xenole

At the end of the day, and I've said this before, I find it ridiculous that people pay say £10k for a shiny gold Rolex, £500k for a 1 bedroomed London flat; £70k for a flash BMW to sit in rush hour M25 traffic; £150+ for a steak; £100 for a bottle of champagne; £20k+ on a wedding that is just to show off etc.

​​​​​

bisonrav

The retention bar was set very low. That's just over 1p per TP which with double tier points is certainly possible, but it's an edge case.

Dark Blue

I see. Yeah, I renewed mine at 2,250 TPs but didn't look at BA holidays as 5 nights did not work for me. Did Hawaii a couple of times, which cost me $5,500ish, but accommodation in Waikiki cost me more... (no, not 45 min stay!)

Flamenguista

To each their own. Within the law and basic common sense, people shouldn't be criticized for what they enjoy doing.

That said, I've always been extremely curious why people go on "point runs". I can understand if they just enjoy the flying. But I've never understood the reasoning for the status seekers. Surely, the status is no longer worth the $ and time spent. Am I missing something here?

TTmex

It's not the first time these types of article have been written and won't be last. As for people worried that climate issues may work against them, don't worry, minimum spend revenue flying like that in the US will be the nail in the coffin for most. When GGL requires 15k and Gold 12k min spend, a guy from The Times will be the least of many people's worries. I'd imagine TPs will remain, but they'll add a Qualifying Quids bar which is only earned on fare paid not on carrier charges haha. don't forget the accompanying article from BA marketing telling you it's because we asked for a simpler way of earning status
​​​​​​

Foofighter69

I think that’s the BOS lounge, always loved that view.

srbrenna

There was a chap on here a few years back. I think he was called Peter. Anyway, he did just this. I’ve forgotten the exact route but it was something like Eastern Europe to Hawaii via LCY and including a transcon when they were 210 points and then he nested two, yes two, HNL to SJU trips in between. He did this twice as he wanted a CCR card. I remember that his wife also joined FT and gave her view!
There will be the evidence on here but being notoriously lazy I haven’t searched yet! I recall that even the denizens of this forum thought this was taking things a bit too far!

I have done similar and while they are very interested that I manage to travel further up the front they show no interest in any methodology. I’m not an extreme TP runner by any means. I’ve been known to tag on a stop on the way occasionally but all trips so far have been ex-UK.

srbrenna

I also remember in the midsts of time (about five years ago) that BA personally presented a Gold card to some chap who had got it through TP running and did a feature on it.

firstlight

Mrs firstlight and I did pretty well without any tp runs, just using the reduced thresholds and ba holiday offer (with some holiday trips via DOH). For Mrs. F that was 4000tps gained entirely in leisure flying.

To retain my status for another year required 1 return trip in economy and a night away that I otherwise would not have taken costing €400. That's about 10 glasses of LPGS at current retail prices...

it's all down to personal preference; I personally wouldn't just go to Hawaii for 45 minutes, but would go for a week and if I could get 1500tps and a week away with Mrs. F into the bargain it would be money well spent!

Raffles

Exactly. What gets ignored here is that £1000 for business class to Hawaii is madly cheap and most did it for a holiday. When I looked at the €1500 ex Prague deal on Wed, BA wanted £1200 in June for an Economy flight ex London.

Robert279

Not even that for me, but I have chosen to travel CE, rather than ET, or CW as opposed to PE from time to time. Earning additional TPs and status by way of travel class rather than additional flying seems to have been overlooked in the article. And if the Sunday Times or its readers wish to go all 'class-war' about that, surely BA's ability to fill its premium cabins, makes travel that bit more affordable for all. Oops! I forgot, in the new orthodoxy we're not supposed to travel.

craigthemif

Just wait until people figure out that you can get Oneworld elite status cheaper just sitting at home in front of your computer... And that you earn far more award miles for free flights in the process...

It won't be as much fun as flying to Hawaii and back though...

xenole

I like flyimg, although there are times when the novelty factor wears off.
I like hhe odd drink, and wouldn't dream of paying £30-£40 for a bottle of Moet, so a glass or two in a lounge make it something special.
That said, my love of alcohol has wained recently, and I can't be bothered sitting in a lounge for 5hrs just because they serve so and so.
Had some delays this weekend, and after eating something, and being full, an extra 4hrs, including a 2hr or so delay, is boring.

It's still nice flying business class from OTP or SOF to SFO for £1200] when PE direct from LHR is about £200 less. Space and flat bed is worth that extra even though I spend half a day getting to SOF or wherever.
I'll try to spend at least some time somewhere, although only so many times i can visit San Francisco to be honest.

Status wise, lounge access and seat selectuon are nice especially of om a dirt cheap ticket.
Theee are no real benefits in the air or on the ground to be honest. Blue, Gold, CK or GGL, all the same
Well Avios earning, with the beest usage possibly being the booking or more flights which make you want to fly more in order to perpetuate things

bermudasun

I find keeping the other half sweet with the partner gold card and the annual trips makes it all ok… indeed I was asked recently when I was heading off on my next one as I have been at home too long… now that I think about it 🤣🤣

PGberkshire

Or they have private whatsapp groups and keep the best deals off FT to prevent it being ruined.

Yes, at reduced 2250 rate

are you stalking me