BA Executive club - need access to Longue
Discussion
Am going off on Hols flying with BA (as always) - we are executive members blue (lowest level).
Ive heard that its possible pay using airmiles to enter one of these Lounges?
Flying very soon - and would like to see if its possible otherwise Gordon Ramsey will be giving us some Plane Food instead.
Ive heard that its possible pay using airmiles to enter one of these Lounges?
Flying very soon - and would like to see if its possible otherwise Gordon Ramsey will be giving us some Plane Food instead.
Oh well thats a shame.
The thing is I will (current situation) never get to silver status not a hope.
We have 2 or three over seas holidays a year 2x Europe (Economny) 1xCarribean/SA/Oz (Economy or Premium Economy - once had a free upgrade from Economy to Business Class the new cabin).
I dont currently have any flying requirements with work.
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
The thing is I will (current situation) never get to silver status not a hope.
We have 2 or three over seas holidays a year 2x Europe (Economny) 1xCarribean/SA/Oz (Economy or Premium Economy - once had a free upgrade from Economy to Business Class the new cabin).
I dont currently have any flying requirements with work.
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
Welshbeef said:
Oh well thats a shame.
The thing is I will (current situation) never get to silver status not a hope.
We have 2 or three over seas holidays a year 2x Europe (Economny) 1xCarribean/SA/Oz (Economy or Premium Economy - once had a free upgrade from Economy to Business Class the new cabin).
I dont currently have any flying requirements with work.
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
Went to Portugal in club Europe last week. Im assuming Club europe is same across short haul fleet.The thing is I will (current situation) never get to silver status not a hope.
We have 2 or three over seas holidays a year 2x Europe (Economny) 1xCarribean/SA/Oz (Economy or Premium Economy - once had a free upgrade from Economy to Business Class the new cabin).
I dont currently have any flying requirements with work.
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
Not worth it for lounge access alone. Seats are same pretty much as economy.
rich1231 said:
Went to Portugal in club Europe last week. Im assuming Club europe is same across short haul fleet.
Not worth it for lounge access alone. Seats are same pretty much as economy.
Club Europe is pretty much the same across the fleet, however if you ever fly out to Moscow they sometimes use 767s which have the Club World interior fitted, it is a much nicer experience then!Not worth it for lounge access alone. Seats are same pretty much as economy.
Welshbeef said:
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
Your money? For a holiday? Depends on whether you take the view that a holiday starts when you lock your front door, and it is enough of a treat to splurge cash that you don't need for something else. Generally, though, if it is your money, no.
However, there are other ways into Club and First. Get yourself a BA Amex Card, a Tesco Mastercard. Read all you can find about collecting and using BA Miles on the BAEC forum on flyertalk. Immerse yourself in the world of 241s, MFUs, F and J.
Next month I'm flying BA First out to Vancouver and Club back with 66 major. All (apart from the taxes) paid for with BA Miles.
Welshbeef said:
So I guess the only way to get in is to pay the Business Class European flights. But frankly.... are they worth it??
Definitely not if you're planning to fly BA.I would rather sit in a wheelie bin poking my eyes with a sharp stick than pay BA money to sit in one of their lounges.
Do yourself a favour, go along to the seafood bar and pass the time eating some nice smoked salmon and drinking a lovely cold glass or three of Sancerre.
The thing with the Flexible ticket cost is its vastly more expensive than a std non flex ticket.
As an example I booked our flights last year and rtn for a 3h-3h20min flight they work out to be c£160 each. (easyjet etc are hardly any different but instead of nice flight times ie 8.30am out and 3pm back they are 10.45pm out (meaning arrive 2am and then say a 2 h tfr) and back 6am meaning youhave to leave at 2am (so up at 1.30am).
All in all very similar price but miles less sutable. In addition I do tend to have a good 6-8 beers each way & maybe a bottle of wine or two (small ones) so thats free on BA... but do that on easy or another budget airline.... ouch.
Anyway a Business Class ticket for the same route (I checked at the time of booking) was c£300. The seats are the same but only 4 a side with a narrow seat (unusued). Thats quite a notable additional amount for 6 hours.
If they offered Premium economy in Europe at 50% extra I'd jump for it lovely seats. Im not sure why they dont actually make the Europe Business class nicer as currently to me it doesnt seem worth the extra.
Sure you get longue access and extra miles BUT same seat same food only difference is front of plane and a curtain pulled over the aisle.
As an example I booked our flights last year and rtn for a 3h-3h20min flight they work out to be c£160 each. (easyjet etc are hardly any different but instead of nice flight times ie 8.30am out and 3pm back they are 10.45pm out (meaning arrive 2am and then say a 2 h tfr) and back 6am meaning youhave to leave at 2am (so up at 1.30am).
All in all very similar price but miles less sutable. In addition I do tend to have a good 6-8 beers each way & maybe a bottle of wine or two (small ones) so thats free on BA... but do that on easy or another budget airline.... ouch.
Anyway a Business Class ticket for the same route (I checked at the time of booking) was c£300. The seats are the same but only 4 a side with a narrow seat (unusued). Thats quite a notable additional amount for 6 hours.
If they offered Premium economy in Europe at 50% extra I'd jump for it lovely seats. Im not sure why they dont actually make the Europe Business class nicer as currently to me it doesnt seem worth the extra.
Sure you get longue access and extra miles BUT same seat same food only difference is front of plane and a curtain pulled over the aisle.
FaineantFreddy said:
Definitely not if you're planning to fly BA.
I would rather sit in a wheelie bin poking my eyes with a sharp stick than pay BA money to sit in one of their lounges.
Do yourself a favour, go along to the seafood bar and pass the time eating some nice smoked salmon and drinking a lovely cold glass or three of Sancerre.
Going to go this way I think.I would rather sit in a wheelie bin poking my eyes with a sharp stick than pay BA money to sit in one of their lounges.
Do yourself a favour, go along to the seafood bar and pass the time eating some nice smoked salmon and drinking a lovely cold glass or three of Sancerre.
Although - in PlaneFood (Gordon's Joint), he does serve excellent Ale and given the flight is a mere .... 8.30am that means ahem beers 6.30-8am..... Im sure I could handle a few.
rich1231 said:
Went to Portugal in club Europe last week. Im assuming Club europe is same across short haul fleet.
Not worth it for lounge access alone. Seats are same pretty much as economy.
Seats A or C in Club Europe are best on the last few flights I have taken as 'B' is half width and not used. Apart from that I don't see much difference.Not worth it for lounge access alone. Seats are same pretty much as economy.
BA Executive Club system is actually a bit rubbish... I fly from Manchester every other week at a cost of around £800 (Return) normally. Every year I fall short of reaching Silver (and free lounge access) by around 4 flights before it's reset each year
£20k+ a year and a stupid system BA points system... Grrrrr
£20k+ a year and a stupid system BA points system... Grrrrr
Just gone gold. To be honest all schemes are not worth it. But at least I get the chance to use the lounges and free wifi. Oh and you are likely to get boosted above anyone else, but it's certainly not common. As a previous poster has said, £20k and not silver. How about double or triple that and still had to play the scheme.
Not sure where all of the hate for BA comes from. Bigger seats than any other Euro carrier and leg room that is almost acceptable. In comparison to the vast majority of other airlines, they are pretty good. Small things make a big difference.
Not sure where all of the hate for BA comes from. Bigger seats than any other Euro carrier and leg room that is almost acceptable. In comparison to the vast majority of other airlines, they are pretty good. Small things make a big difference.
off_again said:
Not sure where all of the hate for BA comes from.
Usually it's from fairly experienced travellers who can compare their overall service with other airlines and find them lacking.From my point of view, it's usually the people and the service on board which makes the difference to me (although the BA fleet itself is now really showing it's age) and in my experience BA crew and food are very near the bottom of the list.
FaineantFreddy said:
off_again said:
Not sure where all of the hate for BA comes from.
Usually it's from fairly experienced travellers who can compare their overall service with other airlines and find them lacking.From my point of view, it's usually the people and the service on board which makes the difference to me (although the BA fleet itself is now really showing it's age) and in my experience BA crew and food are very near the bottom of the list.
I would have spent 3 days in Madrid airport during the ATC strikes last year if I wasn't flying on business ticket.
Flights to/from the UK were already screwed by the snow, and there was a 2 hour queue for Iberia's help desk.
Jumped straight to the front and was allocated the last available seat back to the uk of the day. Next morning the Spanish didn't bother turning up to work!
As for the original question: sorry OP I'm pretty sure there is no way pay your way in to the lounge at T5.
Flights to/from the UK were already screwed by the snow, and there was a 2 hour queue for Iberia's help desk.
Jumped straight to the front and was allocated the last available seat back to the uk of the day. Next morning the Spanish didn't bother turning up to work!
As for the original question: sorry OP I'm pretty sure there is no way pay your way in to the lounge at T5.
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