GGL for life. Why not at 70.000 TP?
Apr 28, 2024, 11:45 am
#92
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,969
I would always like to believe that a lowish number of those earning 5k+ (or 3k for renewals) might be of some interest.
I'm not deluded enough with BA to expect a single thing. Anything from them is nearly as rare as hens' teeth in unicorn poo.
I've always said that small things, especially if consistent, can make difference.
Greetings are nice, but generally insincere, and result in little. GCHs seem to fare better here, at least from the comments on these forums. Heck, even some silvers have more crew interaction.
I don't expect limos, escorts etc.
If I wanted things such as those, the £5k+ I would spend on a F flight wouldn't be heading BA's way.
A lot of my flights are out of my own pocket and if I can spend £350 for a 8hr day time economy flight to JFK or £2k for business, and both are going to be run of the mill, I won't justify the higher spend (unless I can maximise earnings from it).
I want value for my spend.
If work was paying for me to fly F every week to SFO, different kettle of fish. I'll hopefully keep the TPs and Avios, and enjoy my "freebie" and relish things.
Maybe flying every week, earning say 420TP for a F return, and clearing 20k a year for the next 5 years to get a "hello" with a CIV of 100 at 100k TP, but it's not for me.
It would be interesting to know if anyone does earn GGL through to GGLFL off their own backs without adding cheap TP runs.
I'm not deluded enough with BA to expect a single thing. Anything from them is nearly as rare as hens' teeth in unicorn poo.
I've always said that small things, especially if consistent, can make difference.
Greetings are nice, but generally insincere, and result in little. GCHs seem to fare better here, at least from the comments on these forums. Heck, even some silvers have more crew interaction.
I don't expect limos, escorts etc.
If I wanted things such as those, the £5k+ I would spend on a F flight wouldn't be heading BA's way.
A lot of my flights are out of my own pocket and if I can spend £350 for a 8hr day time economy flight to JFK or £2k for business, and both are going to be run of the mill, I won't justify the higher spend (unless I can maximise earnings from it).
I want value for my spend.
If work was paying for me to fly F every week to SFO, different kettle of fish. I'll hopefully keep the TPs and Avios, and enjoy my "freebie" and relish things.
Maybe flying every week, earning say 420TP for a F return, and clearing 20k a year for the next 5 years to get a "hello" with a CIV of 100 at 100k TP, but it's not for me.
It would be interesting to know if anyone does earn GGL through to GGLFL off their own backs without adding cheap TP runs.
Apr 28, 2024, 12:16 pm
#93
formerly wchinchen
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Honolulu
Programs: AA CK, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,368
I'm assuming all US based BA fliers who credit AA flights to BA are also considered low CIV score fliers right?
Last edited by golfmad; Apr 28, 2024 at 12:25 pm Reason: Fixed quote
Apr 28, 2024, 12:18 pm
#94
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Europe
Posts: 172
So just to chime in here, as I think for all its faults GGL is actually one of the better propositions
This is my situ:
Was gold for a couple of years with BA prior to last year where for work reasons my travel ramped up.
Last year around July (October renewal date) I passed 5000 and got to GGL.
This (collection) year, I’ve already cleared 5k again, and am realistically going to get in the 7-8k I think this year. (Might be a bit less, might be a bit more).
What I’ve found:
Gamechanger from gold.
The GGL line is brilliant in most cases, this is the most useful benefit for me. The ability to hold flights (fyi you can’t do that even for money on ex-eu online), is an underrated benefit in my opinionZ
Being ex-eu based, it means I use the CCR on both arrival and departure. I prefer to squirrel myself away on the terrace, than sit at the bar chatting- but the staff are always great- and the help desk has been very proactive in helping when there are issues.
Also means I use short haul a lot, and usually with a decent size bag having come of a LH trip- so G0 is also a solid benefit.
On-board, I’d say 100% or LH and 80% short haul the IFL introduces themselves. Not something that’s super important, but I do find a nice touch.
Since I became GGL only once have I been told my first choice of food wasn’t availiable. This was then after 10 mins changed to them ‘finding’ an extra one… could be fluke but seemed like they reviewed orders and found one.
GUF2 they’ve let me split into 2x GUF1s and I think these are great paired with jokers etc. I was with AA before and these are really similar to SWU. Jokers are equally great- especially if you have lots of avios. I think the savings of both of these are calculable into solid 5 figures for me (taking 4 to somewhere in Latham with almost no avoid availability and J selling at 5k a seat is one example)
Partner cards also great- my wife flies to the UK a fair bit and being able to use TFW is a win for her. Especially as we can usually book her flights on avois, so no need to worry about another status.
All in all- I’d say it works well. I asked about AF Ultimate on this forums AF section and it’s clear that GGL blows them out of the water.
This isn’t to say there are bits they could improve, but it remains a pretty solid proposition.
I’ll also add- no idea what my CIV is but most travel is in F/J depending on route/ aircraft, so might be 97, might be higher... YMMV
This is my situ:
Was gold for a couple of years with BA prior to last year where for work reasons my travel ramped up.
Last year around July (October renewal date) I passed 5000 and got to GGL.
This (collection) year, I’ve already cleared 5k again, and am realistically going to get in the 7-8k I think this year. (Might be a bit less, might be a bit more).
What I’ve found:
Gamechanger from gold.
The GGL line is brilliant in most cases, this is the most useful benefit for me. The ability to hold flights (fyi you can’t do that even for money on ex-eu online), is an underrated benefit in my opinionZ
Being ex-eu based, it means I use the CCR on both arrival and departure. I prefer to squirrel myself away on the terrace, than sit at the bar chatting- but the staff are always great- and the help desk has been very proactive in helping when there are issues.
Also means I use short haul a lot, and usually with a decent size bag having come of a LH trip- so G0 is also a solid benefit.
On-board, I’d say 100% or LH and 80% short haul the IFL introduces themselves. Not something that’s super important, but I do find a nice touch.
Since I became GGL only once have I been told my first choice of food wasn’t availiable. This was then after 10 mins changed to them ‘finding’ an extra one… could be fluke but seemed like they reviewed orders and found one.
GUF2 they’ve let me split into 2x GUF1s and I think these are great paired with jokers etc. I was with AA before and these are really similar to SWU. Jokers are equally great- especially if you have lots of avios. I think the savings of both of these are calculable into solid 5 figures for me (taking 4 to somewhere in Latham with almost no avoid availability and J selling at 5k a seat is one example)
Partner cards also great- my wife flies to the UK a fair bit and being able to use TFW is a win for her. Especially as we can usually book her flights on avois, so no need to worry about another status.
All in all- I’d say it works well. I asked about AF Ultimate on this forums AF section and it’s clear that GGL blows them out of the water.
This isn’t to say there are bits they could improve, but it remains a pretty solid proposition.
I’ll also add- no idea what my CIV is but most travel is in F/J depending on route/ aircraft, so might be 97, might be higher... YMMV
Apr 28, 2024, 12:36 pm
#95
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,189
Apr 29, 2024, 2:33 pm
#96
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 9,003
Apr 29, 2024, 11:05 pm
#97
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,138
The team at CCR approached me on a recent visit - their standard feedback seeking. The person who chatted with me recognised me on a subsequent visit and is aware that I am crossing the threshold in the next month or so.
Apr 30, 2024, 12:15 am
#98
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,523
As a GGL, the key thing for me is the published benefits- CCR/CCDR access at LHR (I am almost always connecting so use it inbound and outbound), Jokers (a huge benefit for a family), GUFs (again, still a major benefit esp. when travelling in F), and now also Group 0 (especially for Short Haul). Plus all the Gold/OWE benefits (TFW, seat selection, OW lounge access).
Other regular soft benefits are first meal choice in CW and F (usually, but not guaranteed especially on HV routes such as JFK or BOS where F might be full of Prems) and crew greetings (not hugely bothered but I would say a lot of the interaction from crew is made very genuinely and as a "people-person" I do love a bit of a chat).
Other things like car transfers, escorts onto the plane, invitations to events (non-BA and BA) are completely in the "surprise and delight" category for me and most GGLs (GGLfL, GGL+ excepted, I realise). If you don't expect them then you may get a nice surprise now and again.
Other regular soft benefits are first meal choice in CW and F (usually, but not guaranteed especially on HV routes such as JFK or BOS where F might be full of Prems) and crew greetings (not hugely bothered but I would say a lot of the interaction from crew is made very genuinely and as a "people-person" I do love a bit of a chat).
Other things like car transfers, escorts onto the plane, invitations to events (non-BA and BA) are completely in the "surprise and delight" category for me and most GGLs (GGLfL, GGL+ excepted, I realise). If you don't expect them then you may get a nice surprise now and again.