V-Flyer

Pre-amble - Mods, if this is an inappropriate topic for here, let me know and I'll get rid of it (if I can).

Not being the best at reading lots of info and terms and conditions, I wanted to gain oppinions from the vast depth of knowledge on this site.

Comparing the two loyalty programmes:

What I'd gleaned so far...

Pro for exec club - you can set up household accounts and get miles/tiers for children (but not infants).

Con for exec club - it's harder to gain silver status.

Pro for exec club - seems to be easier to maintain silver once gained (tier points you earn also seem to be more when you are silver).

Equal - using miles earned to upgrade etc appears about even?

Con earning miles on the BA AMEX appears to be very slightly less advantageous over the VS aMEX card (assuming premium/black here).

Any other thoughts? Reward flights, availability, shopping miles?

A huge pro for the Exec club is you can upgrade the cheapest ticket on BA with miles, where on Virgin you have to buy a fully flexible ticket to use miles to upgrade.

Also the Reward Seat finder is much easier to use on BA and i've never had a problem finding a Club reward seat.

Hope this helps!

Captain Paul wrote: where on Virgin you have to buy a fully flexible ticket to use miles to upgrade.

Not quite correct - you don't need a fully flexible ticket just one of the more flexible ones than the lower ticket buckets.

On BA you can't use miles to upgrade from Y to J - the rule is a one cabin only upgrade ...

I think the main advantage on BA is choice - there's so much more.

I'm moving more towards BAEC nowadays, mainly due to the sale WT+ ticket prices being upgradeable to CW with miles, makes it a bargain, and I'll only be 100TPs away from silver by the end of March, so I'll be able to pick seats when I book, which I think is the big difference between VS and BA, as unless you have status, you have to pay BA to reserve a seat, and then you don't get the pick of the best ones.

Although i prefer to fly VS if i was starting again from scratch having not joined either club, then i would pick baec for choice choice choice in most categories.

cheers

alx

If you've got the BA AMEX then you get a 2 for 1 voucher after £10k annual spend that you can combine with a miles award i.e. 100k miles for club and the other one goes free (plus taxes)

BA over VS:

1. The household account
2. A really useable 241 - and with the premium card valid for 2 years.
3. More accrual options - most significantly Tesco Direct and groceries
4. More locations
5. Easier connections from the regions on one PNR and mostly in and out of the same terminal at LHR
6. Any WTP+ fare upgradeable to Club - even the cheapies ( but not travel agent bookings - same as VS)
7. The first class product - no competition here from VS
8. The economy product


VS over BA
1. The business class product
2. The PE product
3. The LHR lounge and a few others (if in J or gold)
4. Can upgrade more than one class
5. Free seat selection
6. Easier to get and then retain Gold (and associated benefits like Clubhouse access) than BA silver


Joint (worse) - the Websites - BA has better functionality for booking but is annoyingly glitchy. VS is poor for adding connecting flights on one PNR.

VS have also had a better industrial relations track record but I think BA's contingency planning is now much better - I am less worried about disruption than ever before, although the MAN - LHR shuttles are almost always one of the first casualties of any disruption.

Biggest pet hate of the Exec Club? Almost all of the big miles offers/promotions exclude UK residents. Even though I can see the rational for this its a bit galling when someone in the US can get 100K miles for just taking out a credit card. And "Europe" offers always exclude the UK too - the tier point requirements are also lower in Europe too.

Regards
R3dV