BA Special Services Escort as a Gold
Jan 16, 2019, 1:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
BA Special Services Escort as a Gold
Had a couple of (really quite excellent) experiences recently, where BA special services teams have come to me at check-in and escorted me to the CCR, or even better during arrivals, when they've turned up in a Jag with a yellow light and dropped me off by the immigration entrance (even when I know for a fact that there were other Golds on board). I'm almost certain that these are just random events (as I'm a Gold with only 3.5k TPs) but wanted to see others' experiences with this? I asked the SS lady but she wasn't giving anything away.
Not connecting at Heathrow, it is usually my final destination.
Not connecting at Heathrow, it is usually my final destination.
Jan 16, 2019, 2:15 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Avis Preferred
Posts: 3,263
i wish! GGL and CCR holder, flying longhauls in CW and F mainly. never seen a soul nor have i connecting from the continent-LHR-USA. but ya know, i guess its like a GCH greeting these days!
Jan 16, 2019, 2:35 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
Yes, it does appear rather inconsistent! My boss (who is GGR and Concorde room access) hasn't received any such service - and he was shocked when I told him this evening. I'm thinking it was a test case or they were perhaps at a loose end.
Jan 16, 2019, 2:52 pm
#5
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,956
Jan 16, 2019, 2:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,948
Maybe your real name is Brad Pitt or something?? Well, after all of my recent commentary on the woeful transfer service between terminals recently, I did get a premium services transfer yesterday arriving in F. 3 other F pax got 2 Jags between them as well. So 4 out of a full 14 F cabin got greeted and transferred at the gate. They must be rolling more out.
Jan 16, 2019, 4:44 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: France
Programs: MUCCI, BA LTG/GGL/CCR, AF PLAT, ETHIHAD AND LH USELESS PLASTIC
Posts: 2,063
It is patchy, but it's nice when it happens and they are waiting at the aircraft door at LHR to take me down in the lift to the Jag. Not always alone, and often share the car with another one or two people. There are way too many BA F passengers coming and going every day to ever hope that everyone will get this treatment though I suspect. It's similarly patchy with outstation staff, but I know those I can rely on every time and their intervention can be genuinely invaluable in certain cases.
Jan 16, 2019, 10:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,408
I’m sure there was a thread somewhere about someone being offered this service as a trial on I think JFK to LHR. If I recall the comments were along the lines of this will hinder regular travellers who would know how to use the corridors to get to arrivals quicker than the transit trains etc...
Can’t find the thread though.
Can’t find the thread though.
Jan 17, 2019, 2:32 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,171
What am I missing here - why on earth would you need any sort of escort to get from check-in (at the First Wing, I assume) to the CCR - it's about as easy a trip as it gets...? What's the point of rolling out Special Services for that?
Jan 17, 2019, 3:51 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
Posts: 1,889
A mate of mine (not on FT) became a Prem on account of near weekly full-priced F/CW travel for the last 2 years. SS picks him up at the plane on every trip. So I assume it's based on economic value to BA, which is fair enough.
Best advantage when travelling with him: sailing straight past the immigration queues to the crew border control desks - saves at least 30 mins over Fast Track at peak times.
Best advantage when travelling with him: sailing straight past the immigration queues to the crew border control desks - saves at least 30 mins over Fast Track at peak times.
Jan 17, 2019, 3:57 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
Its also based heavily on demand, hence these services aren't advertised as benefits. The most important passengers on any one day may be significantly down the list of relative importance on a subsequent day of travel. Its great when you get these services, but gets worse if at any point you start to expect them.
Jan 17, 2019, 4:09 am
#13
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,191
I guess it's the same as with the Gold Greeting. On one day on a LHR-JFK, a 2500-3000TP GCH might be well down the order as the aircraft is full of GGL "commuters", but on another day on a LAS-LHR you might be at the top of the list.
Personally, I think the service should prioritise those that "need" it the most. For example, I would love to get a Jag from T5-T3 when my SFO-LHR is 45 minutes late, leaving me only 60 minutes to go through flight connections and get to T3 for my LHR-LIS. That helps both the passenger and the airline by avoiding misconnects. It would be nice to be able to expect this service in such situations.
Personally, I think the service should prioritise those that "need" it the most. For example, I would love to get a Jag from T5-T3 when my SFO-LHR is 45 minutes late, leaving me only 60 minutes to go through flight connections and get to T3 for my LHR-LIS. That helps both the passenger and the airline by avoiding misconnects. It would be nice to be able to expect this service in such situations.
Jan 17, 2019, 9:30 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,948
Jan 17, 2019, 9:54 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL
Posts: 1,342
Yes, usually on SH in case there is a queue at immigration. I don't often fly within the UK so not sure about domestic - no need unless there is an issue somewhere I guess