British Airways

[Cdd89]

Lifetime Gold. Despite that I fly BA very little now. Expensive for what is a mid tier product.

Same. BA tells me I've earned 178/52,000 points (on BA) toward Gold Guest List; I do still fly with them on redemptions quite a bit but all my revenue flying goes to oneworld partners. I'm actually not sure what I would do if I wasn't lifetime gold. If close to lifetime I'd probably stick with the BA Club (Silver is still relatively easy to qualify for thanks to the American Express tie-up, BA holidays, etc). Other airlines are an option, but unless they are an order of magnitude easier you have the issue of accruing unhelpful redeemable miles.

I'll maintain my Star Alliance Gold status

I maintain Star Gold through Turkish Airlines and it is astonishingly easy to requalify as a non-resident of Turkey (37500 Miles in a 2-year period). The miles are not very valuable at all, but they are not of no value, and I view it as an acceptable cost. However, the status is worth less than even oneworld sapphire (mid-tier lounges, not consistently offered free seat selection, etc).
SkyTeam Elite Plus is also extremely easy to requalify for via Virgin, thanks to shockingly generous tier points on tickets in the (I) fare class (I just put a couple of work flights their way), and the awarding of tier points on redemption. For my circumstances this is probably even more of a 'slam dunk' than Star/Turkish; but again, the status isn't worth that much.

 

[sh24]

Same. BA tells me I've earned 178/52,000 points (on BA) toward Gold Guest List; I do still fly with them on redemptions quite a bit but all my revenue flying goes to oneworld partners. I'm actually not sure what I would do if I wasn't lifetime gold. If close to lifetime I'd probably stick with the BA Club (Silver is still relatively easy to qualify for thanks to the American Express tie-up, BA holidays, etc). Other airlines are an option, but unless they are an order of magnitude easier you have the issue of accruing unhelpful redeemable miles.


I maintain Star Gold through Turkish Airlines and it is astonishingly easy to requalify as a non-resident of Turkey (37500 Miles in a 2-year period). The miles are not very valuable at all, but they are not of no value, and I view it as an acceptable cost. However, the status is worth less than even oneworld sapphire (mid-tier lounges, not consistently offered free seat selection, etc).
SkyTeam Elite Plus is also extremely easy to requalify for via Virgin, thanks to shockingly generous tier points on tickets in the (I) fare class (I just put a couple of work flights their way), and the awarding of tier points on redemption. For my circumstances this is probably even more of a 'slam dunk' than Star/Turkish; but again, the status isn't worth that much.

I'm on 982 tier points this and zero revenue flights booked beyond one solo codeshare with Loganair.

For status then Finnair or Royal Jordanian seem a good option but personally I find American miles more valuable. I'll keep the BA Amex as the companion voucher + additional I class seats make a useful perk.

Aegean is worth a look for Star Alliance. 12000 miles p.a. to retain Gold plus 4 A3 segments...but the 4 upgrade vouchers can make that a pleasant annual trip to the islands.

 

[Butts]

Don't you just love BA Disruptions ......

Flight cancelled from Vegas to LA and the crackpot computer rebooks me on a flight to Seattle and then to LA which means I would have missed my flight from LA to LHR.

One phone call and I'm now flying directly from Vegas to Heathrow which at the time of booking was prohibitively expensive and they have now dished up gratis.

Thanks Alaska Airlines extra day in Vegas thanks to the 2055 departure time of my new flight.

 

[John R]

BA has announced today it is rolling out Starlink wifi on its fleet, starting early next year. As is Starlink's requirement, it will be free in all cabins.

British Airways signs major deal with Starlink to provide every customer in every cabin free Wi-Fi that ‘feels like home’ – another big investment for the airline as part of its £7bn transformation journey

-

mediacentre.britishairways.com

• British Airways will start rolling out free, reliable and lightning-fast Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity from next year
• All customers will be able to enjoy complimentary gate-to-gate, super-fast Wi-Fi, allowing them to stream video, work and remain connected on multiple devices
• Once rolled out, Starlink will be available on all BA mainline and Euroflyer flights

 

[Bungle965]

A new app is being launched in 2026 also I see!
Been too long, the current app is absolutely diabolical and is an embarrassment.

 

[Watershed]

They said it would be launched this year. I don't trust any dates given by BA for improvements - they are always ridiculously optimstic. It will happen at some point in the future, sure, but almost certainly not 2026.

 

[ainsworth74]

A new app is being launched in 2026 also I see!
Been too long, the current app is absolutely diabolical and is an embarrassment.

Bold of you to assume that it will be an improvement on what we've got now!

 

[Bungle965]

Bold of you to assume that it will be an improvement on what we've got now!

Don't do this to me!

It's 2025 I just want to be able to put my boarding pass in my Google Wallet

 

[ainsworth74]

Don't do this to me!

It's 2025 I just want to be able to put my boarding pass in my Google Wallet

And when did you develop this taste for luxuries?

 

[Watershed]

Don't do this to me!

It's 2025 I just want to be able to put my boarding pass in my Google Wallet

Of course the solution to that is to use a tool developed by a Flyertalk member in their spare time!

BA Pass

Add a BA boarding pass to Google Wallet

bapass.flyertool.org

 

[Bungle965]

Of course the solution to that is to use a tool developed by a Flyertalk member in their spare time!

BA Pass

Add a BA boarding pass to Google Wallet

bapass.flyertool.org

Very useful! I'll give that a go in the interim.

 

[Butts]

Is nowhere sacred ?

 

[cactustwirly]

Don't do this to me!

It's 2025 I just want to be able to put my boarding pass in my Google Wallet

Take a screenshot and you can add that to your Google wallet

 

[Bungle965]

Take a screenshot and you can add that to your Google wallet

Yes of course, but a physical button to automatically add this to your wallet is much more preferable.
Something which almost all other airlines have managed, some even have Samsung Pass.

 

[nlogax]

A new app is all well and good but the existing marshmallow and gaffa tape back-end infrastructure needs appropriate modernization to support it.

 

[Butts]

Plaudits to BA where it is due.

Sunday Night BA1464 was delayed arriving into Edinburgh until just before 2300 from Heathrow - scheduled 2225.

By the time I got out of the airport it was 2310 and I knew I was going to miss the last train to Falkirk at 2334.

Had to get a Taxi which cost £90.15.

Put a claim in yesterday and they agreed to pay today

 

[eoff]

Nice to give credit where it is due. Not much I can say about Edinburgh airport though from my arrival on BA1464 on Friday.
Arrived late around 2316, then the usual Edinburgh rigmarole of two buses that refuse to leave until both are full.

Then I get my bag, wetter than I have ever received it in an airport and that includes many downpours...

 

[Butts]

Nice to give credit where it is due. Not much I can say about Edinburgh airport though from my arrival on BA1464 on Friday.
Arrived late around 2316, then the usual Edinburgh rigmarole of two buses that refuse to leave until both are full.

Then I get my bag, wetter than I have ever received it in an airport and that includes many downpours...


View attachment 193599

Had it not been for the identical bus shenanigans I might have made it in time to get the 100 Airlink and make to Haymarket in time.

This is the third time the scenario has occurred with me - twice with BA and once with Easyjet.

Although not legally liable ( as they got me to EDI) my Taxi has been paid each time.

 

[RichJF]

Anyone flown on the BA A350-1000 in economy? Myself & the other half are flying on it next April to go see one of my relatives near Austin. It's definitely been on my aircraft bucket list to fly for a while so would love to hear any other experiences if others have done it!

 

[gabrielhj07]

The A350 is generally nicer than the 777 but nothing like the A380. Same seats as the 777 but quieter in flight although it lacks the 2-4-2 section at the rear. The aft galley is tiny, and forms a very cramped space to wait for the toilet, the mid-cabin ones are much better.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Fun and games today... delays at Amsterdam Schiphol mean that BA436 from Heathrow, being worked by BEA liveried G-EUPJ, left the gate on time at 11.25 but an hour later is still sitting on the tarmac just by Terminal 5... and isn't expected at Schiphol until it's nearly three hours late... Ouch...

Images below from Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware respectively.

 

[MalaiseForever]

At that point I’d rather get off and get the train from St Pancras!

 

[Butts]

It would be really annoying to be delayed for that period - another 12 minutes and the piggy bank opens.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It would be really annoying to be delayed for that period - another 12 minutes and the piggy bank opens.

Yes, and looking at the expected times, it might be another hour at least before it gets anywhere near the runway!

Surely the logical thing to do with a delay of this magnitude would be to cancel it and sub a wide, if available, onto a later flight and move both lots of passengers at once?

 

[Ted633]

Yes, and looking at the expected times, it might be another hour at least before it gets anywhere near the runway!

Surely the logical thing to do with a delay of this magnitude would be to cancel it and sub a wide, if available, onto a later flight and move both lots of passengers at once?

Not as easy as it sounds. You’d need new flight & cabin crew to come from somewhere. Engineering support would also be required in AMS, so that would need either an engineer to fly with the aircraft or getting additional support from companies in AMS. Most importantly, you’d need an aircraft! It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year and if BA do have a standby long haul aircraft (not a given), I doubt they would want it tied up on a less profitable short haul route

 

[Olivine]

Fun and games today... delays at Amsterdam Schiphol mean that BA436 from Heathrow, being worked by BEA liveried G-EUPJ, left the gate on time at 11.25 but an hour later is still sitting on the tarmac just by Terminal 5... and isn't expected at Schiphol until it's nearly three hours late... Ouch...

Images below from Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware respectively.

View attachment 194263View attachment 194264

Seems strange it’s been given start and pushback authority if the longer term slot wasn’t there. Perhaps EUPJ just having a sit down. Seems an odd place to push back to unless it was some strange attempt at getting it off of 9L quickly but then missed that slot.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Seems strange it’s been given start and pushback authority if the longer term slot wasn’t there. Perhaps EUPJ just having a sit down. Seems an odd place to push back to unless it was some strange attempt at getting it off of 9L quickly but then missed that slot.

I'm wondering if they were hoping to save time should a slot become available at Schiphol and it's backfired big time?

At the very least I'd expect them to cancel and re-book the passengers; there's going to be a knock on delay to the rest of that aircraft's diagram that could well start a complicated domino of reallocations ( I've seen that happen before ).

...and why does it keep vanishing off Flight Radar 24 and re-appearing a moment later; it it a tricky position to get a constant signal from?

 

[Butts]

I hate Flying between Schipol and Heathrow - due to both being Big Hubs you often spend more Taxying at each end combined than you do in the Air !!

At least that was my experience last month.

Having said that the current predicament of those onboard is way beyond that !!

 

[TrackWatch]

It would be really annoying to be delayed for that period - another 12 minutes and the piggy bank opens.

The piggy back will absolutely not open if the delays are die to weather (or other events) at AMS and deemed to be outside of BA's control.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It's finally got off after a wait on the tarmac of 2h20... looked like it had a priority taxi and is now showing an overall expected duration of 3h34 instead of the 4h08 indicated until it started moving.