I've never not been close to my bag in the overhead. Are you boarding with group 2, or waiting until later? It is possible that if you're in the lounge and get to the gate after boarding has begun and miss your group that it might be tough to find overhead space near your seat. And AA is notorious for boarding early; I usually plan to be at the gate at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled boarding, as it often happens then.

I know that AA will usually offer PE seats for CK and EXP complimentary, on a space-available basis, but I'm not sure if that benefit is extended to partners. Of course if the main cabin is oversold, they will do a cabin roll based on status, but that is very much the exception rather than the rule. I once was rolled to business on JL SGN-NRT, on a super cheap ticket.

crazyarmadillo

I answered the question. You do get perks on AA as GGL , or we do anyways.

I consider it to be a perk.

Radiation Station

BA recognise you as Gold? I have noticed no difference since I changed from Blue to Gold.

wanaflyforless

Yes, many, including:

• Access to First and Business Class lounges
• Access to First Class priority check-in
• ‘Fast Track’ or ‘Priority Lane’ access at select airports worldwide
• Priority baggage handling
• Extra baggage allowance
• Priority boarding
• Priority on waitlists and when on standby
• Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating

See: https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits

Unadvertised benefits include better odds of an operational upgrade when a cabin is oversold and priority over non-status passengers during irregular operations.

Of course many AA employees do not appear to like their jobs and the passenger experience varies widely depending on the people.

You will not get all the perks BA gives to their own status members when flying AA with BA status. You will however get many perks non-status passengers do not get.

If you meant to ask if BA GGL currently get additional perks flying AA beyond the many standard Emerald privileges, that is another question and I do not know if that is currently something AA employees can see.

HFHFFlyer

It varies dramatically, There is another thread on this but the genesis of it that at some stations (ORD) you will get consistent CK type treatment (preboarding, proactive assistance with connections) whereas at others you will get it more often than not (CLT, LAX, PHL) and others very rarely (LGA).

I think you get marked to ground crew as a BA VIP. On board, the cabin crew don’t seem to be aware at all.

HFHFFlyer

Consistent Concierge Key treatment at ORD for BA GGL

try this thread for more granularity……

jerry a. laska

Officially, to Oneworld a BA GGL and BA Gold are just Emeralds. That said, AA has at times seemed to treat GGLs in a manner similar to AA CK or at least to a slightly higher standard than other OWEs. See for example:
Consistent Concierge Key treatment at ORD for BA GGL
Is there still real differentiation with GGL?

xenole

The couple of times I've mentioned GGL in the LAX Flagship lounge, they've had zero idea of what it was. Much the same for BA as well to be honest.

I've been met a few times, as BA Gold, at PHX, and acknowledged once as a CK at LAX after a cancelled flight (although still slummed it in the T4 departure area overnight). Nothing else preferential treatment wise on either BA or AA to be honest (beyond group 1,2 lounge access etc.).
"VIP" once or twice when going through the Flagship lane at JFK.
I've never boarded when CKs have been called. Don't want to do a walk of shame, and I can wait 10 secs longer if my name wasn't called (PHL I believe is the only place I've seen where CKs were called by name at the gate).

My last late connection into PHX meant I missed a flight to LAX, so I was escorted to the lounge (by a woman waiting at the gate with my name on a held up tablet) and given rebooking options.
(previous one with BA into SEA, pretty much abandoned but found someone at an AA/BA desk who sorted out a hotel for the night and rebooking etc.)

Should be 300TP or so short of GGL again after next week's flight, and will qualify by Sept/Oct at the latest assuming there are some flights to actually fly on.

I really don't know what they're looking at beyond comments in these forums. Sometimes zero, other times something.
Some people seem to get a fairly good deal at times, but it's inconsistent to say the least. Even CKs in the AA forum get very little acknowledgement sometimes on the ground, and are nobody in the air.

2358

I am buying up to 1st domestically, boarding in Group 2, and more often than not find only room in overheads in coach.

What do you consider to be a perk?

I really appreciate First Wing, which for me makes it worth flying on BA where I can, Jokers and GGL phone line make GGL even more worth it!

Wanaflyforless - thanks, this helpful to know. Looks like most of this comes with premium tickets anyway.

This perhaps explains why I keep getting asked what my BA status is. I generally get a blank look, so not sure what they expect to hear!

Thanks all, for me only a guaranteed benefit is something I would value. Rebooking after a delayed or cancelled flight would be something I would expect whatever status I held, especially on a business or 1st ticket, so I would not consider that a perk.

orbitmic

When it comes to frequent flyer status there are two different types of perks. Formal and informal.

If we are talking about formal perks, bear in mind that GGL is not a formal OW status - nor indeed a FFP level on BAEC (if you don't requalify, you go down to silver, not gold). As a result, from a formal perks point of view, being GGL on OW airlines is just like being GCH. We get the same F check in, the same level of priority boarding etc. BA is a little different in that there are some formal perks that have been specifically designed for GGL (CCR access, special phone line, etc), but from that point of view, your example is not very well chosen, because when it comes to boarding and chances of "sitting close to our bag", we are treated exactly as any GCH or indeed, exactly as any OW Emerald and there is exactly zero special treatment for GGLs, so if you feel that there is any difference, it probably simply relates to differences in proportions of eligible passengers between the flights you take with BA and AA (and I dare say that if, like me and many others, you did a lot of NCE-LHR, you'd find yourself often some distance away from your bag if you need to put it in the overhead space as group 1 on those flights can be huge!)

In terms of informal perks, the vast majority of OW airlines have no idea about your or my GGL status and just see us as "Gold". On that front, AA are different, and at least when I last flew them pre-Covid, they knew about GGL status. In my case, most of my AA flying is 125 ticketed and BA coded, and we've still have the more than occasional "meet at the plane" treatment in hubs and so on and occasionally fairly extended welcome on board.

That said, if your question is whether you can expect other OW airlines to treat your GGL status like BA does, then overall the answer is clearly no. There was a time when OW airlines discussed the possibility of a "super tier" beyond emerald for their exclusive FFP levels (though I'm not clear if for BA this would have meant us GGL or more likely Premier only) but to my knowledge that was never acted upon and GGL thus does not correspond to any "box" on partners. I would add, by the way, that what you mention about BA treatment in my experience in years as GGL and CCR cardholder is most absolutely hit and miss. GGL means a lot to some crew, others will not have a clue what it even means and just think you are GCH or won't care. Largely the same will be true of ground staff, so even with BA, my advice would not to take too much for granted or risk disappointment.