4 ms·

I signed up for the BA frequent flyer program and "cognitive load" really didn't ring true for me. Basically, I add my frequent flier number to the booking for

by wlll 8y ago

I signed up for the BA frequent flyer program and "cognitive load" really didn't ring true for me. Basically, I add my frequent flier number to the booking form online and that's it. When I hit Bronze (it's a couple of long flights or so) I don't need to do anything, I just get to skip the queue at checkin and (airport depending) security. There's no sales, no emails, no upsell, my (travelling) life is just better after a couple of flights.

Fomite 8y ago
It's especially not cognitive-load building if you live at a hub (or a place with only one carrier). Live in Pullman, WA? You're flying Alaska anyway. Salt Lake City, UT? Get yourself a Delta number. The tricky places are where there are lots of competing carriers. San Francisco with it's...pseudo-hubness for a number of airlines, Washington DC, etc.
- wlll 8y ago
  Near Manchester, UK. Most of the flights I get are to the US, so BA or AA and I can use my BA number on both airlines. That said, when I need to get a flight somewhere else and there's no BA or AA flight convenient I just get the flight I want to get and don't sweat the loss of status building.
- kenneth 8y ago
  SF is definitely a hub with about 50% market share to United. It's also a hub for the smaller Alaska (mostly via their acquisition of SFO-based Virgin America). As a SFO-based frequent flyer, if you fly to numerous destination (instead of doing the same commute each trip), your choices are likely: fly United or take an extra connection.
  - Fomite 8y ago
    SFO is weird, because it's a United hub, but there's just enough competition from Alaska nee Virgina America and Southwest that I could see being tempted off United. Unlike say, Denver or Salt Lake for United and Delta respectively. I'd also put SEA in this category, especially with Alaska and Delta no longer playing nice in the sandbox.
GordonS 8y ago
Try to actually use your points on a flight or upgrade and you'll see problems - it can be extremely difficult to find availability, even if you are prepared to book a year in advance, and the BA tools for searching are buggy as hell.
- wlll 8y ago
  I guess I just treat Airmiles/Avios as irellevant compared to the actual benefits which are skipping queues/extra bag if I need it/lounge access at silver. Maybe one day I'll book a flight with Avios, and when I do I'll have enough for sure, but I don't treat them like a perk. Agree with the BA tools/site being terrible, it seems to be pretty consistent that this is the case across airlines.
  - GordonS 8y ago
    The lounges are the main benefit for me - especially at LHR where there is hardly any seating in the main concourse! Another thing though about Avios is BA's constant errorsion of benefits. Every year or so they send out an email saying 'we asked our customers and they said they wanted more choice', followed by saying they're removing free drinks and meals, reducing the hours hot food is available in lounges etc. I'd respect these decisions much more if they were honest and said 'our shareholders want us to cut costs!
- kenneth 8y ago
  Avios is extremely useful for getting cheap domestic flights last minute. SFO-LAX day of departure starts at $180, but costs 7,500 Avios only. PUS-KIX or HKG-TPE cost a measly 4,500 Avios. They can be a real life-saver.

by wlll 8y ago

Fomite 8y ago

It's especially not cognitive-load building if you live at a hub (or a place with only one carrier). Live in Pullman, WA? You're flying Alaska anyway. Salt Lake City, UT? Get yourself a Delta number. The tricky places are where there are lots of competing carriers. San Francisco with it's...pseudo-hubness for a number of airlines, Washington DC, etc.

wlll 8y ago
Near Manchester, UK. Most of the flights I get are to the US, so BA or AA and I can use my BA number on both airlines. That said, when I need to get a flight somewhere else and there's no BA or AA flight convenient I just get the flight I want to get and don't sweat the loss of status building.
kenneth 8y ago
SF is definitely a hub with about 50% market share to United. It's also a hub for the smaller Alaska (mostly via their acquisition of SFO-based Virgin America). As a SFO-based frequent flyer, if you fly to numerous destination (instead of doing the same commute each trip), your choices are likely: fly United or take an extra connection.
- Fomite 8y ago
  SFO is weird, because it's a United hub, but there's just enough competition from Alaska nee Virgina America and Southwest that I could see being tempted off United. Unlike say, Denver or Salt Lake for United and Delta respectively. I'd also put SEA in this category, especially with Alaska and Delta no longer playing nice in the sandbox.

GordonS 8y ago

Try to actually use your points on a flight or upgrade and you'll see problems - it can be extremely difficult to find availability, even if you are prepared to book a year in advance, and the BA tools for searching are buggy as hell.

wlll 8y ago
I guess I just treat Airmiles/Avios as irellevant compared to the actual benefits which are skipping queues/extra bag if I need it/lounge access at silver. Maybe one day I'll book a flight with Avios, and when I do I'll have enough for sure, but I don't treat them like a perk. Agree with the BA tools/site being terrible, it seems to be pretty consistent that this is the case across airlines.
- GordonS 8y ago
  The lounges are the main benefit for me - especially at LHR where there is hardly any seating in the main concourse! Another thing though about Avios is BA's constant errorsion of benefits. Every year or so they send out an email saying 'we asked our customers and they said they wanted more choice', followed by saying they're removing free drinks and meals, reducing the hours hot food is available in lounges etc. I'd respect these decisions much more if they were honest and said 'our shareholders want us to cut costs!
kenneth 8y ago
Avios is extremely useful for getting cheap domestic flights last minute. SFO-LAX day of departure starts at $180, but costs 7,500 Avios only. PUS-KIX or HKG-TPE cost a measly 4,500 Avios. They can be a real life-saver.