Contemplating British Airways’ standing match? I flew American Airways with BA standing

British Airways is providing a beneficiant limited-time standing match provide for U.S.-based members of its loyalty program, British Airways Executive Club.

BA is a member of the Oneworld alliance, partnering with airways akin to American Airways and Alaska Airways. BA standing when flying these airways could be much more useful than holding elite standing with American’s or Alaska’s personal program.

So, what do you obtain when flying American Airlines in economic system class with British Airways standing? Plus, is it price making the swap from one other loyalty program? Here is what my expertise was like.

Associated: Complete guide to airline status matches and challenges in 2024

To take part on this standing match, prospects should apply online and supply legitimate proof of eligible frequent flyer standing.

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As soon as accepted, candidates shall be upgraded to the matched tier for six months. You possibly can prolong this era for as much as a 12 months by reserving two eligible flights or one round-trip flight, per the phrases and situations outlined on britishairways.com.

Eligible flights embrace BA-marketed business- or first-class flights originating in North America, Canada or Mexico and touchdown in Europe, Norway or Switzerland; they should be operated by British Airways, American Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia or Finnair.

This provide is on the market by means of Might 7.

Associated: Receive Admirals Club lounge access with generous new British Airways status match for US travelers

What do you obtain when flying American Airways economic system class?

I maintain British Airways Gold standing and booked a flight from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), flying on American Airways in economic system class.

Seat choice

The primary perk was supplied after I booked the flight. When getting into my British Airways Government Membership quantity upon reserving, my elite Oneworld standing was instantly acknowledged, permitting me to pick out a Important Cabin Further seat at no additional price.

Whereas the identical width because the common economic system seats, these seats provide additional legroom, devoted overhead bin area, and free beer, wine and spirits.

Precedence check-in

Since British Airways is a member of the Oneworld alliance, BA Silver standing is equal to Oneworld Sapphire, whereas BA Gold standing is Oneworld Emerald. This implies you need to use the profit anytime you see the blue or inexperienced discs on an indication just like the one under.

This implies with both standing, I might use the precedence check-in at Heathrow Airport.

Even higher, I noticed a inexperienced disc on the Flagship First check-in counters, so I might test in with my BA Gold standing even on an economic system ticket; check-in took lower than 60 seconds.

Precedence safety

BA Silver and Gold standing provides precedence safety the place accessible when flying on a Oneworld airline.

At Heathrow’s Terminal 3, I seemed for the “Quick Monitor” indicators and was in a position to entry this shortcut by scanning my boarding cross, which had my BA loyalty quantity on it, and will entry the precedence safety line, which was a lot shorter than the common line.

Lounge entry

Arguably, probably the most useful perk of BA standing is worldwide lounge entry. Whereas the right credit card can provide you entry to Priority Pass lounges internationally, these could be of poor high quality and they are often troublesome to entry throughout peak durations. Nonetheless, with Oneworld standing, I had entry to Heathrow Oneworld lounges.

Associated: Overcrowding at lounges is not a new problem — but what can be done about it?

American Airways operates an Admirals Membership and a First Class lounge at Heathrow. BA Gold members can entry both lounge, whereas BA Silver members are restricted to the Admirals Membership.

Whereas American AAdvantage Government Platinum, Platinum Professional and Platinum members obtain Admirals Membership lounge entry when flying internationally on American Airways, a key “benefit” British Airways standing has over American is that BA Silver and Gold members additionally obtain lounge entry when flying American domestically in any class, whereas AAdvantage members don’t.

Associated: American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Which means on a $49 home fundamental economic system flight on American Airways from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) to, say, Charleston Worldwide Airport (CHS), I can entry the Flagship lounge with BA Gold standing — however with AAdvantage top-tier Government Platinum standing, I can not.

Whereas I had entry to AA’s First Class lounge, I knew that Terminal 3 has even higher choices, with a few of the finest Oneworld lounges on this planet.

Holding my eyes peeled for the blue and inexperienced discs, I headed to the close by lounge affiliated with Cathay Pacific, a fellow Oneworld member. Cathay operates a business-class lounge for Oneworld Sapphires and a first-class lounge for Oneworld Emeralds.

With my BA Gold standing, I might entry the first-class part for gratis, and it didn’t disappoint; the design made me really feel extra like I used to be in a luxurious lodge than at an airport.

Overlook cubed cheese and path combine. This lounge has a sit-down restaurant with an a la carte menu.

I opted for the eggs Florentine with fresh-cut fruit and a barista-made flat white espresso. All gadgets have been delivered in beneath 10 minutes by the pleasant restaurant workers and have been wonderful.

After breakfast, I loved watching the planes come and go throughout the busy tarmac whereas ready for my flight, due to the floor-to-ceiling home windows.

Three completely different complimentary Champagnes, in addition to numerous wines and spirits, have been additionally accessible for self-pour, with no tipping required.

Precedence boarding

British Airways Government Membership elite members obtain precedence boarding when touring in any class of service on Oneworld airways.

On American Airways, BA Gold members can board with Group 2, whereas BA Silver members can board with Group 3.

Important Cabin Further

Whereas the common economic system cabin seats have an industry-standard 31 inches of legroom, the Important Cabin Further seats on my Boeing 777-200 plane had 34 inches of legroom.

It is nonetheless economic system class, however I discovered the extra 3 inches of legroom noticeable, and it was a snug and roomy seat for economic system class.

Elite members additionally earn extra Avios (the loyalty forex of the British Airways Executive Club program) flying with British Airways or American Airways.

Whereas base-level Blue members earn 6 Avios per British pound spent (about $1.25, so 4.8 Avios per $1), Silver members obtain 8 Avios per pound (6.4 Avios per $1), with Gold members receiving 9 Avios per pound (7.2 Avios per $1).

In the event you maintain elite standing with any of the eligible standing match packages and have upcoming journey on Oneworld airways — particularly in economic system class over the following six months — it is price contemplating the beneficiant British Airways status match offer. Keep in mind, registration for this provide is on the market by means of Might 7.