*A Gold v Silver?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
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*A Gold v Silver?
*A newbie here, and I did try to search, so please be gentle.
The title of this post---*A Gold v Silver?---might seem like a strange question, because obviously Gold is better, what's to choose?
However, I am planning to earn the status on A3 by flying partner airlines. The lower partner fares do not earn any miles on A3. So, I can do Silver less expensively by purchasing fewer high bucket fares whereas Gold will need many more flights in higher buckets.
I won't be flying A3 very much, and will mainly use the status on partners like TK, LH, LX, SQ.
So, the question is, what do you get for *A Gold that you don't for Silver? What can I expect to lose if I stop at Silver? I am OK with Business class lounges instead of First. I don't believe that either status will mean upgrades at partners. What else to consider?
The title of this post---*A Gold v Silver?---might seem like a strange question, because obviously Gold is better, what's to choose?
However, I am planning to earn the status on A3 by flying partner airlines. The lower partner fares do not earn any miles on A3. So, I can do Silver less expensively by purchasing fewer high bucket fares whereas Gold will need many more flights in higher buckets.
I won't be flying A3 very much, and will mainly use the status on partners like TK, LH, LX, SQ.
So, the question is, what do you get for *A Gold that you don't for Silver? What can I expect to lose if I stop at Silver? I am OK with Business class lounges instead of First. I don't believe that either status will mean upgrades at partners. What else to consider?
#2
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#5
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#6
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Also:
1. Free and/or extra baggage allowance - in this world of crazy airline fees, *G is basically guaranteed for no baggage fee and you will get extra baggage allowance
(If a *G need to pay for baggage, it is basically charged at the rate of excess baggage.)
2. Priority Security (if offered)
#8
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#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
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#10
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Certainly not SK. http://www.flysas.com/en/ch/Travel_i...ns/Fast-track/
1. The airlines/airport may not have expedited security;
2. The airlines/airport only offered to certain people.
But for the record, usually airlines will usually extend to their elite and *G, if one is available (and that's why I said "if offered").
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 368
LH/LX/OS/SN Fast Track is only for M&M elites, not *G.
SK Fast Track is only for EB Gold, not *G.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Besides lounges, *G will let you check 3 bags of up to 70lb each within US flying with UA, *S will only let you check 1 for free (not sure about weight allowance) for most *A carriers.
Many *A foreign airlines have additional perks for their own *S members but those don't carry over abroad. The biggest difference between *S and *G, besides what others have mentioned, is all benefits and perks become universal once you reach *G, rather than just the membership's own host carriers and countries.
Take my favorite airlines and FFP for example (TK and M&S), if you usually travel within Turkey and by yourself, *S might be just as good as *G. You get domestic lounge access, family membership, checking in at business class counters, all those perks disappear once you venture outside Turkey. The same can be said for other *A FFPs.
Another stark example. Flying BR HKG-TPE, economy, *S gives you 0 lounge, getting to *G will give you 5 to choose from (UA, TG, SQ, VS, and HX). Although the reverse (TPE) has a dedicated lounge, the Club, for BR's own Silver members not published in *A website.
Upgrades? Other than using miles, you'll need to get to well above generic *G threshold to even enjoy the membership carriers' free upgrades (TK - Elite+, OZ - Diamond+, BR - Diamond, UA - 1K/GS, LH - HON Circle). For A3, not much.
Last edited by vincewy; Jul 9, 2013 at 12:21 am
#13
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#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Miles&More Blue, SPG Silver
Posts: 3,385
Just want to ad a few things:
*Gold have access to LH Senator Lounge which is between the LH Business Lounge and First Class Lounge.
*Silver gives you only access if at all to the Business lounge of the airline you have status with. For example a LH Silver member can access the LH Business Lounge.