Losing status
Feb 20, 2020, 7:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
Losing status
So after 10 years, basically my whole working life, it is finally about to happen. A country/job change meant that despite flying more than ever (17 so far in 2020) the flights are now all short haul Y around Europe. I was already on Silver last year and will drop to Brown next month. Any tips on how to make the whole experience more bearable when you can't just run from check in to lounge to exit row?
Feb 20, 2020, 7:38 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Tenerife
Programs: BA Gold, BA AMEX PP, Amex Platinum
Posts: 433
So after 10 years, basically my whole working life, it is finally about to happen. A country/job change meant that despite flying more than ever (17 so far in 2020) the flights are now all short haul Y around Europe. I was already on Silver last year and will drop to Brown next month. Any tips on how to make the whole experience more bearable when you can't just run from check in to lounge to exit row?
Feb 20, 2020, 7:40 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
I could send you a bunch of flowers to ease the transition. Otherwise, heavy drinking might ease the pain. 
But you do have my sympathy, honest, Guv’nor.
But you do have my sympathy, honest, Guv’nor.
Feb 20, 2020, 7:45 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
I'm guessing they are probably not, but if they were and you continue to fly at your current rate, then just hang tight for a bit
33 more flights - which would be 100 more days or so at your current rate - and BA will give you back your Silver for having completed 50 flights.
Feb 20, 2020, 7:49 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: BAEC Bronze, Mucci recipient
Posts: 1,786
Long shot perhaps, but are these all BA flights?
I'm guessing they are probably not, but if they were and you continue to fly at your current rate, then just hang tight for a bit 33 more flights - which would be 100 more days or so at your current rate - and BA will give you back your Silver for having completed 50 flights.
I'm guessing they are probably not, but if they were and you continue to fly at your current rate, then just hang tight for a bit
33 more flights - which would be 100 more days or so at your current rate - and BA will give you back your Silver for having completed 50 flights.
Feb 20, 2020, 7:56 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
Thanks for pointing that out 
Starting from scratch, it would of course be 50 flights, taken at an average of 1 every 3 days, that's going to take 5 months to amass, give or take. Not quite so good, but still better than nothing, would get Silver for remaining 7 months + following year. All dependent on them being BA flights of course
Also, I thought it was "Rust"
Feb 20, 2020, 7:56 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Feb 20, 2020, 8:01 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,917
17 European SH flights could be as few as 85 TP in ET or as much as 680 in CE if all 40 TP flights and 1360 if 80 TP flights
I too have most of my flying on SH European. A couple of upgrades to CE and a holiday or two to a long haul destination and you will be close to silver.
Also, if it helps, 30 segments on Lufthansa will get you their FTL status currently , so turn 17 direct in 17 connecting flights via FRA and you have 34 flights which will get you lounge access in LHR, FRA, MUC, VIE, WAW, and ZRH, maybe some others
I also have Priority pass which helps when I fly on an M&M airline from somewhere that they use a 3rd party lounge.
I too have most of my flying on SH European. A couple of upgrades to CE and a holiday or two to a long haul destination and you will be close to silver.
Also, if it helps, 30 segments on Lufthansa will get you their FTL status currently , so turn 17 direct in 17 connecting flights via FRA and you have 34 flights which will get you lounge access in LHR, FRA, MUC, VIE, WAW, and ZRH, maybe some others
I also have Priority pass which helps when I fly on an M&M airline from somewhere that they use a 3rd party lounge.
Feb 20, 2020, 9:02 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
Isn't this a case where a tier point run of sorts (AUP to CE or just finagle a couple of longer CE trips) to get yourself back to Silver quickly makes sense?
Feb 20, 2020, 9:52 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
POUG some of those short-hauls and it'll soon happen. Book the less loaded flights to places like AMS (mid-afternoon often works) and a POUG is highly probably. See the relevant thread for more details.
Feb 20, 2020, 11:03 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,609
Bronze: still get priority check in, still get seat selection before the rest of the world. Go to the airport, check in at the club desks, go and have a meal and a drink on expenses (loads better than GC), board group 3.
It's not all that bad.
It's not all that bad.
Feb 20, 2020, 12:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
So after 10 years, basically my whole working life, it is finally about to happen. A country/job change meant that despite flying more than ever (17 so far in 2020) the flights are now all short haul Y around Europe. I was already on Silver last year and will drop to Brown next month. Any tips on how to make the whole experience more bearable when you can't just run from check in to lounge to exit row?
Feb 20, 2020, 12:29 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Europe
Programs: Yeah, well, don’t really care anymore
Posts: 845
Enjoy the freedom of not spending an inordinate amount of time trapped in pressurised aluminium tube.
I was gold or platinum for more than a decade, then had a change of jobs which required almost no flying. Now I'm back in a job that requires roughly one flight a month, either long-haul or short-haul, and frankly couldn't give 2 fifths of frack all which alliance the airline offering the best itinerary belongs to. It's all about timing, convenience, transfer airport, aircraft type and what suits me best, not a mad scramble harvesting miles and status by choosing obscene routings and having to endure crap airports or the 777.
PS
I reside in Europe where complimentary upgrades simply doesn't happen.
I was gold or platinum for more than a decade, then had a change of jobs which required almost no flying. Now I'm back in a job that requires roughly one flight a month, either long-haul or short-haul, and frankly couldn't give 2 fifths of frack all which alliance the airline offering the best itinerary belongs to. It's all about timing, convenience, transfer airport, aircraft type and what suits me best, not a mad scramble harvesting miles and status by choosing obscene routings and having to endure crap airports or the 777.
PS
I reside in Europe where complimentary upgrades simply doesn't happen.