Are the BA Exec Club changes a harbinger of things to come?

[Vertigo]

Not seen any discussion of the changes to the BA Exec Club tier point system in here, but I could have missed it.

Firstly, is it just me that feels these changes are fair and actually necessary? It's become far too easy to gain silver or gold status level in recent years, partly as a result of changes and promotions made in the wake of the pandemic to get people back in the air. We (until) now have a situation where Youtubers are promoting "tier runs" and other "hacks" where you can obtain gold status for a relative pittance and with only a few well-chose flights.

The et result of this is that the airport business and first lounges are rammed these days and this is damaging the experience for those who've actually paid for a business or first class seat. These people are the airlines' bread and butter and it feels like BA have realised that they risk alienating them.
If you've paid many thousands for a first class seat and you arrive at the Concorde lounge to find it rammed with economy class passengers who've attained gold status, you're not going to be very impressed. This may sound snobbish but it's just the way of the world. As a disclaimer, I should point out that I've never flown first myself.

Basically it's become far too easy to attain status and it shouldn't be. It should be a reward for those who spend a lot of money and time in the air with an airline and it feels like this is a reasonable adjustment. The only caveat I'd add is that the £20k spend required for gold does feel a little excessive.

I see that Iberia (also part of the oneworld alliance) have implemented the same changes, albeit in Euros rather than Sterling, so the thresholds are slightly lower. I'm forced to wonder if/when the rest of that alliance will follow and then the rest of the carriers?

 

[Skidder]

Not seen any discussion of the changes to the BA Exec Club tier point system in here, but I could have missed it.

Firstly, is it just me that feels these changes are fair and actually necessary? It's become far too easy to gain silver or gold status level in recent years, partly as a result of changes and promotions made in the wake of the pandemic to get people back in the air. We (until) now have a situation where Youtubers are promoting "tier runs" and other "hacks" where you can obtain gold status for a relative pittance and with only a few well-chose flights.

The et result of this is that the airport business and first lounges are rammed these days and this is damaging the experience for those who've actually paid for a business or first class seat. These people are the airlines' bread and butter and it feels like BA have realised that they risk alienating them.
If you've paid many thousands for a first class seat and you arrive at the Concorde lounge to find it rammed with economy class passengers who've attained gold status, you're not going to be very impressed. This may sound snobbish but it's just the way of the world. As a disclaimer, I should point out that I've never flown first myself.

Basically it's become far too easy to attain status and it shouldn't be. It should be a reward for those who spend a lot of money and time in the air with an airline and it feels like this is a reasonable adjustment. The only caveat I'd add is that the £20k spend required for gold does feel a little excessive.

I see that Iberia (also part of the oneworld alliance) have implemented the same changes, albeit in Euros rather than Sterling, so the thresholds are slightly lower. I'm forced to wonder if/when the rest of that alliance will follow and then the rest of the carriers?

If you are gold and flying economy (or any other class than booked first) you can't use the concord lounge, but you can use the first lounge, but your point stands.

Personally i think the changes will be fine for me. I fly for business and a fair bit of longhaul and should easily retain gold. It seems fair that it is linked to what you ultimately spend

 

[Vertigo]

If you are gold and flying economy (or any other class than booked first) you can't use the concord lounge, but you can use the first lounge, but your point stands.

Personally i think the changes will be fine for me. I fly for business and a fair bit of longhaul and should easily retain gold. It seems fair that it is linked to what you ultimately spend

Ah ok, thanks for the correction, I didn't realise the Concorde lounge was different.

You sound like exactly the type of customer for whom silver/gold status should be reserved.

This is going to sound incredibly snobbish but I'm getting sick and tired of all the bleating about this on YT and social media, which is almost exclusively from all those who fly economy but have been "gaming" the system until now.
If you want the perks like lounge access, seat selection and baggage allowance, pay for a better seat and stop whining that BA have taken your freebies away.

 

[CapitalOne]

I think I have this correct:

Before: Spend 15k on holidays (1 week Caribbean, Club World, 1 week Med, Club Europe), get Bronze
After: Spend 15k on holidays (1 week Caribbean, Club World, 1 week Med, Club Europe), get Silver (2 people)

Win!

However, all I get from silver is free seat selection, everything else is included in the business ticket.

I used to be lucky enough to do 2 or 3 CW longhauls a year for work, but since the pandemic, all gone!

 

[Kenai]

This is going to sound incredibly snobbish but I'm getting sick and tired of all the bleating about this on YT and social media, which is almost exclusively from all those who fly economy but have been "gaming" the system until now.

Wouldn't surprise me if a lot of this is actually them being worried about their ongoing engagement and whether people will actually bother watching their stuff if they're not telling people how to get cheap perks.

 

[Adam-r]

I fly a fair bit for work, longhaul. The lounges are great for having a shower at LHR when I come off a transatlantic flight waiting for my connection back up north. They're just as busy as anywhere else in the airport so rarely use them for food and drink as work is paying anyway...

 

[Adam-r]

The et result of this is that the airport business and first lounges are rammed these days and this is damaging the experience for those who've actually paid for a business or first class seat. These people are the airlines' bread and butter and it feels like BA have realised that they risk alienating them.
If you've paid many thousands for a first class seat and you arrive at the Concorde lounge to find it rammed with economy class passengers who've attained gold status, you're not going to be very impressed. This may sound snobbish but it's just the way of the world. As a disclaimer, I should point out that I've never flown first myself.

I think at some point in the year before those passengers must've shelled out on either a few business class tickets or many, many short haul economy tickets? To get gold you needed 1600 points in a year? Long Haul in Premium nets you about 90. My Business class tickets return to Dallas got about 140 points.

I think I have this correct:

Before: Spend 15k on holidays (1 week Caribbean, Club World, 1 week Med, Club Europe), get Bronze
After: Spend 15k on holidays (1 week Caribbean, Club World, 1 week Med, Club Europe), get Silver (2 people)

Win!

However, all I get from silver is free seat selection, everything else is included in the business ticket.

I used to be lucky enough to do 2 or 3 CW longhauls a year for work, but since the pandemic, all gone!

Problem with your approach is the taxes aren't included, only the base fare and if you're taking your family then you don't get all the credit. It's split between those travelling, iirc.