15 TP away - too good to pass?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 4
15 TP away - too good to pass?
Hi all
I understand this is a very talked about topic but I can't seem to be able to make a decision.
Currently have the Bronze membership. Collection tier point ends on 8th June 2024.
I am 15 TP away from Silver.
I am going to Paris (from London) at the end of May and haven't booked my ticket yet for that reason. If it was just me, I would take the Eurostar because it is cheaper and easier when arriving in Paris but that would be the only occasion to get my TP before the collection end date.
- Eurostar: £109 (standard ticket)
- BA flight Club Europe: £260 (the only way to get enough TP - 40 of them).
I know most of you will say the Silver benefits are so worth it. However, please look at my situation:
- we (my husband and I) have PP due to our AMEX so have access to lounge already.
- we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul) - so we have priority boarding, etc, when going on those flights.
- we are having a baby in October 2024. We know we are already flying Club World to my husband's family in Shanghai early January 2025 and back.
- the only attractive thing is to be able to book your seats from the time of booking. But when flying Club World/with a baby, not really seeing the point + would technically want to choose the bassinet seats so the BA customer service team would do that for me.
Part of me think we don't really need it and can requalify next year as we will fly a few times Club World and could get it easily.
Part of me think this is too good to pass given I am only 15 TP away.
Thanks for your inputs!
M
I understand this is a very talked about topic but I can't seem to be able to make a decision.
Currently have the Bronze membership. Collection tier point ends on 8th June 2024.
I am 15 TP away from Silver.
I am going to Paris (from London) at the end of May and haven't booked my ticket yet for that reason. If it was just me, I would take the Eurostar because it is cheaper and easier when arriving in Paris but that would be the only occasion to get my TP before the collection end date.
- Eurostar: £109 (standard ticket)
- BA flight Club Europe: £260 (the only way to get enough TP - 40 of them).
I know most of you will say the Silver benefits are so worth it. However, please look at my situation:
- we (my husband and I) have PP due to our AMEX so have access to lounge already.
- we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul) - so we have priority boarding, etc, when going on those flights.
- we are having a baby in October 2024. We know we are already flying Club World to my husband's family in Shanghai early January 2025 and back.
- the only attractive thing is to be able to book your seats from the time of booking. But when flying Club World/with a baby, not really seeing the point + would technically want to choose the bassinet seats so the BA customer service team would do that for me.
Part of me think we don't really need it and can requalify next year as we will fly a few times Club World and could get it easily.
Part of me think this is too good to pass given I am only 15 TP away.
Thanks for your inputs!
M
Last edited by Closario; May 6, 2024 at 5:36 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,514
PP isn't a slam dunk for lounge access, often capacity controls in peak season and some of the lounges are pretty dire. While the T5 Galleries lounges are very average the Qantas and Cathay lounges in T3 make it worthwhile.
IIRC there is some form of status protection for those having a child. Or is that only Gold?
IIRC there is some form of status protection for those having a child. Or is that only Gold?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 4
I agree PP is a bit crap depending in lounges and at times. We leave from T5 most of the time though.
yes - you can get your membership frozen during your maternity leave but I don't think it would work for me as I haven't got Silver status yet anyway!
Cheers!
yes - you can get your membership frozen during your maternity leave but I don't think it would work for me as I haven't got Silver status yet anyway!
Cheers!
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,370
Hi all
I understand this is a very talked about topic but I can't seem to be able to make a decision.
Currently have the Bronze membership. Collection tier point ends on 8th June 2024.
I am 15 TP away from Silver.
I am going to Paris (from London) at the end of May and haven't booked my ticket yet for that reason. If it was just me, I would take the Eurostar because it is cheaper and easier when arriving in Paris but that would be the only occasion to get my TP before the collection end date.
- Eurostar: £109 (standard ticket)
- BA flight Club Europe: £260 (the only way to get enough TP - 40 of them).
I know most of you will say the Silver benefits are so worth it. However, please look at my situation:
- we (my husband and I) have PP due to our AMEX so have access to lounge already.
- we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul) - so we have priority boarding, etc, when going on those flights.
- we are having a baby in October 2024. We know we are already flying Club World to my husband's family in Shanghai early January 2025 and back.
- the only attractive thing is to be able to book your seats from the time of booking. But when flying Club World/with a baby, not really seeing the point + would technically want to choose the bassinet seats so the BA customer service team would do that for me.
Part of me think we don't really need it and can requalify next year as we will fly a few times Club World and could get it easily.
Part of me think this is too good to pass given I am only 15 TP away.
Thanks for your inputs!
M
I understand this is a very talked about topic but I can't seem to be able to make a decision.
Currently have the Bronze membership. Collection tier point ends on 8th June 2024.
I am 15 TP away from Silver.
I am going to Paris (from London) at the end of May and haven't booked my ticket yet for that reason. If it was just me, I would take the Eurostar because it is cheaper and easier when arriving in Paris but that would be the only occasion to get my TP before the collection end date.
- Eurostar: £109 (standard ticket)
- BA flight Club Europe: £260 (the only way to get enough TP - 40 of them).
I know most of you will say the Silver benefits are so worth it. However, please look at my situation:
- we (my husband and I) have PP due to our AMEX so have access to lounge already.
- we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul) - so we have priority boarding, etc, when going on those flights.
- we are having a baby in October 2024. We know we are already flying Club World to my husband's family in Shanghai early January 2025 and back.
- the only attractive thing is to be able to book your seats from the time of booking. But when flying Club World/with a baby, not really seeing the point + would technically want to choose the bassinet seats so the BA customer service team would do that for me.
Part of me think we don't really need it and can requalify next year as we will fly a few times Club World and could get it easily.
Part of me think this is too good to pass given I am only 15 TP away.
Thanks for your inputs!
M
I think for most people the answer is yes but obviously if you aren’t going to be flying at all for the next year then no. You would save that on long haul seat fees for two pax in J.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Nottingham
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,377
Booking your BA flight as economy plus and upgrading one way may be cheaper. You should get a POUG offer or if not you can upgrade at the airport.
You mention "we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul)". What are your flying patterns outside of that? Silver adds a lot of worthwhile benefits when travelling in Y on short haul (2x 32kg bags for you and everyone on the booking, free seat selection from time of booking, lounge access...)
You mention "we fly business sometimes (for long haul, never for short haul)". What are your flying patterns outside of that? Silver adds a lot of worthwhile benefits when travelling in Y on short haul (2x 32kg bags for you and everyone on the booking, free seat selection from time of booking, lounge access...)
#6
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 668
#7
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 293
Wouldn’t a flexible economy ticket earn 20TP’s LHR-CDG ?
If you are not flying next earning year there is no point , but many if not most would take that opportunity to get to silver. Lounge/ Priority Check in& boarding /free seats etc.
If you are not flying next earning year there is no point , but many if not most would take that opportunity to get to silver. Lounge/ Priority Check in& boarding /free seats etc.
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 64,157
It's not the only way to get 15 TPs. There are relatively inexpensive buckets at 10 TPs per sector - so if you are on a return ticket you may want to pay a bit more than the advertised ET fare to get 10 TPs each way. There are also some, admittedly expensive ET tickets at 20 TPs per sector, if this is a one way trip. Or you can go ET one way at 5 TPs and 10 TPs on the return.
#9
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,667
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 4
Wouldn’t a flexible economy ticket earn 20TP’s LHR-CDG ?
A flexible economy ticket is more expensive than the Business class one. £472 compared to £260!
If you are not flying next earning year there is no point , but many if not most would take that opportunity to get to silver. Lounge/ Priority Check in& boarding /free seats etc.
A flexible economy ticket is more expensive than the Business class one. £472 compared to £260!
If you are not flying next earning year there is no point , but many if not most would take that opportunity to get to silver. Lounge/ Priority Check in& boarding /free seats etc.
We are flying next year.Not all through BA (short haul within Asia). Hence my hesitation
Thanks for your input.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / SQ *A Gold / Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,618
Some excellent OW lounges in Asia. JAL, Qantas, and CX have a good selection and MH in Malaysia, too. Free seat selection on those bookings will be very valuable too.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 4
You don't need economy flex. Just one leg in the low (not lowest) buckets. May take a phone call, but looking at perhaps anywhere from 10 to 70 quid difference to have one leg in that set of buckets
Some excellent OW lounges in Asia. JAL, Qantas, and CX have a good selection and MH in Malaysia, too. Free seat selection on those bookings will be very valuable too.
Some excellent OW lounges in Asia. JAL, Qantas, and CX have a good selection and MH in Malaysia, too. Free seat selection on those bookings will be very valuable too.
Pardon my ignorance as I am not used to it but do you think it is worth calling to see whether they have better deals on the phone (is that a thing)? Just FYI but the lowest economy Basic is £128 and £147 with the checkin luggage. Not enough TP though and I can only do one way.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,524
15 TP ought to be relatively cheap if Paris is a return flight, but if one-way then CE may well be cheaper than YBH buckets. OP doesn't seem to have clarified if that's a return? Maybe thinking to do one direction on the train...?
#15
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,699
Personally if your amex is a plat I'd cancel that, take out a Lloyds Elite Mastercard for £15 a month for PP and some fast track, with free partner card, and with the £350 a year savings on the annual fee buy a CE to Paris plus inexpensive travel insurance. I know that personally I'd do that because I just did it, with the exception of the trip to Paris bit (but I could be persuaded about that).
Otherwise, I honestly don't think I'd bother with the 15TPs. Reasoning is that you'll have 280TPs after Shanghai (I think it's a 140 tp destination rather than 160), you're therefore quite close to the half way point for silver if you want to go for it next year - you might also look at a double TP holiday with a hire car you don't use for 5 days and you'd be at 560. The reasoning about the bassinet is very sound, though parents aren't guaranteed a seat together (that can be a benefit, you have a refuge seat you can shuttle between). You will probably find your travel patterns shift a little when the baby arrives anyway so the benefit of silver in Y is moot.
Otherwise, I honestly don't think I'd bother with the 15TPs. Reasoning is that you'll have 280TPs after Shanghai (I think it's a 140 tp destination rather than 160), you're therefore quite close to the half way point for silver if you want to go for it next year - you might also look at a double TP holiday with a hire car you don't use for 5 days and you'd be at 560. The reasoning about the bassinet is very sound, though parents aren't guaranteed a seat together (that can be a benefit, you have a refuge seat you can shuttle between). You will probably find your travel patterns shift a little when the baby arrives anyway so the benefit of silver in Y is moot.