readytotaxi From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 2626 posts, RR: 3 Posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3784 times:
Just got an email from BA, starting November this new class for the frequent flyer programme begins.
"Bronze, the new tier positioned between Blue and Silver, has been specially created for people who don’t fly as regularly with us. To earn Bronze status, you will only need to earn 300 Tier Points, including 2 eligible flights, or 25 eligible flights."
"For instance, you’ll be able to use Business Class check-in and reserve your seat from up to seven days in advance of your booked flight, free of charge. And you can look forward to more reward flights by earning a 25% tier bonus"
What bought this about I wonder?
you don't get a second chance to make a first impression!
Why not? It's the same as other oneworld airlines Ruby status. It's not mean to be inspiring! It means that people who fly less can get status that is recognised around the world. Nothing to sneeze at by having Business Class check-in (which allows long long queues to be bypassed) as well as free seat selection 7 days prior to the flight. Tangible benefits - and it had to happen really since the BA and IB programmes are merging, aren't they?
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
mogandoCI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3450 times:
is it just me that the whole "tier points" structure of BA is designed to make it a lot harder for economy-class flyers to qualify the equivalent status in AA ?
or are the US airlines way too generous in granting 100% miles to practically every single deeply discounted Y bucket ?
BD338 From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 603 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3362 times:
Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 5): or are the US airlines way too generous in granting 100% miles to practically every single deeply discounted Y bucket ?
compared to many international airlines, the answer is probably, yes. Many deep discount tickets offer zero or no FF miles, that "benefit" has to be bought by a higher fare. give it a few years and i can see it happening even in the US.
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3244 times:
May have been better to name it "Formica" level instead of Bronze, at least then it doesn't conjure up expectations from passengers for non-existent or marginal benefits.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2939 times:
Thew me last week when I was putting someone's card number in and I suddenly see Bronze! I did a double take at it and I think I scared the customer I was that surprised to see it.
OEH68 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 73 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 2882 times:
They are also increasing the amount of Tier points needed for europeans to reach silver and gold status, from 400/800 to 800/1500. This has caused anger among european silver and gold card holders on the flyertalk forum.
steve6666 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 359 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 2770 times:
Quoting OEH68 (Reply 10): They are also increasing the amount of Tier points needed for europeans to reach silver and gold status, from 400/800 to 800/1500. This has caused anger among european silver and gold card holders on the flyertalk forum.
I'm not surprised if they have to get 800 points for silver - it's still only 600 for the UK isn't it? (Can't remember been years since I've been Silver). On the other hand, bringing Europe into line with the UK makes sense, after all very often the long haul fares connecting through Heathrow out of the likes of FRA, CDG, LIS etc are substantially cheaper than the UK so the argument can be made as to why status should be given away cheaper - the prices already reflect the disutility of connecting.
eu nasci ha dez mil anos atras, e nao tem nada nesse mundo que eu nao saiba demais
fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3688 posts, RR: 31 Reply 12, posted (1 year 8 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2581 times:
Not sure why everyone is crapping on BA for this. The 300 tier points is basically no flying at all, two returns in WT+ for pete's sake so you can't expect them to swing open the doors to the lounges. I read this will add 120,000 people at Bronze level which would be a massive strain on the already busy Galleries Club lounges, and besides what would Silver then be able to offer over Bronze?
It looks like BA have given Bronze the standard OW Ruby treatment...
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Nimish From India, joined Feb 2005, 3086 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (1 year 8 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2318 times:
Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 5): is it just me that the whole "tier points" structure of BA is designed to make it a lot harder for economy-class flyers to qualify the equivalent status in AA ?
BA is terribly unfriendly to Y class travelers in terms of ability to make any kind of status. Their focus is entirely on premium travelers. That's fine - it's their strategy and hopefully does them well. For the rest of us (the Y class frequent travelers) - *A and Skyteam are fine options for the moment.
nclmedic From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2009, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 year 8 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2075 times:
Quoting fbgdavidson (Reply 12): you can't expect them to swing open the doors to the lounges
Agreed! It's not giving LOTS of perks to someone who is, to put it bluntly, of less value to the airline. 2 WT+ flights a year is really not what most people would call 'frequent'. 4-5 certainly is.
Having first dibs over seating and a slightly more pain-free check-in experience is pretty fair cop for this level of travel.
fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3688 posts, RR: 31 Reply 16, posted (1 year 8 months 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1680 times:
Quoting Nimish (Reply 13): BA is terribly unfriendly to Y class travelers in terms of ability to make any kind of status. Their focus is entirely on premium travelers. That's fine - it's their strategy and hopefully does them well.
Well actually it's much improved. 25 flights gets you OW Ruby and 50 gets you Sapphire, that's about standard and certainly comparable with other oneworld carriers.
In the old days there was a back door to Silver... 60 BA flights and it was yours, but it was kept rather quiet.
Quoting nclmedic (Reply 14): 2 WT+ flights a year is really not what most people would call 'frequent'. 4-5 certainly is.
The key is getting the balance. If everyone has the great benefits then they lose their lustre...it's all well and good having lounge access when you've flown all of 10,000 miles a year (well it's not, but stay with me) but if the lounges are so busy that they're a miserable place to be then what's the point? On the other side of the coin they've got to appear somewhat obtainable.
I think BA have struck it right with the Bronze/Silver/Gold levels and qualifications.
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
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