Gold Guest List beginner's guide | 2024
Dec 31, 2023, 3:13 pm
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Gold Guest List beginner's guide | 2024
This is the 2024 version of the Gold Guest List beginner's guide originally created and maintained by dylanks
Its success over several years meant it had grown to 182 pages so it has now been archived and is available here:
Gold Guest List beginner's guide
Please continue to contribute in this 2024 version.
This information below has been created from the original guide put together by dylanks and updated to reflect the current program benefits.
Overview
The British Airways Executive Club has several status tiers. The highest status that can be earned directly through flying is Gold Guest List (GGL). This guide attempts to help both new and experienced GGL members get the most from the perks and benefits available with GGL.
Qualifying
The detailed guide to earning status has information on requirements to reach all status levels, including GGL.
While requirements were changed in early 2015 to require 5,000 TP to initially qualify for GGL, you currently only need 3,000 TP to renew your status. Lifetime GGL may be attained at 100,000 TP. (During covid the qualification levels were reduced by 25%, though this ended in 2022, regardless of your BAEC calendar year)
GGL is somewhat complicated to explain in that it's not a truly separate status level above gold, in that if you fail to reach 1,500 tier points as a GGL, your soft landing will be to silver, not to gold!
For those people more familiar with mileage based systems, it's worth comparing what it takes to earn GGL status compared to status in other programs. The following oversimplified scenarios would earn GGL:
Some members achieve GGL a bit faster by flying on partner F segments of 2,000 miles or more. Or perhaps a CE return twice per month of NCL-LHR-HEL could also qualify, and would be around 60,000 miles per year. The minimum number of miles flown to reach GGL is probably around 50,000 miles, but is typically much more.
So reaching GGL requires a significant amount of flying in Club World or First on BA and its partners each year, a significant number of ex-eu tier point runs, or a very regular connecting route!
And as noted in the detailed guide to earning status, you must have at least 4 eligible flights. The simplest is to fly 4 BA or IB flights per year, but BA codeshares on AA also meet this criteria, for example.
Starting as GGL
A few days after you reach 5,000 TP, your account should update from Gold to GGL. So typically 1-2 days for your tier points to post, and another day for your status to change to GGL. Shortly thereafter, you will receive the following:
You will also no longer pay fees for cancelling, changing or booking award tickets with more than 24 hours notice. And you can transfer Avios to another member for free. And you may bring an extra guest into each BA operated lounge.
GGL card
The GGL card looks nearly identical to the BA Gold card, with a small crown logo and the letters GL in the top right corner. Your background on the website when logged in while also change to show the GGL crown. This card contains a new phone number for the GGL Priority Assistance line.
GGL Priority Assistance line
After getting GGL, you get access to the GGL Priority Assistance line, no matter where you live. It's open 24 hours a day, unlike most of the BA phone lines. You also get a direct email address, though you typically need to ask for this during a telephone call to the GGL helpline. Note that you will need to verify your status when calling, so there's no point in dialing this line if you are not a GGL. If you need to find the GGL line, dunk’s BA contact number tool is very useful. And if you cannot find the GGL email address, a message to the general BA email with your BAEC number will result in it being forwarded to the GGL team.
The GGL priority assistance line is incredibly useful, with a very helpful staff that is very proactive in offering their help and reminding you of your benefits.
Note that the GGL team has a break between 10pm and 6am UK time. Between 10pm and 6am, calls are routed to the GGL team based in India. This team is generally perfectly capable, but some queries still get handled by the UK team.
CCR access
GGL gives you Concord Room access to the following lounges that are usually reserved for first class passengers only, regardless of your class of travel:
If you need to use CCR before your card arrives, then you can call the GGL helpline and they will email the relevant CCR so they know to expect you. If you forget the card, then there is a file binder with a list of names, but it's best not to rely on that as it will slow down your entry into the lounge. You can also take a photo of your card and show it on your phone, should your card arrive at home while you're on the road.
The secret handshake of the CCR when not flying in First is a subtle flash of your GGL card to the poor BA agent with the job of turning away the 90% (or more!) of people who try to use the direct door to the CCR at T5 south just past the security checkpoint.
Be sure to check out the CCR dining menu as food choices are updated monthly.
Gold and silver partner cards
You can nominate one person to Gold status and two people to Silver status. To nominate them, simple add them to either your household account if desired, or as friends/family if not part of your household, and then click on nominate in the friends and family section in your account. As soon as your family or friend has been added, you should be able to nominate them instantly. Also, all nominees need to be at least 18 years of age to be nominated via the website, though you can call the GGL line to nominate one of your under age 18 children.
There are several strategies for optimising the maximum time for a partner to have status. The GGL timing thread has recent details. Note that it is not 100% clear if a partner will receive a soft landing or not when their year expires and they do not earn enough tier points to retain their status, but it is not a published benefit.
Also note that when you first qualify for GGL, you will not receive a new batch of partner cards until you qualify again for GGL. So reaching GGL right before the end of your tier point year will not earn you double the number of partner cards in a short stretch of time.
Transferring Avios
In addition to the partner cards, you can also help your friends and family , even those that do not reside at your address, through the transfer of Avios. For non-GGL, you are generally limited to sharing Avios via a household account.
There are two ways you can transfer up 324,000 Avios per calendar year:
You will also achieve Hilton Diamond status when reaching GGL. To receive this, email the GGL team and give them your Hilton Honors number. It may take up month to process. The main benefits of Diamond status are:
Otherwise you may find yourself on the Hilton equivalent of the dykwia thread.
It seems to be pot luck whether requesting this will be a simple short phone call to BAEC armed with your Hilton Honors number, or whether it'll involve calling several times over a month or two before the Heath-Robinson machine that makes it happen kicks into action. For me, the Diamond status was active within about ten days of requesting it.
GGL Redemption/Jokers/Space Release
This is by far the most sought after benefit, as it allows you to make two return bookings per year on BA flights with Avios booking into revenue available seats as follows:
The GGL redemption (otherwise known lovingly on FT as the 'joker') makes it possible to create redemption space where none existed subject to the criteria noted above. The GGL team now refers to this as a Space Release so you may wish to use that term in your correspondence. Once this space is created it can be used just like any other redemption space. For example, it can be booked in full with Avios or by upgrading a revenue ticket. In addition, it can be used with a GUF1 or GUF2 and/or with any of the two for one options such as the AMEX 2-4-1 or the Chase Travel Together coupon. Note that you may not use Avios + GUF to upgrade two cabins of travel on a revenue ticket.
You'll get two jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases for each qualifying membership year, meaning two on initial qualification (which need to be used by the end of that year) and two when you roll over to each new membership year. So if you reach 5,000 tier points in March and your year expires on April 8th, you'll get two to use almost immediately, which expire on April 8th, and then two more on April 8th, which expire 12 months later. This will then repeat each year that you qualify for GGL. So you may get a boost of extra jokers the first time you qualify for GGL.
The expiration date for a GGL redemption is the date you need to book by, not the date you need to travel by. So you can book a redemption for up to the usual 355 days in advance, well beyond the date of the GGL redemption deadline.
Jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases may also be used to open upgrade space on a paid booking (to one class of travel higher, e.g. CW to F or WT+ to CW).
When calling the GGL priority assistance line, it is best to ask about a GGL redemption space release rather than a joker, and politely ask for the dates, travelers, class of service, and route you seek to fly. Also, you may be told that space needs to be confirmed (typically when A class availability doesn't exist in F, or similar for other cabins), and you'll receive a call back in 20-30 minutes once it is confirmed (which is much better than waiting on hold!). Once confirmed, you can either pay any tax and surcharges that are due, or place a complimentary hold for 72 hours.
Example: First year of GGL redemptions
Given the number of questions about how to use GGL redemptions, the OP will share the first year of GGL redemptions (qualified in early March, tier point year expires on April 8th):
In March, I had two GGL redemptions to use prior to April 8th. I used one redemption to upgrade an existing BA booking from CW to F on LHR-PHX//LAX-LHR using Avios. I then used the other joker to book our family of five in F, PHX-LHR-PHX using Avios, Chase 2-for-1 certificate, 2 GUF1, and 1 GUF2. This was approximately 7-8 months in advance, and the outbound did not have sufficient availability, so the agent called revenue management and cleared availability and then called me back to complete the booking.
After April 8th, I had two more GGL redemptions to use prior to the next April 8th. I used both on separate occasions to upgrade LHR-PHX-LHR from CW to F using avios.
Beyond 5,000 tier points
GGL earn extra GUFs based on tier points, beyond the 1 GUF2 and 2 GUF1 that are earned by Gold and GGL members at 2,500 and 3,500 TP, respectively
An additional joker/GGL redemption is earned at 6,000 TP.
At 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 TP, you can choose one of the following:
To the disappointment of corporate-wage-slave, there are currently no further benefits above 9,000 TP other than reaching lifetime GGL more expediently.
Special services
India generally gets Special Service style meet and greet, arriving and departing. Less frequently in Miami, Singapore, JFK, LAX, and LHR for Concorde Team support. The OP has had by far the most frequent Concorde Team interactions at LAX, though he did receive a few car transfers at LHR during peak covid when he was typically the only GGL or Premier flying on that day.
Special services / Concorde Team is not provided by default, but is provided when available. It should probably be thought of as a special surprise when it happens, rather than something to expect as a GGL.
Premier members
BAEC Premier members, an invite-only status typically reserved for the senior decision makers at companies and government bodies with substantial spend with BA, can earn the other perks such as GUF and the additional rewards at 7,000, 8,000, and 9,000 TP. These are earned when a member earns the same number of tier points required for non-Premier members. They remain Premier cardholders with Concorde Room and BA lounge access in all circumstances ("open doors") with 2 guests. Premier cards can be withdrawn at anytime, it's not a lifetime invitation, at which point the cardholder typically drops to Gold or GGL level, depending on recent TP history.
GGL renewal
If you reach 3,000 TP in your membership year, your GGL status will renew, and you'll receive a new set of GGL cards, two silver & one gold nominations, 2 fresh jokers with any remaining jokers from the previous year expiring.
Lifetime GGL
At 100,000 TP, you will receive GGL for life (normal requirement to stay active in BAEC).
Its success over several years meant it had grown to 182 pages so it has now been archived and is available here:
Gold Guest List beginner's guide
Please continue to contribute in this 2024 version.
This information below has been created from the original guide put together by dylanks and updated to reflect the current program benefits.
Overview
The British Airways Executive Club has several status tiers. The highest status that can be earned directly through flying is Gold Guest List (GGL). This guide attempts to help both new and experienced GGL members get the most from the perks and benefits available with GGL.
Qualifying
The detailed guide to earning status has information on requirements to reach all status levels, including GGL.
While requirements were changed in early 2015 to require 5,000 TP to initially qualify for GGL, you currently only need 3,000 TP to renew your status. Lifetime GGL may be attained at 100,000 TP. (During covid the qualification levels were reduced by 25%, though this ended in 2022, regardless of your BAEC calendar year)
GGL is somewhat complicated to explain in that it's not a truly separate status level above gold, in that if you fail to reach 1,500 tier points as a GGL, your soft landing will be to silver, not to gold!
For those people more familiar with mileage based systems, it's worth comparing what it takes to earn GGL status compared to status in other programs. The following oversimplified scenarios would earn GGL:
- 18 longhaul return trips in business class. If all were LHR-JFK, this would be 36 * 3,450 miles or 124,000 miles, whereas if all were flown on a longer journey such as LHR-ICN, it would take 36 * 5,500 miles or 198,000 miles flown to earn GGL.
- 12 longhaul return trips in first class. If all were LHR-JFK, this would be 24 * 3,450 miles or 82,800 miles, whereas if all were flown on a longer journey such as LHR-ICN, it would take 24 * 5,500 miles or 132,000 miles flown to earn GGL.
- 125 longhaul return trips in the lowest economy classes of G, O, and G. On the same LHR-JFK route, you would need a near impossible 250 * 3,450 miles 862,500 miles! And LHR-ICN would be 1,375,000 miles, which would mean flying 3,800 miles in economy every day of the calendar year!
Some members achieve GGL a bit faster by flying on partner F segments of 2,000 miles or more. Or perhaps a CE return twice per month of NCL-LHR-HEL could also qualify, and would be around 60,000 miles per year. The minimum number of miles flown to reach GGL is probably around 50,000 miles, but is typically much more.
So reaching GGL requires a significant amount of flying in Club World or First on BA and its partners each year, a significant number of ex-eu tier point runs, or a very regular connecting route!
And as noted in the detailed guide to earning status, you must have at least 4 eligible flights. The simplest is to fly 4 BA or IB flights per year, but BA codeshares on AA also meet this criteria, for example.
Starting as GGL
A few days after you reach 5,000 TP, your account should update from Gold to GGL. So typically 1-2 days for your tier points to post, and another day for your status to change to GGL. Shortly thereafter, you will receive the following:
- A welcome kit by post, including your GGL card
- Eligibility for all GGL benefits
You will also no longer pay fees for cancelling, changing or booking award tickets with more than 24 hours notice. And you can transfer Avios to another member for free. And you may bring an extra guest into each BA operated lounge.
GGL card
The GGL card looks nearly identical to the BA Gold card, with a small crown logo and the letters GL in the top right corner. Your background on the website when logged in while also change to show the GGL crown. This card contains a new phone number for the GGL Priority Assistance line.
GGL Priority Assistance line
After getting GGL, you get access to the GGL Priority Assistance line, no matter where you live. It's open 24 hours a day, unlike most of the BA phone lines. You also get a direct email address, though you typically need to ask for this during a telephone call to the GGL helpline. Note that you will need to verify your status when calling, so there's no point in dialing this line if you are not a GGL. If you need to find the GGL line, dunk’s BA contact number tool is very useful. And if you cannot find the GGL email address, a message to the general BA email with your BAEC number will result in it being forwarded to the GGL team.
The GGL priority assistance line is incredibly useful, with a very helpful staff that is very proactive in offering their help and reminding you of your benefits.
Note that the GGL team has a break between 10pm and 6am UK time. Between 10pm and 6am, calls are routed to the GGL team based in India. This team is generally perfectly capable, but some queries still get handled by the UK team.
CCR access
GGL gives you Concord Room access to the following lounges that are usually reserved for first class passengers only, regardless of your class of travel:
- LHR T5 Concorde Room
- JFK T8 Chelsea lounge (subject to other access criteria. See here for more details).
- LHR T5 Arrivals Concorde dining area (you still must arrive on a longhaul flight; medium haul flights such as Tel Aviv which have a CW cabin qualify) and Arrivals baths
- BOS Concorde Dining Room (reports are that this is currently limited to passengers flying in first due to capacity)
- IAD Concorde Dining Room (reports are that this is currently limited to passengers flying in first due to capacity)
- LHR T3 First dining area
- Future lounges with a separate Concorde area may also be available for GGL
- Flying in First, you may invite two guests into any BA operated lounge, including the CCR
- Flying in any other class, you may invite one guess into the CCR
- Flying in any class, you may invite two guests into BA operated Galleries Club and Galleries First lounges
If you need to use CCR before your card arrives, then you can call the GGL helpline and they will email the relevant CCR so they know to expect you. If you forget the card, then there is a file binder with a list of names, but it's best not to rely on that as it will slow down your entry into the lounge. You can also take a photo of your card and show it on your phone, should your card arrive at home while you're on the road.
The secret handshake of the CCR when not flying in First is a subtle flash of your GGL card to the poor BA agent with the job of turning away the 90% (or more!) of people who try to use the direct door to the CCR at T5 south just past the security checkpoint.
Be sure to check out the CCR dining menu as food choices are updated monthly.
Gold and silver partner cards
You can nominate one person to Gold status and two people to Silver status. To nominate them, simple add them to either your household account if desired, or as friends/family if not part of your household, and then click on nominate in the friends and family section in your account. As soon as your family or friend has been added, you should be able to nominate them instantly. Also, all nominees need to be at least 18 years of age to be nominated via the website, though you can call the GGL line to nominate one of your under age 18 children.
There are several strategies for optimising the maximum time for a partner to have status. The GGL timing thread has recent details. Note that it is not 100% clear if a partner will receive a soft landing or not when their year expires and they do not earn enough tier points to retain their status, but it is not a published benefit.
Also note that when you first qualify for GGL, you will not receive a new batch of partner cards until you qualify again for GGL. So reaching GGL right before the end of your tier point year will not earn you double the number of partner cards in a short stretch of time.
Transferring Avios
In addition to the partner cards, you can also help your friends and family , even those that do not reside at your address, through the transfer of Avios. For non-GGL, you are generally limited to sharing Avios via a household account.
There are two ways you can transfer up 324,000 Avios per calendar year:
- Free for the first 162,000 Avios transferred (combined total for all transferred within a calendar year) TODO: Not connected to your renewal year?
- You can pay to transfer up to 162,000 additional Avios
- You can transfer a maximum of 54,000 Avios per member each calendar year, 27,000 Avios for free and 27,000 by paying to transfer.
- You will need to know the Executive Club number, full name, and email address and Executive Club number to make a transfer.
- The receiving member must already have at least 1 Avios in their account, so you cannot create a new account for someone to receive Avios before they've flown BA.
- Avios can only be transferred online in multiples of 1,000 Avios.
- Avios are transferred immediately and can be used right away.
- When paying to transfer, you will be charged a non-refundable fee, dependent on the number of Avios transferred.
- You must be over 18 years old to transfer Avios. (How many underage GGL members does BA have?!?)
You will also achieve Hilton Diamond status when reaching GGL. To receive this, email the GGL team and give them your Hilton Honors number. It may take up month to process. The main benefits of Diamond status are:
- Premium internet access
- Express check-in and late check-out
- Still water
- Space-available upgrades
- Executive lounge access
Otherwise you may find yourself on the Hilton equivalent of the dykwia thread.
It seems to be pot luck whether requesting this will be a simple short phone call to BAEC armed with your Hilton Honors number, or whether it'll involve calling several times over a month or two before the Heath-Robinson machine that makes it happen kicks into action. For me, the Diamond status was active within about ten days of requesting it.
GGL Redemption/Jokers/Space Release
This is by far the most sought after benefit, as it allows you to make two return bookings per year on BA flights with Avios booking into revenue available seats as follows:
- Book up to 5 seats using avios even when there are no redemption seats available
- Limited to 5 joker seats per cabin per flight (though the GGL team can request additional seats on your behalf in some circumstances)
- Seats needs to be available in revenue classes (A for first, D for CW, T for WT+) (though the GGL team can request additional seats on your behalf in some circumstances)
- All flights must be on BA metal or on AA metal for flights between the US and UK or intra-US (otherwise cannot be used on codeshares with AA, CX, etc.), though can be combined with itineraries with seats on other metal if normal availability is available on those flights. The benefit on AA was added in late 2022.
- May be used for other people, even if the GGL member is not flying
The GGL redemption (otherwise known lovingly on FT as the 'joker') makes it possible to create redemption space where none existed subject to the criteria noted above. The GGL team now refers to this as a Space Release so you may wish to use that term in your correspondence. Once this space is created it can be used just like any other redemption space. For example, it can be booked in full with Avios or by upgrading a revenue ticket. In addition, it can be used with a GUF1 or GUF2 and/or with any of the two for one options such as the AMEX 2-4-1 or the Chase Travel Together coupon. Note that you may not use Avios + GUF to upgrade two cabins of travel on a revenue ticket.
You'll get two jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases for each qualifying membership year, meaning two on initial qualification (which need to be used by the end of that year) and two when you roll over to each new membership year. So if you reach 5,000 tier points in March and your year expires on April 8th, you'll get two to use almost immediately, which expire on April 8th, and then two more on April 8th, which expire 12 months later. This will then repeat each year that you qualify for GGL. So you may get a boost of extra jokers the first time you qualify for GGL.
The expiration date for a GGL redemption is the date you need to book by, not the date you need to travel by. So you can book a redemption for up to the usual 355 days in advance, well beyond the date of the GGL redemption deadline.
Jokers/GGL redemptions/space releases may also be used to open upgrade space on a paid booking (to one class of travel higher, e.g. CW to F or WT+ to CW).
When calling the GGL priority assistance line, it is best to ask about a GGL redemption space release rather than a joker, and politely ask for the dates, travelers, class of service, and route you seek to fly. Also, you may be told that space needs to be confirmed (typically when A class availability doesn't exist in F, or similar for other cabins), and you'll receive a call back in 20-30 minutes once it is confirmed (which is much better than waiting on hold!). Once confirmed, you can either pay any tax and surcharges that are due, or place a complimentary hold for 72 hours.
Example: First year of GGL redemptions
Given the number of questions about how to use GGL redemptions, the OP will share the first year of GGL redemptions (qualified in early March, tier point year expires on April 8th):
In March, I had two GGL redemptions to use prior to April 8th. I used one redemption to upgrade an existing BA booking from CW to F on LHR-PHX//LAX-LHR using Avios. I then used the other joker to book our family of five in F, PHX-LHR-PHX using Avios, Chase 2-for-1 certificate, 2 GUF1, and 1 GUF2. This was approximately 7-8 months in advance, and the outbound did not have sufficient availability, so the agent called revenue management and cleared availability and then called me back to complete the booking.
After April 8th, I had two more GGL redemptions to use prior to the next April 8th. I used both on separate occasions to upgrade LHR-PHX-LHR from CW to F using avios.
Beyond 5,000 tier points
GGL earn extra GUFs based on tier points, beyond the 1 GUF2 and 2 GUF1 that are earned by Gold and GGL members at 2,500 and 3,500 TP, respectively
An additional joker/GGL redemption is earned at 6,000 TP.
At 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 TP, you can choose one of the following:
- 2 GUF1
- Another GGL redemption (joker)
- 50,000 Avios
To the disappointment of corporate-wage-slave, there are currently no further benefits above 9,000 TP other than reaching lifetime GGL more expediently.
Special services
India generally gets Special Service style meet and greet, arriving and departing. Less frequently in Miami, Singapore, JFK, LAX, and LHR for Concorde Team support. The OP has had by far the most frequent Concorde Team interactions at LAX, though he did receive a few car transfers at LHR during peak covid when he was typically the only GGL or Premier flying on that day.
Special services / Concorde Team is not provided by default, but is provided when available. It should probably be thought of as a special surprise when it happens, rather than something to expect as a GGL.
Premier members
BAEC Premier members, an invite-only status typically reserved for the senior decision makers at companies and government bodies with substantial spend with BA, can earn the other perks such as GUF and the additional rewards at 7,000, 8,000, and 9,000 TP. These are earned when a member earns the same number of tier points required for non-Premier members. They remain Premier cardholders with Concorde Room and BA lounge access in all circumstances ("open doors") with 2 guests. Premier cards can be withdrawn at anytime, it's not a lifetime invitation, at which point the cardholder typically drops to Gold or GGL level, depending on recent TP history.
GGL renewal
If you reach 3,000 TP in your membership year, your GGL status will renew, and you'll receive a new set of GGL cards, two silver & one gold nominations, 2 fresh jokers with any remaining jokers from the previous year expiring.
Lifetime GGL
At 100,000 TP, you will receive GGL for life (normal requirement to stay active in BAEC).
Jan 3, 2024, 11:01 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
It might be a misstep to declare this publicly, but am I the only recently downgraded GGL member out there who has seemingly retained many of my former GGL privileges?
I fell to Gold in March last year but am still recognised as being GGL at LHR and on board, but seemingly not in any other context. This has come with some obvious benefits, positively encouraged by the lounge staff at Heathrow. A BA IT bank error in my favour?
I fell to Gold in March last year but am still recognised as being GGL at LHR and on board, but seemingly not in any other context. This has come with some obvious benefits, positively encouraged by the lounge staff at Heathrow. A BA IT bank error in my favour?
Jan 3, 2024, 1:14 pm
#4
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
no you don't.
if you get a paper boarding pass it should say "GGL" under your name for exLHR flights. also when they scan the bp it will say "GGL" in the notes on the bottom right side.
if you get a paper boarding pass it should say "GGL" under your name for exLHR flights. also when they scan the bp it will say "GGL" in the notes on the bottom right side.
Jan 4, 2024, 3:34 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 15
I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this (please advise if not), but my membership year ended at the beginning of December and I was 90TPs short of attaining GGL when my year actually ended. In fact, this was only because 140TPs arising out of the Double BA Holidays Promo had not been properly credited to my account. These TPs have now been credited, albeit incorrectly to my new membership year and I am therefore still not GGL around one month later. I have called and spoken to multiple BA Reps and a case has been opened with the account servicing team, but nothing has happened notwithstanding my efforts to escalate matters. Is there someone within BA I should possibly contact in this situation? The BA staff I have spoken to agree that the situation is rather unfortunate, but they don't seem empowered to be able to do anything other than refer the case to the back office (which has been done multiple times to no avail).
Jan 4, 2024, 3:40 am
#9
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: 4,468
Thanks for updating this, golfmad, the previous thread was becoming somewhat unwieldy!
As per m8_rotate above, there are a few things that were correct when dylanks made the original (and extremely useful!) thread but I think have changed now.
In terms of lounge access, this is a paste from the GGL benefits page, which, after many months of updating, BA seem to have finally got correct(!):
As a Gold Guest List Member you have access to the Concorde Room, our most luxurious and well-appointed lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. Extend the invitation to one guest when you’re flying with British Airways in any cabin, or two guests when flying in First, so they can relax or dine with you prior to take-off.
You can also take advantage of our exclusive Chelsea lounge at New York JFK Terminal 8 when you travel on a scheduled long-haul flight with British Airways, or a long-haul, transcontinental or international short-haul flight with American Airlines.
Likewise, a guest may join you when you’re flying with either airline, or two guests when flying in First with British Airways or American Airlines. (Passengers flying with other oneworld airlines are unable to access this lounge but can enjoy our other two lounges).
Gold Guest List Members travelling on British Airways flights, in any cabin, can enjoy our First Dining, Concorde Dining and ‘The Bar’ facilities with 1 guest.*
Our First or Concorde Dining is available at the following locations:
You can also invite up to five guests to join you in our other relaxing departure lounges (excluding the Concorde Room and the Chelsea lounge). Additionally, you can take up to five guests into our Heathrow Terminal 5 arrivals lounge if they have travelled with you on the same long haul flight.
*Accompanying guest must be travelling on the same British Airways flight with the eligible Gold Guest List Member and access may be subject to capacity on the day. Gold Guest List Members may invite 2 guests when travelling in First only. The proposition is limited to British Airways flights only. For other oneworld carriers, standard access policy applies.
1 area where I think we are agreed the above is slightly inaccurate is that when you are flying out of T5 on IB you are still able to access the CCR.
As per m8_rotate above, there are a few things that were correct when dylanks made the original (and extremely useful!) thread but I think have changed now.
In terms of lounge access, this is a paste from the GGL benefits page, which, after many months of updating, BA seem to have finally got correct(!):
As a Gold Guest List Member you have access to the Concorde Room, our most luxurious and well-appointed lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. Extend the invitation to one guest when you’re flying with British Airways in any cabin, or two guests when flying in First, so they can relax or dine with you prior to take-off.
You can also take advantage of our exclusive Chelsea lounge at New York JFK Terminal 8 when you travel on a scheduled long-haul flight with British Airways, or a long-haul, transcontinental or international short-haul flight with American Airlines.
Likewise, a guest may join you when you’re flying with either airline, or two guests when flying in First with British Airways or American Airlines. (Passengers flying with other oneworld airlines are unable to access this lounge but can enjoy our other two lounges).
Gold Guest List Members travelling on British Airways flights, in any cabin, can enjoy our First Dining, Concorde Dining and ‘The Bar’ facilities with 1 guest.*
Our First or Concorde Dining is available at the following locations:
- Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Johannesburg (JNB), Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO)
- Dubai (DXB) and Singapore (SIN)
You can also invite up to five guests to join you in our other relaxing departure lounges (excluding the Concorde Room and the Chelsea lounge). Additionally, you can take up to five guests into our Heathrow Terminal 5 arrivals lounge if they have travelled with you on the same long haul flight.
*Accompanying guest must be travelling on the same British Airways flight with the eligible Gold Guest List Member and access may be subject to capacity on the day. Gold Guest List Members may invite 2 guests when travelling in First only. The proposition is limited to British Airways flights only. For other oneworld carriers, standard access policy applies.
Jan 13, 2024, 4:07 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,351
Hilton Diamond downgrade imminent
Hi everyone,
I just got notified my Hilton diamond status is about to be downgraded as part of the HHonors annual renewal cycle. Does anyone who has been a member for a while know if the list of GGLs gets resent by BA to Hilton to stop this happening or if you have to contact the GGL team to get them to resend your details please ?
Thanks in advance
I just got notified my Hilton diamond status is about to be downgraded as part of the HHonors annual renewal cycle. Does anyone who has been a member for a while know if the list of GGLs gets resent by BA to Hilton to stop this happening or if you have to contact the GGL team to get them to resend your details please ?
Thanks in advance
Jan 13, 2024, 4:16 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 1,042
Hi everyone,
I just got notified my Hilton diamond status is about to be downgraded as part of the HHonors annual renewal cycle. Does anyone who has been a member for a while know if the list of GGLs gets resent by BA to Hilton to stop this happening or if you have to contact the GGL team to get them to resend your details please ?
Thanks in advance
I just got notified my Hilton diamond status is about to be downgraded as part of the HHonors annual renewal cycle. Does anyone who has been a member for a while know if the list of GGLs gets resent by BA to Hilton to stop this happening or if you have to contact the GGL team to get them to resend your details please ?
Thanks in advance
this happens to me every year. I just email the GGL team and ask them to sort it with Hilton. They are usually very efficient about it and it’s back up to Diamond in a week or so.
Jan 13, 2024, 4:58 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: BAEC GGLfL
Posts: 486
I think it affects only some GGLs. I am guessing something to do with the renewal cycles between GGL and Hilton. My GGL membership year ends in October, and I have never had a problem with my Hilton Diamond renewing.
Jan 13, 2024, 7:41 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
The last time mine was renewed after contacting the GGL team the expiry date was three years away
Jan 24, 2024, 3:46 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Ealing
Programs: Usual Amex Cent. GGL.
Posts: 1,489
With GUFs making As and Is available I think it's worth pointing out that for those of us restricted to school holidays, a Space Release can also be used to book into B in Coach. Not seen any mention of this anywhere.
