British Airways Avios or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?

malkie76

Again, this takes us back to actually using BA, which was the challenge originally raised.

You also don't need to ever have flown QF to get status, and it's far easier, quicker and cheaper than doing it with BA.

Still, really no one has provided a sensible arguement for obtained status with an airline you don't use.

dickydonkin

malkie76 wrote: »

Still, really no one has provided a sensible arguement for obtained status with an airline you don't use.

So why suggest QF is easier to attain status to us on here who obviously don't use them or state that you don't have to fly them to get it....?

I do 'use' BA - albeit only very occasionally on revenue flights, but mainly RFS's and as I alluded to earlier - irrespective of what other people think, it is what works best for me and I find BAEC is one of the best FF schemes out there.

malkie76

I'm becoming more confused by the responses in this thread.

Others (maybe you, don't recall), suggested BA had a low threshold to obtain status. The implication was use BAs low threshold to obtain OneWorld status to use on other airlines that you do use. My comment here is that QFs threshold is lower/cheaper/eaiser than BA, so that assertion doesn't hold water.

So my question remains - why would holding status directly with BA be of value to someone who never travels with them? The benefits of being OneWorld Sapphire applies to BA (should you ever use them), but easier to obtain not using BAEC.

It goes without saying that if you do use BA it would make sense to stick with their FF program - particularly for the perks outside of OW (e.g. Gold upgrades and 'joker' redemptions). That's fine, but at odds with the comments made earlier in this thread.

Personally, BA is the only airline I hold status with, and the most frequent carrier I use. I live near Heathrow, and mainly travel to the US on business. I agree their FF program is one of the best - particularly for my needs.

I'm not challenging people's individual choices, more why people want status with an airline they don't use.

neilio

phatbear wrote: »

You seem to over look the benefit of spending more than £7000 on your lloyds avios card which is you will instantly get an upgrade voucher for your next ba flight, which is worth far more than 8250 miles, if used on long haul.

How long is the upgrade voucher valid for?

phatbear

neilio wrote: »

How long is the upgrade voucher valid for?

The voucher needs to be used within a year of receipt.

However this doesn't mean you have to fly with in that year.

So for example if you got the voucher on the 1st Jan 2018 you would need book a flight by 1st Jan 2019 however that flight may not be until 1st Jan 2020, assuming you can get a flight 365 days in advance, i think BA is 355 but im just using this is an example for clarity.

Also it can be used to upgrade either a return flight for one person or used for two people, one of those people have to be you, for a one way flight.

dickydonkin

malkie76 wrote: »

The earlier posts where getting excited about gaining status with BA without ever stepping on a BA flight.

Who is 'getting excited'?

All I see are posters highlighting the fact that you do not have to step foot on a BA plane to earn status in their FF scheme.

You highlighted in your earlier post that BAEC was the best scheme for you due to geographical reasons, the fact you use BA and is one of the best programmes out there.

I also use BA, but I rarely pay for their flights, I did have status with KL, but it just didn't work for me-even though KL/AF do fly from NCL.

Many people may question why people use a particular supermarket - they do it because it suits them.....an argument you have already used with respect to your choice of carrier and FFP

Why question someone's choice of product or service because YOU cannot see logic in it?

We will just have to agree to disagree.

neilio

phatbear wrote: »

The voucher needs to be used within a year of receipt.

However this doesn't mean you have to fly with in that year.

So for example if you got the voucher on the 1st Jan 2018 you would need book a flight by 1st Jan 2019 however that flight may not be until 1st Jan 2020, assuming you can get a flight 365 days in advance, i think BA is 355 but im just using this is an example for clarity.

Also it can be used to upgrade either a return flight for one person or used for two people, one of those people have to be you, for a one way flight.

Thanks. Am I correct in understanding that the voucher can only be used to upgrade a flight booked entirely with miles rather than money?

phatbear

neilio wrote: »

Thanks. Am I correct in understanding that the voucher can only be used to upgrade a flight booked entirely with miles rather than money?

Yup thats correct it can only be used if you have the required miles for the lower value seat in full.

neilio

phatbear wrote: »

Yup thats correct it can only be used if you have the required miles for the lower value seat in full.

Thanks again! I best get spending, flying and earning, then. I now have the BA Premium Plus Amex and the Lloyds Avios Amex/MasterCard cards, and already made my first purchase via Gate 365!

Nick_C

malkie76 wrote: »

I'm becoming more confused by the responses in this thread.

...

So my question remains - why would holding status directly with BA be of value to someone who never travels with them? The benefits of being OneWorld Sapphire applies to BA (should you ever use them), but easier to obtain not using BAEC.

You seem to be looking at status in isolation. Many people will look at status and the ability to easily earn miles as a package.

My preferred airline to North America is AA in business class. But I book my AA flights as BA flights on the BA website. This counts towards BA/OW status.

I pay with my BAPP credit card and get 3 Avios per pound spent instead of the 1.5 I would get booking with AA.

I could earn AA miles using their credit card, but I can earn far more Avios by additionally converting Tesco Clubcard points, shopping online at Gate 365, and taking advantage of the many Avios earning opportunities that exist in the UK, Spain, and Ireland. The same opportunities to earn miles with Qantas or AA simply do not exist for UK residents.

I simply couldn't earn so many miles I used AA or Qantas instead of BAEC.