How Do Airlines Know Your OW Status?
#16




Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Finnair Platinum, Bonvoy LT Plat, GHA Tit, Turkish Elite
Posts: 9,176
#17


Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,774
I booked an RJ flight a few months ago, when I was Gold with AA. Subsequently my status changed to Platinum, but when I flew today, RJ insisted I was "only" Ruby, so they would not admit me to the lounge (in TLV.) I showed them my Platinum card, to no avail.
Has this happened to others? I thought the system should be better than this.
Has this happened to others? I thought the system should be better than this.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London & White River, South Africa
Posts: 24,643
I've had this issue with CX. Despite being BA Gold/Emerald for over 10 years their systems think I am a basic member.
No amount of complaining fixes the problem and I was denied lounge access in KUL last month.
Now boycotting CX and KA which is a shame.
No amount of complaining fixes the problem and I was denied lounge access in KUL last month.Now boycotting CX and KA which is a shame.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 1,799
My status courtesy of QF seems to work fine though. They address me by name even in Y, and there was once when an FA came up to me to check if I have any special requests. It took a while to explain to my non-status (female) friend traveling with me why the FA knew my name and was so nice to me...
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,096
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Location: montreal canada
Programs: AA lifetime gold, BA, AC, CX, AS, DL, AF(gold), IHG(plt), SPG(gold), HHONORS, .
Posts: 358
The OP was asking about a permanent linkage (between two OW accounts, one with status and one without), as AFAIK there is none.
The post above details how to do it (change FF program at check-in) for a paid flight. (You buy the flight using the FF program you have status with, then at check-in change to the FF program you want to earn with.)
I still don't understand how/if I can use my OW status benefits if I book using miles from a OW partner where I don't have status. (In particular, I have EXP now and lifetime PLT status at AA, but no status while a lot of miles over at BA, and with Avios new scheme, for short intra-US flights, BA miles may sometimes make more sense than AA miles. But how do I get priority check-in, priority boarding, etc, if my BA account with which I book the award flight on AA and my AA account that has the status aren't linked? (And I'm not aware of a feature on ba.com where I can specify another OW account while booking a flight using BA miles.)
The post above details how to do it (change FF program at check-in) for a paid flight. (You buy the flight using the FF program you have status with, then at check-in change to the FF program you want to earn with.)
I still don't understand how/if I can use my OW status benefits if I book using miles from a OW partner where I don't have status. (In particular, I have EXP now and lifetime PLT status at AA, but no status while a lot of miles over at BA, and with Avios new scheme, for short intra-US flights, BA miles may sometimes make more sense than AA miles. But how do I get priority check-in, priority boarding, etc, if my BA account with which I book the award flight on AA and my AA account that has the status aren't linked? (And I'm not aware of a feature on ba.com where I can specify another OW account while booking a flight using BA miles.)
In FEB. my wife and me are flying on an award using BA miles.
The flts. are on CX.
We both are AA PLT (OW Sapphire)
I called BA twice and was. promissed twice to enter our status in the reservation.
Nothing was done.
I called CX and asked them for the same but they said that because the res. was done
through BA , only BA can enter our status into the res.
I don't know what else to do.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks in advance
Michael
#22
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
Agree. CX is in the middle of a messy migration so it is not out of the realms of possibility that Swanhunter got caught up in this.
FWIW, as a QF Emerald, the only carrier I have had issues with status recognition on a number of occasions is with Iberia. For some reason, AA ticketed IB sectors on several tickets have not carried across my status correctly.
FWIW, as a QF Emerald, the only carrier I have had issues with status recognition on a number of occasions is with Iberia. For some reason, AA ticketed IB sectors on several tickets have not carried across my status correctly.
#23




Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: DL 2MM PM;VSGld;EKGld; HilDia; HrtzPC; AvisPC; PP; AmbPlt; JumeiGld; MeliaPlt; TajPlt; ShangriDia
Posts: 953
I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.
#24




Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: Triple LT Gold (AA, DL, BA).
Posts: 3,854
I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.
So far, I have never had to show a card to any lounge attendant when my BA or AA numbers are in my reservation when outside of the US or when my BA number is in the reservation inside the US. On *A, UA wants to see a card and will not let me into their RCC, even though the computer system correctly identifies me as *Gold member. And as for SkyTeam, up to the point when I left them, nothing ever worked as expected with them. I had to battle AF lounge dragons every time...
#25
Ambassador: LATAM

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC & Iberia
Posts: 4,649
My experiences with AA this time around are completely different to what I posted earlier in this thread. Just booked a 5 flight itinerary with AA and put in my LANPASS FF#
All preferred seating opened up to me, that definitely didn't happen before, I actually called and was told I could not have preferred seating (there were no seats available to select on the flight before)
All preferred seating opened up to me, that definitely didn't happen before, I actually called and was told I could not have preferred seating (there were no seats available to select on the flight before)
#26


Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Gold, OneKey silver :)
Posts: 1,887
FWIW, the attached is a fairly helpful tool showing the OW benefits:
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-oneworld-tier-status/
It is very clear over lounge access for example. I keep it handy as a link in case of future dragons; but not needed it to date as I've simply asked my status be checked thru their systems when not in biz (eg. I ask they check I am showing OW Sapphire, not BA Silver)
Baggage is more complicated as it seems more about FF to FF reciprocal arrangements than a OW benefit (of course 2 bags to a OWE should be a OW benefit but it seems it isn't).
Seating? AA.com seems to allow me to choose before payment, so that's what I use! I suppose if it doesn't play ball I'd go in Plan B,C,D mode.
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-oneworld-tier-status/
It is very clear over lounge access for example. I keep it handy as a link in case of future dragons; but not needed it to date as I've simply asked my status be checked thru their systems when not in biz (eg. I ask they check I am showing OW Sapphire, not BA Silver)
Baggage is more complicated as it seems more about FF to FF reciprocal arrangements than a OW benefit (of course 2 bags to a OWE should be a OW benefit but it seems it isn't).
Seating? AA.com seems to allow me to choose before payment, so that's what I use! I suppose if it doesn't play ball I'd go in Plan B,C,D mode.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marco Polo Gold, BA
Posts: 51
I had similar dilemma laterly. Gold with Marco Polo but only Blue with BA, when I booked flightly BA.com the default FF no. is BA blue which gets me nothing. I couldnt change it from BA.com regardless of the channel I logged in, and had to call them up to change it to MPC no.
At the moment my booking is removed from my BAEC account.
I m also in the situation where I want to have tier points and mileage added to BA, so I guess will have to try change it back to BA at checking counter after checking in. Then call them up to change the FF no. to CX again, then change it back to BA again.
so it is quite a hussle.
If anyone knows easier way please do let me know
#28
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marco Polo Gold, BA
Posts: 51
#29




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,460
#30




Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA LT PLT+2MM, BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,383
I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.
I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...

