My "Soft Landing" from Gold to Silver
#16
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Europe & Middle East
Programs: BA GGL (LTG), Marriott LT Titanium, EK Plat, Amex Cent
Posts: 899
To give an idea of how some people see the BA world, a London based colleague of mine this week is flying LHR to GRU. He is allowed cheapest business route, which likely would have meant KLM or TAP. He elected to downgrade to Premium Economy to stick with a direct flight on BA.
I guess outside London people are less loyal as it doesn't matter to many if you transit at LHR vs AMS vs FRA. Anyway BA will always have this advantage within the UK which will impact the lounges
I guess outside London people are less loyal as it doesn't matter to many if you transit at LHR vs AMS vs FRA. Anyway BA will always have this advantage within the UK which will impact the lounges
#17
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / SQ *A Gold / Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,803
To give an idea of how some people see the BA world, a London based colleague of mine this week is flying LHR to GRU. He is allowed cheapest business route, which likely would have meant KLM or TAP. He elected to downgrade to Premium Economy to stick with a direct flight on BA.
I guess outside London people are less loyal as it doesn't matter to many if you transit at LHR vs AMS vs FRA. Anyway BA will always have this advantage within the UK which will impact the lounges
I guess outside London people are less loyal as it doesn't matter to many if you transit at LHR vs AMS vs FRA. Anyway BA will always have this advantage within the UK which will impact the lounges
#18
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,489
Call me jaded, but lately I've been trying to get to the airport late enough to not have time for the lounge.
Time spent anywhere more comfortable than the airport seems increasingly valuable, even if there is a nice lounge to enjoy.
Time spent anywhere more comfortable than the airport seems increasingly valuable, even if there is a nice lounge to enjoy.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,818
As we mostly fly J, I am starting to wonder whether to drop BA completely. That lounge situation at LHR is a disgrace when you have a few hours transit. On top of everything else with BA.
It is sad that an airline which was a quality leader two decades ago is now down to being only the "best" or "unavoidable" option to those based in UK.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,818
As we mostly fly J, I am starting to wonder whether to drop BA completely. That lounge situation at LHR is a disgrace when you have a few hours transit. On top of everything else with BA.
It is sad that an airline which was a quality leader two decades ago is now down to being only the "best" or "unavoidable" option to those based in UK.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 703
I guess it depends on how much you value seat selection and meal priority in CW.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 535
Do we not feel that one of the biggest issues is also people's changing taste in travel since Covid? I feel that one of the main issues in the club lounges is that people who've maybe paid as little as £60 more to travel their outbound leg in Club Europe as a treat, (knowing lounge and fast track are garanteed at Heathrow, unlike at a some outstations) is a big part of BA's lounge issue at Heathrow. I feel that a lot of new people tried Club Europe during/coming out of Covid, due to getting more personal space, or becasue it was cheaper/they had more cash than before and they've kept the habit up. I've always thought that it's a bit mad someone who's paid £5k to fly to Singapore in Club, with no status qualifies to sit in the same lounge as your £79 POUG or silver sitting in Economy to Alicante. If I was in charge at BA, I think I would be looking to split the club lounges into Club World and Club Europe pretty quickly.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / SQ *A Gold / Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,803
Do we not feel that one of the biggest issues is also people's changing taste in travel since Covid? I feel that one of the main issues in the club lounges is that people who've maybe paid as little as £60 more to travel their outbound leg in Club Europe as a treat, (knowing lounge and fast track are garanteed at Heathrow, unlike at a some outstations) is a big part of BA's lounge issue at Heathrow. I feel that a lot of new people tried Club Europe during/coming out of Covid, due to getting more personal space, or becasue it was cheaper/they had more cash than before and they've kept the habit up. I've always thought that it's a bit mad someone who's paid £5k to fly to Singapore in Club, with no status qualifies to sit in the same lounge as your're £79 POUG or silver sitting in Economy to Alicante. If I was in charge at BA, I think I would be looking to split the club lounges into Club World and Club Europe pretty quickly.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kendal, Cumbria and Luzon
Programs: BA Silver, PR Elite, Avis Preferred Plus, PC Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 1,260
Isn't this is a BEA V BOAC issue?
Other than North America- far more BA flights as percentage of total are to Europe where CE is a farcically poor product on a value basis for in the know status holders????
I await to be forcibly corrected
Historically I understood I got lounge access on my European leisure flights through using BA in premium cabins long haul.
Sounds like this deal no longer exists at Heathrow.
But nobody has yet offered any explanation of how this has happened other than status extensions or double TP on BA Holidays!!!
Other than North America- far more BA flights as percentage of total are to Europe where CE is a farcically poor product on a value basis for in the know status holders????
I await to be forcibly corrected
Historically I understood I got lounge access on my European leisure flights through using BA in premium cabins long haul.
Sounds like this deal no longer exists at Heathrow.
But nobody has yet offered any explanation of how this has happened other than status extensions or double TP on BA Holidays!!!
#25
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 12, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 5,056
#26
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,366
Isn't this is a BEA V BOAC issue?
Other than North America- far more BA flights as percentage of total are to Europe where CE is a farcically poor product on a value basis for in the know status holders????
I await to be forcibly corrected
Historically I understood I got lounge access on my European leisure flights through using BA in premium cabins long haul.
Sounds like this deal no longer exists at Heathrow.
But nobody has yet offered any explanation of how this has happened other than status extensions or double TP on BA Holidays!!!
Other than North America- far more BA flights as percentage of total are to Europe where CE is a farcically poor product on a value basis for in the know status holders????
I await to be forcibly corrected
Historically I understood I got lounge access on my European leisure flights through using BA in premium cabins long haul.
Sounds like this deal no longer exists at Heathrow.
But nobody has yet offered any explanation of how this has happened other than status extensions or double TP on BA Holidays!!!
One of them was that cancellations, delays and reduction in flight frequencies bring people to spend more time in the lounges, especially during layovers.
As an example, last week I had to wait 1h more in the lounge since my flight was delayed. Also, my ticket price was lower if I opted for a 4h layover instead of a 2h one...
#27
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 557
good point in my view…been exec status holder for more than I now care to remember..im now more in your camp esp if and when I have fly BA from my home airport MAN via LHR to anywhere..
MAN T3 was designed around the then wide BA operation now sadly down to overcrowded runs to LHR../ Ryanair et al….and now the removal of the long standing lounge with its space and team of nice employees…..a sad reflection of what was and to me the current buzz “BA a Better BA”…doesn’t resonate..ymmv.. so yeah it’s a quick Costa coffee these days and onboard when i really must use this …..
MAN T3 was designed around the then wide BA operation now sadly down to overcrowded runs to LHR../ Ryanair et al….and now the removal of the long standing lounge with its space and team of nice employees…..a sad reflection of what was and to me the current buzz “BA a Better BA”…doesn’t resonate..ymmv.. so yeah it’s a quick Costa coffee these days and onboard when i really must use this …..
#28
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA slvr, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,435
To be honest, long haul BA C has not been that appealing lately. Given all the issues connecting in LHR and just the low quality product compared to C on other carriers, I've been either picking other OneWorld carriers or *A carriers (I am lucky enough to have Gold status there, so no issues with status). I will likely drop to silver at the end of my tier point collection year.
#29
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,072
What is certainly not helping is the number of shorthaul delays today in the afternoon. A quick skim of the departure board showed about 60% in the 2-4pm period. As this coincides with peak longhaul departures I would imagine it would get quite messy.
I'm very firmly in the Y for shorthaul, J for longhaul camp as I think this is the best value. Free exit row, group 1, fast track makes Y the best in Europe.
As has always been said do BA need to push the B lounges more for longhaul.
As I said in another thread F lounge around dusk last Tuesday was bliss and serene.
Does anyone have an idea of how long the peak lasts on a Monday and whether this is reflected for other days.
I'm very firmly in the Y for shorthaul, J for longhaul camp as I think this is the best value. Free exit row, group 1, fast track makes Y the best in Europe.
As has always been said do BA need to push the B lounges more for longhaul.
As I said in another thread F lounge around dusk last Tuesday was bliss and serene.
Does anyone have an idea of how long the peak lasts on a Monday and whether this is reflected for other days.
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,297
Lounge overcrowding is a problem in no way unique to BA. They haven't got the capability to extend the lounges due to there being no space at LHR. United responded to demand by building one of the biggest lounges in the world in their hub. It shows a massive change in dynamics of the market. ANA lounges are bursting at seams in Japan, Delta lounges are overflowing which they have responded to by hiking status requirements twice in two years and by a huge amount in terms of cash. People have reported finding no seats in Air France and KLM lounges too.