Flight Review - Heathrow to Zagreb - Economy Experience BOOSTED by Gold OneWorld Status
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- I recently travelled through London Heathrow's Terminal 5, primarily to visit the fabled Concorde Room as I'd been given a pass to visit as my last visit had been abbreviated.... I'd found a flight out of London that left later in the day to give me a decent chunk of time to enjoy the lounge before departing. That flight took me to Zagreb, and I paid £95 for an economy class one-way flight. I'll reveal how I got back next week...
I have a BA Gold card based on my status within the Executive Club and that brings a number of benefits to the travel experience - 15 things as it turns out. So in this video I will show how those benefits enhance what would otherwise be a fairly dull economy class experience.
In some ways this is a companion video to this one, where I attempted to quantify the additional value given by buying a business class ticket - • Flight Review With A T...
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⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:45 - The Airport Experience
4:53 - The Flying Experience
9:17 - The Arrival Experience
I got a cup of tea when flying from Amsterdam to London because of my gold status, doesn't sound a lot but it was January and I was in shorts and t shirt as was coming from Bangkok where it was 36 degrees, it was most welcome
Fantastic! Interesting debate - do you dress for the origin or the destination?
Awesome review 🙌🙌always enjoy them
Thanks - great name by the way! Lions are just big kitties right?
Another great video Matt!
Thanks!
Very well detailed video, Matt, thoroughly enjoyed it.
You're welcome
The reference to a " brick collection " prompted a laugh 😃 I agree with the notion that priority boarding is a bit of a 2 edged sword but from a psychological perspective it always feels as if the trip has only really begun once I am on board. Thanks for another excellent video.
Cheers Les. I've tried hard and can't get my full suitcase beyond about 19 kilos... What people pack to get near 32 mystifies me!!!
Nice one Matt. Always great to have a pleasant suprising trip, especially on BA given your recent history with them👌😊. Gold status absolutely worth it every single step of the way.🇿🇦
Cheers Peet. Going to struggle to make my next video about ba economy sound interesting though!
Always love flight reviews that include factual information about loyalty programs 👍🏻 Awesome job Matt as always 😎 I agree with these benefits and I would say that 90% of this video can also apply to lowly BA Silver/ Oneworld Sapphire plebs like me 😉😂
Cheers Matt - Indeed the extra benefits of gold aren't that significant beyond booking. The F lounge is quite nice though!!!
Really liking the new voice over as part of the intro!
1.4 million miles!! And it's a whole 2 seconds shorter! You're welcome....
@@MattsPlanet I'm just happy that it's possible to hear you now!
Great summary of the benefits, Matt! Because I'm always connecting, I've not yet had the chance to use the First Wing - but will be doing so for the "First" time next week, as my SOF-LHR leaves early, requiring an overnight stay. I find the gold recognition very inconsistent and only had it in a couple of instances in the past year (one of which was economy on a BA CityFlyer flight, the other was in CE on a domestic leg). It's always really nice when it happens, but never something I expect - a bit like the rare and mythical upgrade 🦄!
Cheers - I'll talk about upgrades another day but I had a run of 5 out of 6 upgrades from PE to club between London and Dubai - I think there are sweetspots out there... But of course you could just get an ex-eu routing in club for less than the premium economy flight costs! Have a great trip - look forward to seeing the videos!
I got a sandwich, drink and cake on both legs of my Ibiza BA flight in early August. Nice surprise and quite tasty too!
I'm just unlucky!!!
LCY ?
@@richardstreet7518 Yeah, LCY.
Good one Matt...GREAT to see NO MASKS ! I had better recognition as Silver (including UG to F) couple of times have had the welcome 'Mr Charlie, thank you for your loyalty' ... food and bev plus F check in is great perk.
Nice overtake on the airbridge btw 😉😁
Thanks Charlie. I saw the opening and went for it!! Was hopeful of a cheeky beer if I made it to town quickly so wasn't lingering!!!
Very well explained Matt, another great video lucky you for being a gold member.
You mentioned the cost of selecting your seats on business class, it really infuriates me after booking flights and having to pay for seats, cost me £380 for our next flight in March, but then I'm only blue status as we mostly fly with a companion vouchers so don't accumulate teir points.
You also said you got no extra food in your return flight, my son and family returned from Crete last night with BA and as he has gold status they had the exit seats and got offered a choice of food if they wanted and drinks.
Cheers Peter. As I said, seat booking is a great benefit for Goldies! From other comments, I think I'm unlucky with the recognition I've had aboard!
Great video, could also mention that the BA status also goes with one world ruby, sapphire and emerald. Had some dodgy experiences with this recently with qatar where my sapphire one world membership was questioned along with a couple who were emerald flying in economy. After some discussion we did get the lounge access and 'priority' boarding that we come to expect with this seniority. Great video and keep them coming.
Thanks Iain - good point to make. I can't be that interested in jewels as I can never remember the mapping - is a sapphire rarer than an emerald in real life?? I don't know!!
@@MattsPlanet How odd. I got Alaskan MVP Gold in May 2020, just two weeks before and expressly for booking on Qatar Airways as a OneWorld Sapphire member. I flew the first leg in economy class and the 2d leg I accepted the email offer of a $400 upgrade to business class. I was treated very well on all flights. The only thing is that OneWorld Sapphire does not permit entry to the fancy lounge up the escalator, even after the business class upgrade purchase. Anyway, the OneWorld Sapphire lounge was just redone, (specifically for WorldCup2022) and I got good service there. In fact I was perfectly happy flying Qatar Airways and using the Doha Lounge on One World Sapphire status. I've since let my Alaskan Gold promo expire, and now have Silver status on Royal Air Moroc, which is OneWorld Ruby status. So, I plan on flying at least one long-haul flight in the next few months with Ruby status. I'll decide if it's worth it at that time.
@@MattsPlanet Sapphires come from Sri Lanka; Emeralds, Colombia. Each precious stone has it's own fasciniating characteristics and history. As for comparable value, I don't know.
Well Matt, if you’d have flown out a couple of days earlier, I could have met you for a beer but I’d left for Graz by that time! I went with Croatian Airlines from T2 who were pretty good tbf. Magazines are back, happy crew AND I managed to procure a glass of wine 😂. Just fancied a change from BA really. Great video mate, informative as always, cheers.
I saw you'd pipped me out there! Just an excuse to get to the CCR (and to get a few videos in the bank until my next big trip comes round!!!!). I thought of you when I was trying to figure out the trams - I always find it fiercely complicated so ended up just walking!!!!
Great video! You know a great idea is if you’d do a Gold status analysis of the alliances and outline how each airline sees gold status. When I flew on Lufthansa, I was surprised that they let me check in at the First Class counters with Gold while I hear, Singapore Airlines treats Gold like a premium economy customer. Likewise, I saw awhile ago that Thai Airways let’s silver members into their lounges, or at least did? There’s some unique benefits we don’t always hear about!
Thanks Jetstream - not a bad idea actually. It's quite painful to research though - those quirks like the Thai one are quite hard to squirrel out!
Great video as always. My last 3 BA European economy flights I’ve been recognised for my gold status. Usually later in the flight and each time offered champagne. I think you’ve just been unlucky.
Cheers Matt. It's not really a big deal but it would be nice if it at least happened once!!! Maybe they spotted how little I spent to get my gold so ignore me for that reason!
I’ve just flown BA (Heathrow to Amman) and BA don’t advertise their onboard service but if you connect to the WiFi portal on your phone, you can order beverages there and they deliver it to your seat.
You can also find the inflight magazine 'High Life 'there too for some entertainment on a dull overnight European flight!
Odd that they don't advertise a revenue earning service!!! And from other comments, ordering something is not guaranteed for you to get it!
@@MattsPlanet Odd indeed. I had a terrible fright when they were out of all wine and Johnnie Walker, dark days. Other flights later this year were better equipped though so I hope it is just teething issues.
Personally enjoy seeing videos discussing benefits and not just flying around in first class like some other UA-camrs. Excellent video as always though. Down under I’ve managed to scrape Gold (or Sapphire so BA Silver) BA with both Qantas and Virgin Australia even on a uni students budget and it has been invaluable especially at the moment with so many disruptions. I can’t even begin to think how many hours priority security has saved me over the last few months alone.
As much as lifetime oneworld emerald sounds amazing through Qantas it’s 75,000 status credits which is 54 years of platinum (BA gold). Not something I think I’ll bother with. Considering silver is 7,000 and gold 14,000 it’s ridiculous high so maybe in the future I’ll have to move to England for the BA’s EC.
Enjoy your cruise 🎉
Thanks Saul - 54 years of status is hilarious! I thought 23 years was bad... You have the advantage of youth though, certainly versus us old fogies!!!
I love flying economy class in Austrian airlines. I have a Elite plus card in Turkish airlines. So they always give me the exit seat with loads of leg room and nobody next to you. Mostly they will only put 2 people there and leaving the middle seat open. Way more cheaper than business class which is just a normal economy seat with nobody next to you. The lounge access with the card is very convenient. Nice review.
Thanks! Flew back on Austrian - in business though. Would certainly fly them again and my Aegean gold would hopefully wield the same magic!
@@MattsPlanet you just need to ask nice when checking in. I am a big boy so they always try to help with some legroom. Cheers
For what it’s worth , I really like BA economy. Had a lovely flight in economy through to Doha a few weeks back , much better than Qatar IMO . Really enjoyed thanks .
Just did a long haul leg in BA economy and it was very good... Would have been a squeeze if the middle seat had been occupied...
I like how gold card holders have seat blocked next to them. I love a seat next to me if I’m lucky enough in economy. More so if you get the whole row
It can be a huge benefit if it works!
As a gold card holder I have received recognition a number of times now which is nice. Another benefit of gold card status is that it gives you the best chance of getting a free upgrade. 2022 has been my best year for this - I have been bumped up 3 times so far which was much appreciated at the time. I was even bumped to first class from Doha to LhR although sadly it turned out to be the seat only and not full first class service as I ended up only with a late night snack of a panini which was disappointing
Thanks Andrew.... The Holy Upgrade.... I had a run of upgrades from PE to Club between London and Dubai which I believe is not unusual for gold card holders... Other than that, its been a loooooooooong time!
One thing BA used to get right on my Lon-Zur flight was breakfast. They had a 'stick' containing a muffin, a pot of fruit salad, and a yoghurt. Bar a vegan no restrictions for anyone. So the staff went down the isle dishing them out to those that needed them.
Then they come back with the drinks trolley for tea or coffee etc.
All very efficient, and you aren't trying to consume it all in 5 mins.
Swiss used to do something similar with foccacia sandwich, with veg and a little container of oil and balsamic to sprinkle on. Very good too. Then they sort out the wine, the beer, the G&T etc.
You can do a very good service if you go about it the right way.
I assume that was before the you-know-what?
@@MattsPlanet Yep.
@@MattsPlanet It does show you need to think about short haul the right way as an airline. Keep it simple. Make sure it suits all religions etc. [Bar Vegans :-)]
A great video, but most of the advantages, including being able to take your treasured bricks with you, are available in the silver tier too. Is the food in the gold lounges in T5 so much better?
You are quite right that there's not a lot of practical difference between silver and gold, at outstations at least... This video has a bit of age to it and I've since learned that the galleries and first lounges in LHR now have substantially the same food offering so the gold lounge food is indeed no better - its identical!
Useful review. Take care! #harpazo
Thanks!
Hi Matt~thanks for another great video-this might be a silly question but can you use a BA lounge if you are silver/gold BA exec member even if you’re travelling with another airline?
Hi James. Yes but it has to be a one world airline. BA silver flying Ryanair? Nope!
@@MattsPlanet that’s an important piece of info because for the sake of £50 I’m not going easy jet when I can fly BA and have lounge;thanks Matt
Very informative video, you mentioned one world emerald get similar benefits as BA gold due to BA gold equaling emerald status.
If i did the same flight with emerald status from a different airline like Qatar or Qantas would i have the same experience as you or would the on ground treatment be different?
Booking is always different with other airlines, but i was wondering how many of the benefits you received access to on this trip are exclusive to just BA gold members and not available to one world emerald members?
As far as I know, Emerald = BA gold. So the benefits are available to all emeralds, some of whom are BA golds.
@@MattsPlanet it makes sense to me, I appreciate the reply thanks Matt.
Curious about your lack of recognition. I've had it on flights since achieving bronze, the embarrassment of which was dealt with with great aplomb by the purser.
GGL for 10 years will get you lifetime gold for retirement.
Another couple of BA flights last week with no recognition at all... Perhaps they know I make grumpy UA-cam videos about them...
Hi Matt-Interesting hypothetical of which I’d like your opinion-flying on 29 Dec to Milan with BA from Jersey-fast connection 7-10 flight from Jsy to LHR T5 , arrives 8-10 (often late) with connecting flight at 09-20 to MXP from LHR T5-normally follow flight connections and go through security that way for LHR-would it be quicker with my new BA gold status to go through arrivals and re enter through the first wing (will have boarding passes for both legs), with its own security? We are only travelling with carry ons -also can my wife (on same booking-silver member) go through first wing with me? And finally what does the 220 tps to retaking gold status actually mean? Thanks James
Cheers James. The general view is that going landside and back through is best. Although it can be quicker through flight connections if something goes wrong upstairs... Its a more pleasant environment to queue in if you're in the F wing! I'd check social media on the morning you travel and see if anyone is complaining... And no issues with taking a guest through the F wing. Which has its own security lane. Its quite an experience - well worth avoiding connections for if its your first opportunity to experience it! 220 TPs when it comes to renewing gold is known as "A Good Start!"
I'm wondering how hard BA crews are working on these short-haul flights. Flying with both Tui and EasyJet this year, I have been struck by the good work done by all of the cabin-crews in delivering two complete trolley-services (on 3/4-hr flights), thereby raising a lot of revenue from drink and food sales. But I worry - because I'm an ICAG shareholder and because BA is pushing order-on-the-app - that BA's crews just won't bother.
Its interesting... When Tui and easyjet crew were hired they knew it was a commission based sales job (with a slice of safety thrown in). When most BA crew were hired (in the 70's!!!) it wasn't and they don't seem to have smoothly converted to the new mentality. Which I think I can understand but it does make the experience different if the expectations are set the same.
I've only ever had Gold recognition and upgrades on One world partners. Never on BA. It baffles me. aA, Qatar, Cathay and Alaska have all upgraded me or given me free drinks and food. BA just doesn't seem to bother.
On the flip, try the inter EU business on BA, like Bud-lhr. Great new catering. I was surprised. But long haul is still meh. Also surprised how poor Finnair is in business.
Thanks. No short haul ba business booked right now but perhaps I should squeeze some in - that's a strong recommendation!
@@MattsPlanet do the Bud-west coast run. Still available and cheap. Route it via Helsinki. Get Finnair, AA longhaul, AA sharklets, AA recliner and Maybe even BA longhaul. around 900TP, roughly 40,000 avios back. Maybe more. Easy Gold renewal
Love the channel. Hopefully someone can answer what maybe an easy question.
I have achieved Gold for the first time. I earned exactly 1,125 tier points in December. Being Silver at the time l became Gold until 30 June 2024.
My tier points end 8 May 2023, and the app says I need to 375 to retain Gold.
I do understand that I will be Gold until June 2024, BUT if I achieve the 375 points before my collection year ends on May 8, 2023....will my Gold status be extended into 2025?
Thanks for a reply.
BA's IT is terrible so it was never updated to reflect the reduction in the requirement by 375 - that's what you can see showing up. I've seen that BA is slowly working through accounts and updating those who did achieved the reduced requirement before the turn of the year - a bit surprised if yours hasn't been updated yet... So you'd now need the full 1,500 to renew gold... Best to get that between 9 May 2024 and 30 June 2024 so you get extended for 2 years but are still travelling with gold benefits...
@@MattsPlanet Thank very much. I've been watching your channel and knew you would give a straight answer.
Better than BA. I was very confused.
Now not only am I not going to rush before my May renewal date to gain those 325 thinking
I might get another year. I could have easily done it as l have 3 long haul flights in the next month in Premium and Club.
I was planning to take inconvent BA flights just for the Avios.
If I understand correctly, that balance will revert to 0.
MOST appreciated the advice to concentrate getting my 1500 in 2024.
I was pleasantly surprised when I just found your Cruise Review Channel.
I'm hooked on cruising, and now look forward to your Cruise reviews.
I've been in the tourism industry for 25 years, and I admire you using your past experiences to educate, and inform.
Thank you
If I achieve gold status..... can it be retroactively applied to bookings?
I have a flight to Japan booked in economy and would value the benefits mentioned in the video.
What matters is the status you have when you travel - as long as the account number holding the status is on the booking, you should enjoy the benefits when travelling. Even if you didn't have the status when you booked. Have a good trip!
@Matt's Planet Thanks Matt.
Great channel, I'm learning so much.
It's just a shame I won't be able to upgrade my q class tickets☹️
6 minutes in re seat selection. I flew PE last month and used AVios to pay for my seats. Do you think this is a good deal? I cant recall how many i paid and didnt do the maths but i presume you've looked? ETA I realised i could look it up. 12,725 each way for LHR / Costa RIca. IIRC it was £30 each way otherwise.
BA usually gives you 0.5p per avios, often less.... I have had status for some years now which gives me free seat selection so I can't actually see what they're charging but I doubt it was a brilliant deal for you... Unless you have millions of avios so don't give each of them much value
@@MattsPlanet I'll be more analytical next time thanks
@@Joe-lb8qn Cash amount on the top, divide by the avios and you'll get the £/avios. Multiply by a hundred to make the number more pleasant at that's pence per avios. Anything less than 1p / avios is generally not brilliant.
I had more recognition as I made my way up the BA status levels to Gold than I ever had as a Gold member. I tended to find it was revenue driven. If I’d just spent a lot of money on several holidays with BA, I had ‘special messages’ brought to my seat thanking me for my custom - twice this happened outbound to Alicante and Berlin, and both from Heathrow (when I was Bronze). On one occasion I’d just returned from a long haul trip to LA and flew the next day to Spain. Elsewhere the experience as a Gold member was patchy, and more recognition as a GGL member has been notable, but only long haul. If you’re ‘flying down the back’, and the flight is busy, crew are usually a bit stretched to say hello 👋🏻
I don't pay much to get to gold so I'm probably proactively ignored as a result! Thanks for the comment
@@MattsPlanet 😂😂😂
I don’t know about the good boarding benefit. I managed to get on first despite being in group 2 on a flight from San Diego. Had a couple of fakers who boarded first with no physical reason not too. I have found this on many of the flights I’ve taken I seem to get on flights quite quicklley.
Policing of boarding groups is a whole other question!!!
Do Virgin give you Gold recognition to be a gold member?
Not that I've experienced. But I had slipped to silver by the time I next flew on Virgin after this trip
I thought senior citizens are not allowed at emergency exit seats?
Cheeky!!! Few years yet...
OIC
Blimey…have I understood correctly that they didn’t have alcoholic drinks for sale for consumption on board?!
They should and I think normally do, but you wouldn't have known it on the flight!
I'd be hoping for more than crisps 😂 Oh well.
Not a disappointment I felt compelled to complain about though!!!
@@MattsPlanet Understandable. They're nice crisps at least 😄
If you want any food or drink on their short-haul flights, then you have to pre-order from their Highlife section of their website. Poor and limited choice, especially if flying early morning. However, from my experience, the system is not fit for purpose, resulting in failure to deliver the pre-ordered items. Naturally, failure to deliver paid for items should mean a refund is in order. Trying to get the refund is impossible, and requires the bank/credit card company to claw back the monies owed that BA refuse to return. After their poor customer service in handling such matters, they've lost me as a customer. It's a crying shame to see a once decent company now run like a low-cost carrier - Lord King must be turning in his grave at the airline's demise
Probably something worth covering in a future video actually... They used to throw lots away when the offered stuff to everyone but it may be a false economy if they now have to staff a call center to handle the complaints!!
@@MattsPlanet Throw away?? There was never much left to throw away by time both engineering and cleaners raced each other to the rich pickings left in the galleys 😄
Water and crisps is poor
Water is ok if it's got some hops and yeast added!
I didn't fly during the covid debacle, I wasn't jumping through the ridiculous hoops. The whole mask charade is such a joke.
I think the inquiries that are coming, certainly in the UK, will answer that question definitively. Flew on a Spanish airline yesterday that still required them!!!
WHAT !!! they dont know who you are ...........shocking why dont you go on flyer talk and complain!!!!
I'll cope...
Great masks are becoming a thing of past
Just had to wear one on a Spanish airline and on an Italian bus. First time in several months though...