BA VIP
Apr 26, 2024, 8:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Ealing
Programs: Usual Amex Cent. GGL.
Posts: 1,500
BA VIP
I will leave it to the mods to decide whether this should be merged with the “consistent treatment at ORD“ thread… After having received good treatment at ORD, when checking in to the PHL American Airlines lounge yesterday, I was asked my status with BA. I replied “Emerald“. Then I thought about it and emboldened by previous statements on this forum about “CK “and “BA VIP“, asked him if he could tell that I was a “BA VIP”.
He played with his computer screen and confirmed that, yes, he could tell this, and that, yes, the person responsible for CKs should reach out to me, but they had so many CKs in PHL that they didn’t normally bother. Also, that because most BA VIPs had English phone numbers they were not able to reach out to them…
This seems to suggest that AA can tell who is GGL… I would be interested in other peoples experience at airports, other than ORD on this…
He played with his computer screen and confirmed that, yes, he could tell this, and that, yes, the person responsible for CKs should reach out to me, but they had so many CKs in PHL that they didn’t normally bother. Also, that because most BA VIPs had English phone numbers they were not able to reach out to them…
This seems to suggest that AA can tell who is GGL… I would be interested in other peoples experience at airports, other than ORD on this…
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Apr 26, 2024, 12:49 pm
#7
Ambassador: Emirates
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: UK/AU
Programs: QF P1 + LTS, EK Gold, BAEC Gold, QR Gold, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 1,153
By the way, a good experiment on finding good GGL status recognition with AA is to fly AA ex LHR T3 and see if they offer you anything (lazy drive to gate 32, preboarding etc). As QF P1 I get all the perks but save the lounge to t-1 as the lounge is like a 90s food court with Moët. Food at CX or QF first!
Apr 26, 2024, 1:35 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 902
OP,
Executive Platinum is the AA equivalent of the BA GGL, Concierge Key is the equivalent of the BA Premier, and Platinum Pro is the equivalent of the BA Gold.
Not that a lot of AAgents don't recognize any other OW status without prompting. I still have to tell a lot of them that I'm an Emerald, even when it's on my BP! Luckily most of the Flagship Check in and Lounge staff at LA remember me and make sure that I get all of the OWE perks. Check in at ORD seems to be really bad about having a clue but the Club people just wave me in to the Flagship Lounge.
Executive Platinum is the AA equivalent of the BA GGL, Concierge Key is the equivalent of the BA Premier, and Platinum Pro is the equivalent of the BA Gold.
Not that a lot of AAgents don't recognize any other OW status without prompting. I still have to tell a lot of them that I'm an Emerald, even when it's on my BP! Luckily most of the Flagship Check in and Lounge staff at LA remember me and make sure that I get all of the OWE perks. Check in at ORD seems to be really bad about having a clue but the Club people just wave me in to the Flagship Lounge.
Last edited by ttuna3; Apr 26, 2024 at 9:43 pm Reason: Major Senior Moment
Apr 26, 2024, 1:53 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,363
Apr 26, 2024, 2:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,935
Apr 26, 2024, 3:49 pm
#12
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,980
Are you even GGL if you haven't been lead through an AA gate crowd with an agent shouting BA VIP?
M
M
Apr 26, 2024, 3:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,938
Apr 26, 2024, 7:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 832
Apr 26, 2024, 11:16 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,163
Last year I had an AA agent calling my name to board a domestic short flight from LAX and at the scanner podium I heard her telling the gate agent I was a BA VIP. Luckily her voice was low enough to not be heard beyond the podium... it was embarrassing enough, though. I'm very glad it was just one off... 
On a second thought, and again last year, it was maybe more embarrassing to be escorted from the AA lounge at the satellite terminal in LAX (the one called eagle nest) to the airplane while the boarding was already underway. The lounge agent told me it was a standard procedure for Emeralds, but I very much doubt so as it never happened the other 4 times I departed from there.
On a second thought, and again last year, it was maybe more embarrassing to be escorted from the AA lounge at the satellite terminal in LAX (the one called eagle nest) to the airplane while the boarding was already underway. The lounge agent told me it was a standard procedure for Emeralds, but I very much doubt so as it never happened the other 4 times I departed from there.