I haven't seen a specific discussion about this here...

I've been with BAEC ever since the demise of BD Diamond Club (RIP) and just stayed with them out of convenience. After lo these many years I decided to look into it and turns out I'd be better off using IB+. For my flying patterns, TPs come out almost exactly the same, but since I'm forced to fly VY several times a year getting tier points for those is a plus. It also seems that the various perks and promos offered by IB are of more use to me than the UK-centric ones from BA.

Has anyone ever tried to get IB status matched from BA? Any luck? Suggestions for best strategy?

My first thought is I don't know if intra-alliance matching really happens at all, although maybe the fact they're both IAG carriers might help?

My other musing is that given IB Platino status lasts for two years vs BA Gold requiring annual requalification, I wonder if that would affect anything if they don't want to give away a "free" year of status in a match.

Doubt there will be a status match...?

We've previously discussed BAEC v IB+ at the OWS on here, and for those that actually fly IB I think IB+ wins. At the OWE level I think some things even but some differences remain:

IB+
Earning EP on Level, Vueling and lounge access when flying Vueling (booked on VY code)
BA
TP and lounge for Air Lingus? Soon JetBlue? Definitely more Global.

IB+ has many 50% avios sales a year, which anyone with just classics can access, but when things go wonky and you need to call in, being IB+ elite makes it easier.
BAEC has the Amex voucher, which for us expats not relevant?
BAEC also has the double TP which for non US expats also not relevant.

Not sure of the free avios and upgrade certs and freebie status cards differences after the new extra bonuses this year.

BA has the OWE+ levels that has extra house benefits and is also recognised by AA...

Lifetime status... probably BA would be better? Unless one has permanently moved to Spain.
​​​​​

No chance of IB+ matching BA status. Maybe if you leveraged your BA status into a match with Skyteam or Star Alliance and then IB+ at some point runs a status match promo...

I've also recently made the switch to IB+ status from BA. The only reason to doubt my decision was the fact that I'm 70% of the way to lifetime Gold with BA. But on current travel patterns I don't think I can make it anyhow...

Over on the BA boards I've read disgruntled comments from BAEC members living in EU, ironic that there used be the EuroCheat method.

Anyway, welcome (back to) IB+!

There is the ongoing AFKL match on Flying Blue to UK citizens (but also Spanish residents, it was expanded recently), if that's the route the OP wants to go down.

LOL. I was one of the original Eurocheats, then a Euroreal, and now a UK Cheat.

Now I am a IB+ Cheat - first time with status - despite having an IB+ account almost since the programme started in the 90s...

Oh you're back to the UK! Hmm but can't make BAH 2xTP to work towards getting GFL?

So you can use the BCN lounge when flying VY (booked on VY) BCN-LGW (assuming ur platino), but not at BA lounge LGW-BCN (need to be BA code & BA Gold?).

BAEC account is back residing in the UK. Not me personally...

Won't make it to Platino. Oro is the sweetspot for me... Still avoiding VY as much as possible. (although admittedly it's not terrible if you pay for row 1)

Yeah I didn't figure there was a lot of chance of a match, but I'm glad I posted anyway because I learned a few things (and was reminded of a few things):
Lounge access on VY: did not know that, it's huge since I have probably 20 VY legs/year and have been relying on PP for lounge access (the lounge in BCN is sometimes over capacity lately and PP seems to get parked outside more frequently than with status)
Platino is good for two years. Completely slipped my mind. BA Gold is only doable by accident for me, but I'll almost make Platino without trying since it's two years worth of TPs instead of one.

There's also the "free VIP parking" benefit at BCN and MAD. I can't find details about what that actually means anywhere but my best guess is you have to pay regular parking rates but get the valet parking and EV charging for free? Anyone know?

I'm going to mail them; worst thing they can do is say no. Should that fail I have a trip coming up next week that will put me over the BA Silver threshold for the year so I'm going to start accumulating on IB and...do it the hard way.

I'm can't over the 70% towards GFL lol.

How does the Oro (& higher) free guesting childchildren (so no limit?) into lounge (in addition to the guest) work, only for IB MAD lounges, or all OW lounges (but not a 3rd party ones)?
https://www.iberia.com/es/iberiaplus/oro/ read the child-guest bit several times still don't get it.

The 2 year thing...(you need 2x the EP)..I guess you can do 1.x in Y1, 1-x in Y2, fly only on avios Y3, Y4 card expired but go back to flying a lot (in J/F so status matters less), so 1 year of intensive flying (initially all in J/F) to get total-3 years of OWE. PITA to plan for though?

[MENTION=660896]LupineChemist[/MENTION] can tell you about MAD parking.

I wonder if you can use ur BAEC # at booking, and at lounge and then change to IB# when leaving lounge/at gate?

As far as parking goes, I don't know anything about EV charging since I have a cheap petrol Corsa, but it's literally no cost. It's probably my favorite IB status benefit. You have to email them prior to make the reservation and it's limited to 3 days in Europe/short haul and a week for long haul, but just walking out and having your car ready to go for you and being able to just leave it at the terminal door is amazing. Note that the first time you go might want to plan some extra time as it can be a bit confusing to find the entrance and it's through a prohibited entry sign and all. That's all at Madrid. no idea for BCN and I believe it has to be IB flights, so BA won't work.

Also, IAG has been moving toward combining the programs. I think it would be great to have a single Avios status and then basically you can choose your airline you use it with.

It's IB lounges in MAD for sure. Not sure about BCN, especially the lounge down by the Puente Aereo gates that is basically IB only but is still theoretically AENA operated.

I doubt that a lounge dragon in LHR say is going to follow IB+ rules over BA's standard guesting policy. I'll have to see what happens next time we take the munchkin to visit Grandma in Buenos Aires, although we've been doing LEVEL lately so no lounge anyhow.