This thread has been created from posts that were off topic in this thread:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...l-awarded.html

There are other off topic posts in other focused threads that will be moved here.

Use this thread for a general rant in the run up to the BAEC / BAC changes.

golfmad
For the BA Mod Team

The milestone bonuses made me grin. Spend more than eleven grand, get �30-40 worth of avios.

Thanks BA, your generosity overwhelms me.

There is indeed absolutely dead silence from BA just now - you'd expect them to be making a bit of a noise about all aspects of the BAC with a couple of days to go, even if not completely institutionally behind it. Apart from the "the way you earn TPs is evolving" nag screen you can't get rid of, there is absolutely nothing.

This doesn't strike me as normal.

Is there anything 'normal' these days at BA?

The perfect storm may be coming with the US domestic economy at risk of recession and Transatlantic relations likely becoming increasingly strained over the next four years, as well as the UK economy looking a bit dodgy. I feel very sorry for the BA staff that did nothing wrong, but it couldn�t happen to a nicer management team if it does.

This is not a surprise, I suspect the US routes are going to be challenging for all airlines given the current political situation (we have made the personal decision to avoid the US for the foreseeable future). BAs most profitable routes are at risk and I suspect that BAC was targeting passengers on this route with their new scheme. I also wonder how well their recent sale went (given BA sentiment), I received several emails (but have not bitten). I suspect there is a lot of head scratching going on at BA and I would not be surprised if they are reviewing BAC and may come back with a message "further to feedback from (our wonderful) customers...".

Here�s hoping!

Maybe Colm Lacey has finally gotten his head around it.

a masterclass on how to alienate your customers

i honestly would like to know what UA and BA managements are thinking right now, with both having boasted about their advantage in premium tatl flights, especially the latter who is betting huge with increased premium space in their new planes

I also wonder how long until AF (America First, not Air France in this case) becomes a policy applied to the US's airspace. It would seem counter intuitive to do, but with tariffs being used how they are, it wouldn't surprise me that soon foreign airlines may be at a disadvantage. This would really flip things against BA and it's dominance on the routes. Don't want to get drawn into a discussion of the politics here. Just hypothesizing what could potential happen if US and European continent relations sour further.

Anecdote, of course, but I keep pricing up the trip I would need to take to retain GGL next year and it is getting harder because it is now a total of �1.3k cheaper than when I started looking in January...
IAG's share price down 23% from the peak, although I doubt it has anything to do with the BAC specifically.

It's the Trump administration. Even an airline like easyJet that has almost zero exposure to the US has been sent downwards by the flux of bad news coming out of the US.

A bad time to be an airline that has made flying to the US its USP.

Nothing is off the table in these crazy days. I think another thing that should worry airlines that rely heavily on TATL is the reluctance you are now seeing reported in the media of ordinary Americans tourists (not FlyerTalkers) to travel outside of the US because they fear they will be mistreated. I don't really see that being a thing but a few anecdotal incidents and a lot of Americans will just stay home and vacation in the US. Might be interesting to see what effect that could have on hotel prices in Europe as well.

I had read about that but it seems perfectly plausible. I remember a time when many Americans travelling to Europe claimed to be Canadian to avoid problems.

It will be very interesting to watch prices over the coming months. As some have reported above, already some interesting fares showing on TATL. If there is a fall, how long until airlines start trimming rotations?

That is where BA really shot themselves in the foot with BAC. Even their discounted sales will not lure the BAEC members they chased away with their ludicrous level of spend requirements for status. But as has been mentioned here before the ones in charge of the change to BAC who botched this thing totally have been handed a get out of jail free card with Trump's moves and can point to that as the reason for any negative results.

Yes I remember those times too during the 80's with Americans wearing the Canadian flags on their backpack. Of course we got our revenge by saying we were Americans the times when our behaviour got out of hand. I don't think Canadians will be as accommodating to Americans pretending to be Canadians this time around though. Serious bridges have been burnt this time. Canadian travel to the US down 70%.

I don't care if anyone has a free get out jail card; the important thing is they play it.