In my usual end of year post in 2018 I announced my intention to try to get British Airways Gold Guest List status. This is a slightly different sort of status – for a start it is not an official status tier. Technically it is part of Gold status. So for example, a soft landing, if you failed to make Gold status, would be to Silver, not Gold. But for those that manage to achieve GGL, there are lots of benefits.
So why did I decide to try to get a whopping 5000 tier points and how did I achieve them at a reasonable cost? Read on…
The why?
As BA Gold member I was regularly achieving 2700 tier points a year. This is a handy level of points as at 2500 you get a gold upgrade voucher which entitles you to upgrade a cash or Avios ticket by one class, and there does not even need to be Avios space available.
The rules for getting GGL changed a few years ago and now you need to only get 5000 the first year, after that its 3000 tier points which for me is easily achievable on an ongoing basis.
The what?
There are some very useful perks to GGL:
- Access to the Concorde Rooms in London and New York (only when you get 5000 tier points per year)
- One gold and two silver BA executive status you can gift to anyone (hopefully we will be gifting some of mine to some lucky readers soon)
- GGL redemption awards – otherwise known as jokers. These allow you to release Avios seats for up to 5 people when there are none available providing there are cash tickets in certain fare buckets available
- A dedicated phone line
- Help from the Concorde Team
- Spa treatments when travelling in any class when travelling long haul.
- At 3500 TPs you get another two gold upgrade vouchers for one person
The how?
Well, firstly I need to say a big thank you to Paul as he found and booked many of the fares that helped me and came on a few trips with me.
April 2019 – A ticket with two trips on incorporating the sadly now demised Amsterdam-Bangkok fare and a Milan-Jakarta.
We did the first half in April with a back to back in Milan and then on to Singapore-Hong Kong-Jakarta. We then carried on to Bali with Air Asia for a few nights at the lovely Conrad Bali. You can read the review of the first class BA flight here. Tier Points = 800
I also did a number of Club Europe short haul flights, some for positioning and some as a separate trip. These included Edinburgh, Milan, Berlin, Dubrovnik, Amsterdam and Paris. I generally aim to pay no more than around £220 for Club Europe which I think is reasonable. I also did some US domestic flights too on American.
May 2019 – Roving Reporter and I did another Amsterdam – Bangkok via Hong Kong (around £1200) in First (using the upgrade voucher from Club) before flying onto to Vietnam for a holiday. You can read about our Vietnam trip here and the Waldorf Astoria we stayed at in Bangkok. Tier points = 500
June 2019 – gave an exceptional value flight with Qatar in business class. Was it a mistake fare? Maybe as it was only valid a couple of hours but they honoured it. It cost around £800 to fly from Edinburgh via Heathrow to Penang which I flew with Claudio. We flew on Qatar’s A330 and had the whole cabin to ourselves. Tier points = 720
I had a bit of a break over the summer and the next paid flight was the second half of the Asia ticket where we flew Amsterdam to Singapore via Heathrow and then on to Bangkok to celebrate my birthday at my favourite hotel there, The Shangri La. We also had a night in Singapore at the Conrad hotel. Tier points = 520
In October I did another mistake fare, this time the infamous Cathay First class from Vietnam to New York. This cost around £600 return. This was the major tier point earner of the year. I flew to Warsaw in Club to meet up with Marek our sometimes official photographer and then flew to Bangkok on Qatar (£1200). We then carried on with Air Asia to Danang in Vietnam where stayed at the stunning InterContinental hotel. The flights with Cathay were amazing and you can read about the outbound here and the return here. Tier points = 1200
The final push was another holiday with Roving Reporter to Cape Town where we flew Heathrow to Johannesburg with Qatar (£1600) and then on to Cape Town with BA subsidiary Comair. Tier Points = 570
How to maximise tier point collecting
If you are trying to get more tier points my main advice is never fly direct. Often this can have other advantages as for example, routeing via Johannesburg for Cape Town, Los Angeles for Vegas and Singapore for Bangkok can get you a better aircraft on the long haul segments too. Many fares allow you to do this for free. Some have an unlimited number of stops or “transfers” as they are known or more commonly allow a certain amount per area of the world. On any of these transfers, you can stopover free for up to 24 hours.
It is also worth looking at upgrades as BA often proactively offer upgrades at a cheaper than the normal rate which gives you the extra tier points. These would be displayed in your booking on manage my booking or on the app. You can also ask at the airport about upgrades which can sometimes be cheaper.
All destinations are not equal so if you are not firm on where you want to go, have a look at destinations with extra tier points such as those in Europe that get 80 tier points each way including Helsinki, Catania, Malta and Sofia. Singapore and Cape Town also have more tier points than most other long haul BA destinations.
In terms of long haul travel, Qatar is definitely your friend with 560 tier points from most European departure points to Asia.
You could, of course, do a tier point run which you can read about here.
Welcome to Gold Guest List or not….
Sadly my initial experience with GGL has not been great. Some things are down to bad luck, some things down to BA’s IT and some down to GGL agents not resolving the issue.
As I would get two jokers immediately I qualified and would only have 4 weeks to use them, I had my trips planned. There was a small window of opportunity to use a BA Amex 2-4-1 voucher and a joker to fly two weeks after I would return for my qualifying trip. As we flew Qatar, they usually only credit miles and points flown once a week on a Wednesday early morning to BA accounts. We also flew on a Tuesday so I would have to wait until the following Wednesday for them to credit.
But then they didn’t credit… I now had 7 days until I was planning to fly. There was a narrow window for my trip as after that it went into peak period for Avios and I was fully booked until June after the end of February too. Qatar seemed to not have credited quite a few people on this occasion. I made a claim via BAMissingAvios on Flyertalk and by Friday morning they had appeared. Result! I then waited overnight for my status to change before eagerly phoning the special GGL line.
I was told they could not do anything as I needed to wait until after midnight before booking anything as then my status would be updated in the system. At this point, there were 3 “D”class seats available of which I needed two. Then the second bit of bad luck/timing happened when Storm Ciara hit the UK meaning GGL were extremely busy rebooking people.
I phoned back after midnight to be told I needed to wait 3 working days to be able to use my joker to allow the system to update. Yet BA.com and the app showed me as GGL with the 5000 tier points. I almost gave up at this point but I thought I would check the terms and conditions in case I had missed something. But no, it said quite clearly the benefits were available immediately on qualifying for GGL and requesting them. So I thought I would try and push BA into meeting their T&Cs. I spoke to a very helpful agent who put my Miami flights on hold (I hasten to add I had a backup plan and had bought flights to Washington with Avios as that’s as far as I could get towards Miami on Avios). He then sent the request on for approval to release the seats and said he would call back. He didn’t.
Next day I tried again and he had escalated it to a manager and managed to force the system to recognise me as GGL. The seats had now sold out in D class, but there were still two seats on hold for me. No problem I thought. He said he would definitely call back. Guess what?
The day before I was due to fly I called back again. At this point, the flights to Washington were a pain as the only connecting flight that day I had planned on had sold out. I could see D class seats to Atlanta now, so that became plan C. I spoke to someone who said they would put them on hold but guess what?
Eventually, I got someone who did call back and did manage at least to confirm me to Atlanta. They also confirmed my return from New Orleans which still had the right class. She kindly said she would keep pushing to try for Miami as there were still business seats, just not in the right class. And that she would call back. By 5pm I decided to call again as I needed to book the Atlanta connecting flights. And no readers, it was not a happy ending as I never got my Miami flights. We flew via Atlanta which cost a lot extra in cash for the connecting flights. But at least we made it to Miami for some sunshine eventually! (I am actually writing this on the way to New Orleans on AA).
The GGL team promised to raise this issue with management, and I guess it is not often that people need to use a joker quite so urgently. However, for me, it was use it or lose it and I only had a very short window available to travel for the next 5 months. Hopefully, BA will sort this out and at least train agents to know how it works in the meantime. In BA’s defence they were really snowed under with the storm but they still managed to answer my calls and the agents tried to help as best they could. But let’s just say it was not the greatest start…
However, I did enjoy my first visit to the Concorde Room as a GGL. The Laurent Perrier tasted that little bit sweeter when I was only travelling in Club! I don’t intend to keep the Concorde Room key as frankly, I need to fly lots of airlines to get great material for TLFL! But it will be a fun year until that point!
As a data point – how many GGL readers do we have? Let us know in the comments below or social media.
23 comments
On my 4th year of GGL. Jokers are the high point, plus Concorde Room access. I do wish it was a proper “status”…..has always struck me as a silly name.
I’ve been an accidental GGL / CCR holder for five years now (because of work travel, never chased status (and honestly wouldn’t)) – jokers have some use but I’ve noticed recently the booking classes are suspiciously hard to get (and yet available from other selling points – try expertflyer on the LHR-SYD route using U.K. then AUS/Singapore as the selling point – to prove it). Jokers need availability from U.K.. Concorde room I remain deeply unimpressed by and suspect it would be better value for GCH to buy a case of Laurent-Perrier and keep the change (for those chasing status). Other then that the usual hit and miss treatment on-board (that’s improved of late), American Airlines I’m certain ports treat you very well. I fully appreciate each to their own, but Gold (or Silver) are probably the sweet spots. That said, enjoy, sure you’ll become hooked like so many do 🙂
If anyone wants to donate Gold to me please let me know ?
My wife and I are much older now and I think Silver is the best we can hope for. Flying is not as easy in mid to late 60s.
Personally I am not convinced it’s worth an effort. Simple gold card would be enough for most of people.
Been Gold for 6 years and managed GGL once. Didn’t really notice until a crown appeared on the card.
I won’t tell Greta that you fly just to earn points & free champagne
Shame about the call centre, sounds like a classic BA experience to be frank. The last few years with IT meltdowns, the data theft, and a few ground/onboard experiences I’m considering letting my silver status lapse to be honest and going elsewhere.
Might be different if you can give away your gold card though ?
Fab write up Michele.
For many this is something one can only dream of, and reading how it was actually done is fascinating. Back-to-Backs, Mistake fares, holidays, extra sectors, positioning flights etc.
Its fair enough to become blaisè about GGL if you get it automatically because of your job – but for avgeeks and lovers of flying: Gold and GGL are the epitome of achievement for all the hard planning, money spent/saved and leisure hours of commitment spent flying to get the actual TPs required.
Digressing to explain:
Personally I can only ever dream of GGL. My wife and I are true avgeeks, and the costs involved (even using every single trick) to get us both up to 5000 TPs in a year are simply not achievable as a combined total. And there is no way I would get away with “you stay at home this time whilst I go TP running”?
So Gold is the absolute limit of what we can achieve as a TEAM in a 12 month period. In saying that, we’ve still never done it – but we try year-on-year.
So back to GGL. It’s an absolute dream to read about. The wrinkles will come good I am sure, Michele. I remember the very first time we flew BA First, and calling the You First hotline – only for it not to be what I expected and feeling disappointed. But now I have first hand knowledge of the systems and the way it all works, it’s much easier.
And as for the sweetness of entering the CCR, whilst travelling in Club – I can only imagine the smile going off in your head. Great Stuff. Enjoy your year of LPGS?
So congrats to you for achieving what you set out to do, and Thanks? for the great blogging. Enjoy your travels in 2020.✈️❤️?Maybe one day my wife and I will spot you “at the bar” in the CCR??
Thanks so much Glen for your kind words. GGL is definitely hard work if it’s not paid for by work. I’m lucky that I have the time and money to be able to do it for one year. And yes if you ever spot me do say hello!
I am GGL but wasn’t aware of the rule about needing to use jokers in a short period (unless I’ve read this wrong!). I thought as long as I booked within the time I am GGL I can fly on any flight I can book at that time – ie way into my next status year. Is that right?
Hi Jenny. You get 2 when you qualify which must be used by your TP year. But you get 2 more as you go into your next year.
Agree wholeheartedly with Glen about gold being the limit of leisure travellers. Agree with many that BA falling down badly, witness a relative’s recent 22 hour delay to Cape Town due to repair of ancient 747, where BA have compensated only the EU minimum.
Agree also that Michele & co do a fantastic and valuable job for us all!
Slightly OT we are doing LHR-MSY-MIA-JFK-LGW in September( unfortunately no earnings on the LH as booked via a 2-4-1 but at least the domestics are on AA to go towards the pot). New Orleans and Miami both being 1st’s for us. Please feel free to let us know any little sots you find.
Initially planned on flying into Miami but we’re REALLY struggling with finding F so booked up in J with a fingers crossed hope some, any, F would randomly appear( was booked months ago btw). Even with all the recent releases finding F on any our BA sectors remains the perennial problem( and yes we are tracking them on EF and Seat Spy but both continue to give false positives on F availability)
Congrats on the GGL. I’m sure at one point you’ll hit the threshold for GGFL anyway with all your travels.
Thanks. We stayed at Gales which is a Hilton Curio in Miami and liked it although no balconies and room very small. Location and pool are good though. JW Marriott in MSY which again a good location a couple of blocks from French Quarter but nice and quiet. Has a small outdoor pool too. Enjoyed red fish for casual local food. And Carousel bar for something different.
Great report. My husband and I are very mature and since joining BA executive club in the early 90’s have managed Silver once. We are leisure travelers. My husband spent 25 years in the Military so couldn’t earn tier points on his business travel. !! We have tried to attain it again but usually use our 241 vouchers. I love reading about the ways people fly to get their status. I say good luck to you all.
Been GGL for four years, mostly through ex-EU private travel and some QR flights to China where I have family and friends (possibly under threat to retain it this year so looking at a AUH-CMB TP run)
I’ve been a GGL for the last 4 years after some fairly hectic work travel years where I’ve had the liberty to be creative with my routings, although to be honest the novelty is wearing off, and I really can only be bothered to go ex-eu from certain airports (pretty much only INV or AMS now) and I’m really over routing London to LAX via JFK, direct flights are such a pleasantry!
I’ve relocated to New York for work so reasonably priced indirect transcons (via Philly to pick up the AA a330 or 767) have become a staple and almost every transit through PHL has included a personal meet and greet or tarmac transfer in an SUV due to being a GGL.
For me the goal is now GFL which I should receive in 2 years all going well, I see that as a hugely useful aspect for the future with kids etc.
Been GGL and Concorde cars for many years and now GGL for Life and Concorde for Life, which is 100,000 tier points. Flew lots of airlines so would have had it much sooner had I been more focussed. Good for upgrades, jokers, special treatment life cars on tarmac etc. But 100,000 or indeed 5000 only worth doing if you are doing it anyway!
Thanks for York blog – I am GGL and have been for last 5 years – I have had great experience with the helpline and they even booked my return flights using a space release ( joker) for me when they came out 355 days ahead of time as I was on a flight. It has truly made a difference to my husband and kids as we can generally travel to places we want to go when we want to go. I hit GFL but not sure there are many benefits over and above lounge access – will keep GGL. That said I also hit 1k on United so am comparing…!
I’m hoping to achieve Gold this year following a busy year of travel for work and pleasure. I’m not sure I’ll ever succeed again so I’m going to plan to enjoy the 15 months that I will have to the full!
Great article Michele.
Alas GGL is but a pipe dream for me but thank you for the handy array of tips for tier point building and also what a great selection of error fares that have cropped up in the last 18 months!
Hoping for some more ex-EU deals =} SE Asia (along the lines of the BRU – TYO fare for £600 a couple of years ago)
I’ve been GGL for 4 years now, worth the extra effort getting First for free and with upgrades twice a year with my partner who had turned into a monster never wanting to turn right on long-haul ever again ?
As someone who earned 6000+ teir points a year for a decade in the 90s and early 2000s , retired early with 85000 points but just a few upgrade vouchers in my last couple of years. I look at the GGL benefits with a bit of envy. The most being jokers, I had to ring up Christine Nicholson, the the head of exec club, and ask them to create space, so much easier now. At least now I can sleep in , in the morning after staying up till 1am to grab the seats we want. Gold for life means at least I don’t have to pay to reserve seats.
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