Who has a gold card?
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Yes Romeo Delta, I think you have hit the nail on the head. They can see your status on the screen, no need to show a card or be pushy (except to some of the lounge dragons 
).
I think in most (but not all) airlines the staff genuinely want to help their higher status pax and so will do what they can if you are nice to them and without needing to be told you are 'gold'. It's on their screen for crying out loud!
Actually I think the more jerks the better, because that means the airline staff will be more likely to give the nice people with similar status the op-upgrades.
And Gouabafla, you should be able to get status on some carrier with 100k miles a year, unless you are flying locos all over the place. 100k a year on a loco would be tough going...
Talking of locos, Southwest have the best frequent flier plan out there IMHO. None of this 'gold' tier status stuff, but the free ticket benefits are the best on the market.
). I think in most (but not all) airlines the staff genuinely want to help their higher status pax and so will do what they can if you are nice to them and without needing to be told you are 'gold'. It's on their screen for crying out loud!
Actually I think the more jerks the better, because that means the airline staff will be more likely to give the nice people with similar status the op-upgrades.
And Gouabafla, you should be able to get status on some carrier with 100k miles a year, unless you are flying locos all over the place. 100k a year on a loco would be tough going...
Talking of locos, Southwest have the best frequent flier plan out there IMHO. None of this 'gold' tier status stuff, but the free ticket benefits are the best on the market.
At LH check-ins, you need to produce your card so that they can feed it to their machine. Hence 'flashing a gold card' at check-in isn't showing off, it's part of the check-in process.
I regret to say that I have seen quite a few people trying to bully the check-in staff into giving them an upgrade; however, I've never seen it succeed!
In flight the LH seating computer tries to allocate 'Senators' to particular seats; on the last occasion I flew the senior FA noted me writing a customer comment note and asked if she could deliver it for me. She was obviously concerned that there was something about the flight with which I was not happy and read my comment; when she realised that it was yet another complaint at the poor standard of in-flight catering which LH has been expecting Business Class travellers to put up with since 1 Apr 04, she was immediately sympathetic and agreed that the company had dumbed things down to an unacceptable level. In fact she was very apologetic about the current standard and hoped that, with sufficient complaints, LH might return things to the way they used to be.
I regret to say that I have seen quite a few people trying to bully the check-in staff into giving them an upgrade; however, I've never seen it succeed!
In flight the LH seating computer tries to allocate 'Senators' to particular seats; on the last occasion I flew the senior FA noted me writing a customer comment note and asked if she could deliver it for me. She was obviously concerned that there was something about the flight with which I was not happy and read my comment; when she realised that it was yet another complaint at the poor standard of in-flight catering which LH has been expecting Business Class travellers to put up with since 1 Apr 04, she was immediately sympathetic and agreed that the company had dumbed things down to an unacceptable level. In fact she was very apologetic about the current standard and hoped that, with sufficient complaints, LH might return things to the way they used to be.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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QF Platinum - Probably going to go down to Gold for next year - at least I'm not travelling as much - I find the benefits just about make up for the discomfort caused by travelling a lot - how many wish they could get a simplehome style meal when staying in a Hotel where they insist on only offering rich fancy food - it's ok occasionally, but 2 to 3 times a week for several months is too much. Yes, this is almost all company, but why would I get on another plane for a holiday.
As other have said, the ONLY way I have seen upgrades given is by being pleasant to the checkin staff. I regulaly get bumped to earlier return flights on non-flexible tickets and the occasional upgrade.
Anyone know why the QF Melbourne Sydney 6:30pm flight is always excessively expensive and then so empty that I almost always get bumped onto it when I'm booked on the 8pm or later (for 1/4 the fare !). I never ask for this, and never complain if it isn't offered (I just get 1 1/2 hours to drink some free good wine).
BTW, the text message and 3 different phone calls to let me know of a delayed flight is a bit excessive.
As other have said, the ONLY way I have seen upgrades given is by being pleasant to the checkin staff. I regulaly get bumped to earlier return flights on non-flexible tickets and the occasional upgrade.
Anyone know why the QF Melbourne Sydney 6:30pm flight is always excessively expensive and then so empty that I almost always get bumped onto it when I'm booked on the 8pm or later (for 1/4 the fare !). I never ask for this, and never complain if it isn't offered (I just get 1 1/2 hours to drink some free good wine).
BTW, the text message and 3 different phone calls to let me know of a delayed flight is a bit excessive.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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BA Gold (soon to be Silver)
KLM Platinum Elite (soon to be Gold or whatever the tier below is)
bmi Silver
My job means I no longer travel on business but a Business Class Round the World ticket will see me reach Gold on BA by October next year.
KLM Platinum Elite (soon to be Gold or whatever the tier below is)
bmi Silver
My job means I no longer travel on business but a Business Class Round the World ticket will see me reach Gold on BA by October next year.
Paxing All Over The World
Travelling LH yesterday (LHR/MUC) but in coach as it was a redemption trip. The cheese sandwich was OK ... except that it was HALF a sandwich and nothing else!! Drinks still inclusive so my friend had champagne! She was too pleased at all the snow out on the ground to be worried about food. 
I have not been on Lufty for a couple of years. When I was a regular on LH (silver for a couple of years) the food and service were bearable but the ´food´ yesterday was as bad as you folks have been saying! Incidentally, the paid-for-price for economy for this 10 day trip was GBP211. so I think that I would have expected something more than HALF a cheese sandwich.
I recall a friend saying that her father, Gold on LH, had approached the head of the Biz check-in to ask a quick question. He showed his gold card to confirm that he might take the liberty of asking a quick question.
The agent pointed and said, "Go to the back of the queue"
He said, "But I only wanted to ask a question?"
"Go to the back of the queue"
I have not been on Lufty for a couple of years. When I was a regular on LH (silver for a couple of years) the food and service were bearable but the ´food´ yesterday was as bad as you folks have been saying! Incidentally, the paid-for-price for economy for this 10 day trip was GBP211. so I think that I would have expected something more than HALF a cheese sandwich.
I recall a friend saying that her father, Gold on LH, had approached the head of the Biz check-in to ask a quick question. He showed his gold card to confirm that he might take the liberty of asking a quick question.
The agent pointed and said, "Go to the back of the queue"
He said, "But I only wanted to ask a question?"
"Go to the back of the queue"
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Flybhx
You are joking, I presume?
Gold card holders represent the lifeblood of airlines.
The passenger behaviour described sounds a little stressed out, but from a commercial decision, are you really going to offload one of your top tier customers and walk away from the revenue and yields?
You should go and read a book on marketing and in particular, the chapter about the danger of creating "tyrant customers" by hyping loyalty schemes.
Even the supermarkets shy away from refusing to serve customers with more than 10 items, in the 10 items or less queue. It's called grinning and bearing it.
Just out of interest, how do we know that there was not a duplicate seat allocation, on the evidence available?
That happened to me only a few days ago and is encountered typically 1-2 times per year. The woman whose "seat" I was sitting in (we both had 10A), then bitched that I got upgraded to business for the inconvenience and she did not, so its not just the GC holders who make a fuss.
You are joking, I presume?
Gold card holders represent the lifeblood of airlines.
The passenger behaviour described sounds a little stressed out, but from a commercial decision, are you really going to offload one of your top tier customers and walk away from the revenue and yields?
You should go and read a book on marketing and in particular, the chapter about the danger of creating "tyrant customers" by hyping loyalty schemes.
Even the supermarkets shy away from refusing to serve customers with more than 10 items, in the 10 items or less queue. It's called grinning and bearing it.
Just out of interest, how do we know that there was not a duplicate seat allocation, on the evidence available?
That happened to me only a few days ago and is encountered typically 1-2 times per year. The woman whose "seat" I was sitting in (we both had 10A), then bitched that I got upgraded to business for the inconvenience and she did not, so its not just the GC holders who make a fuss.
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He should be sent to the back of the queue, the people waiting patiently in front of him might also only want to ask a question. How many times does 'asking a question' to a check in agent turn into a ten minute task?
I cannot remember ever having to have to show a card when checking in with LH. Maybe I just look the part
Now with the LH lounge dragons it's a totally different story.
I cannot remember ever having to have to show a card when checking in with LH. Maybe I just look the part
Now with the LH lounge dragons it's a totally different story.
flybhx,
The woman in my tale was not exactly disorderly, just extremely vociferous and wouldn't let go.
When I was BA EC Blue I once travelled with a Silver-coated colleague who got me access to the lounge and arranged for us to sit together on the flight to discuss business. When the flight was called, Silver and above were invited to pre-board and so, still chatting, we left the lounge for the gate. When we presented our boarding passes the girl said to me, "we are only boarding gold and silver, you're blue, get to the back of the queue".
This was in front of a whole line of passengers, many of whom I knew. At the rear of the line I found two other people who had received the same treatment.
I later complaind by phone and was told it was a 'training issue' and the girl would be spoken to.
The woman in my tale was not exactly disorderly, just extremely vociferous and wouldn't let go.
When I was BA EC Blue I once travelled with a Silver-coated colleague who got me access to the lounge and arranged for us to sit together on the flight to discuss business. When the flight was called, Silver and above were invited to pre-board and so, still chatting, we left the lounge for the gate. When we presented our boarding passes the girl said to me, "we are only boarding gold and silver, you're blue, get to the back of the queue".
This was in front of a whole line of passengers, many of whom I knew. At the rear of the line I found two other people who had received the same treatment.
I later complaind by phone and was told it was a 'training issue' and the girl would be spoken to.
"I cannot remember ever having to have to show a card when checking in with LH. Maybe I just look the part Now with the LH lounge dragons it's a totally different story."
No, it's something to do with etix - and they do swipe the card for some reason.
The LH lounge dragons - it varies. Some will ask for your card, others are content to note 'SEN' on your boarding card. But it does make me think of movies like The Great Escape when they ask for the card - "Ihre Papiere, bitte! Good luck" - and it's difficult to suppress a grin!
LH is in great danger of polarising passengers. European travel is dire compared to this time last year - all the cash is being spent on pampering the long haul super premium, such that they now have a new class above Senator termed HON. (Not HUN). 600000 miles in a year needed to reach that. Plush lounges, limo to the aeroplane (no MUC or FRA packed, jolting bus)... But at the other end they've made cut back after cut back, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Now with the LH lounge dragons it's a totally different story."No, it's something to do with etix - and they do swipe the card for some reason.
The LH lounge dragons - it varies. Some will ask for your card, others are content to note 'SEN' on your boarding card. But it does make me think of movies like The Great Escape when they ask for the card - "Ihre Papiere, bitte! Good luck" - and it's difficult to suppress a grin!
LH is in great danger of polarising passengers. European travel is dire compared to this time last year - all the cash is being spent on pampering the long haul super premium, such that they now have a new class above Senator termed HON. (Not HUN). 600000 miles in a year needed to reach that. Plush lounges, limo to the aeroplane (no MUC or FRA packed, jolting bus)... But at the other end they've made cut back after cut back, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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BA Gold card & a Gold Amit Arkia card
Doesn't normally do me any good; I finally got my one and only BA upgrade last week on the 9 hour BMED flight to Almaty, which must have been this year's Xmas Prezzie from BA; or maybe because I moved my account to Spain and they don't know any better.
I read in the Telegraph the other week that a BA Bluie had been upgraded several times when flying with his wife and thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.
121 flights last year, with over 50 One Mold flights. I just only wish Air Astana and SCAT gave me frequent flyer points (and also a window without curtains and the Axeminster Carpet), but I suppose at least the rubber band works to get me from A to B
Doesn't normally do me any good; I finally got my one and only BA upgrade last week on the 9 hour BMED flight to Almaty, which must have been this year's Xmas Prezzie from BA; or maybe because I moved my account to Spain and they don't know any better.
I read in the Telegraph the other week that a BA Bluie had been upgraded several times when flying with his wife and thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.
121 flights last year, with over 50 One Mold flights. I just only wish Air Astana and SCAT gave me frequent flyer points (and also a window without curtains and the Axeminster Carpet), but I suppose at least the rubber band works to get me from A to B
OffshoreIgor Aisle seat, please.
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No I don't pay for my own tickets and because of that I have to work hard to keep the price down, rather than thinking about comfort, convenience or sticking with one airline long enough to get a gold card.
If I was paying for my own flights, I'd be thinking of my own comfort much more than I do now.
If I was paying for my own flights, I'd be thinking of my own comfort much more than I do now.
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I am Gold on Star Alliance (and will be until I die) and on OneWorld. This miracle is not unusual in NZ where many like me live here but work a lot in Europe and the US. Also I suppose that owning the company means that I pay for my own tickets.
As others have said, when you fly as much as I do the FF miles are rarely used. What I expect from Gold or above status is reward for customer loyalty in the form of the lounges, dedicated check ins, dedicated reservations phone numbers, early boarding, seat preferences where available and the like. I certainly do not expect to be privileged above any other customers such that they are disadvantaged in order to grant my wishes.
Despite owning my company and being gold I travel economy (but World Traveler Plus on BA) most of the time because I believe that a CEO should obey the same rules as employees. Our rules say business class only when there is a scheduled meeting within 24 hours of arrival and more than four time zones are being crossed.
What I have experienced in recent years is frequent unasked for upgrades on BA and NZ (but not often on QF or UA). I found this odd when I heard the stories of others, so last time I got an upgrade I enquired what I had done to deserve it. "You have a reputation for being nice to our staff, so we do our best for you", was the reply. I don't know if this characteristic is somehow recorded on my file, or even if it is true (although I am firmly and strictly courteous to airline staff, even on the rare occasions when I am under severe provocation), but if it is so that my way of being is noticed and recorded, then it looks like a gold star is a better thing than a gold card.
As others have said, when you fly as much as I do the FF miles are rarely used. What I expect from Gold or above status is reward for customer loyalty in the form of the lounges, dedicated check ins, dedicated reservations phone numbers, early boarding, seat preferences where available and the like. I certainly do not expect to be privileged above any other customers such that they are disadvantaged in order to grant my wishes.
Despite owning my company and being gold I travel economy (but World Traveler Plus on BA) most of the time because I believe that a CEO should obey the same rules as employees. Our rules say business class only when there is a scheduled meeting within 24 hours of arrival and more than four time zones are being crossed.
What I have experienced in recent years is frequent unasked for upgrades on BA and NZ (but not often on QF or UA). I found this odd when I heard the stories of others, so last time I got an upgrade I enquired what I had done to deserve it. "You have a reputation for being nice to our staff, so we do our best for you", was the reply. I don't know if this characteristic is somehow recorded on my file, or even if it is true (although I am firmly and strictly courteous to airline staff, even on the rare occasions when I am under severe provocation), but if it is so that my way of being is noticed and recorded, then it looks like a gold star is a better thing than a gold card.
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Well, just got my new Skyteam Gold card - I qualified (30th segment) on 16 December 2004, so that was cutting it a bit fine .... strangely enough, I got no other premium cards for the other 60 odd flights last year... just shows how it is factors such as the destination, most convenient airports and the schedule that often drives purchasing decisions.
Too mean to buy a long personal title
offshoreigor: Does anyone on this forum actually pay for their own tickets?
I'm Qantas Gold.