IAG bids for Aer Lingus

arubex wrote: »

Aer Lingus on 'the news' up north here implying that the beastly EU made them drop the service as part of the Gatwick slots redress, but I didn't think the slots to be freed had to be associated with Belfast or Dublin. They could have been from any IAG service into Gatwick.

Indeed any IAG carrier could of given them however LGW has been a very poor performer since it commenced and likely heavily loss making.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

If Easyjet can get their hands on the slots they will return to City to keep them out.

Very true

ImDave wrote: »

Vague details of 'AerClub' have been announced:

https://new.aerlingus.com/experience-aer-lingus/loyalty/introducing-aerclub/

They've been itching to get us to spend our GC points lately!! I've been getting at least 2 emails a week trying to get me to spend my points!

Looks like they'll be basing your entry level on the amount you have spent in the preceding 12 months, which is great as I've spent a fortune in the last 12 months, and earned a ton of points in the process.

L1011 wrote: »

Applicant balances not being transferred, didn't really expect they would but seeing as the lowest level is basically going to be what Applicant was there was always some chance.

Not a great time for herself to be trying to get in so!!

Although, she is an applicant already, and starting this week, will be making a weekly trip to LHR for the foreseeable future, so hopefully she'll get the 2200 (has 200 from a trip 2 weeks ago)she needs to get into GC before Aerclub arrives.

as for me, 9,000 points in my account, might be a good time to get some Brown Thomas vouchers again..

Graham wrote: »

From the FAQ

Will my Gold Circle balance be transferred to AerClub?
If you have Gold Circle tier status (ie. Gold, Prestige or Elite), you will have your closing account balances converted and credited into your new AerClub account as Avios points when AerClub launches.

So, as L1011 rightly says, applicant points won't be transferred!

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Not a great time for herself to be trying to get in so!!

Although, she is an applicant already, and starting this week, will be making a weekly trip to LHR for the foreseeable future, so hopefully she'll get the 2200 (has 200 from a trip 2 weeks ago)she needs to get into GC before Aerclub arrives.

as for me, 9,000 points in my account, might be a good time to get some Brown Thomas vouchers again..

Do you think those already in applicant status who make the 2,400 requirement before AerClub arrives will gain entry? I've a friend who is 350 points off at the moment. Would be pretty sickening to lose all those points having come so close to gaining status.

ImDave wrote: »

Do you think those already in applicant status who make the 2,400 requirement before AerClub arrives will gain entry? I've a friend who is 350 points off at the moment. Would be pretty sickening to lose all those points having come so close to gaining status.

You would hope not, as it would be a bit of a sickener, but I'd say it's very likely as unless your actually in the club, it don't mean crap!!
Took me a good few years to get in, being so very close for so long!!

My advice would be (if affordable) would be a little weekend trip to Europe, followed by a day trip to the U.K., get in, get the status, and wait for Aerclub to roll out

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

My advice would be (if affordable) would be a little weekend trip to Europe

Was (well, still is) in my plans, but due to flight times I ended up booking Norwegian instead . Somehow doubt I can get enough Gatwick football trips in around it

Am I right in saying so that I can spend my GC points on Arnotts vouchers now for Xmas, and empty my GC balance, because when it migrates to AerClub it will be based on points gained, not current balance?

There's no danger here of getting in on the crappy level when it changes over is there?

wobblemouth wrote: »

Am I right in saying so that I can spend my GC points on Arnotts vouchers now for Xmas, and empty my GC balance, because when it migrates to AerClub it will be based on points gained, not current balance?

There's no danger here of getting in on the crappy level when it changes over is there?

From what I could decipher:

• Gold Circle *points* will be converted to Avios.
• Gold Circle *tiers* will be converted to AerClub tiers.

However it specifically says "you will be invited to join AerClub and moved across to an AerClub tier based on your activity in the preceding 12 months" so there's no definite way to say if they're simply converting tiers, or if they're doing something more opaque.

I think you'll be fine spending the GC points though, unless it'd be more valuable for you to combine them with an Avios balance (something I'm currently unsure about).

What I'm wondering is if we'll able to convert general Avios into AerClub Avios, as you can currently do with Avios and BA and Iberia.

Also, I hope this means Tesco Ireland start offering the same ability to convert your clubcard points into Avios as in the UK.

goingnowhere wrote: »

Shouldn't be an issue

I got moved up to Prestige level even though my balance showed only 3000, I had spent 4000 on an upgrade but had earned more than 4800 in the last 12 months

The rather basic IT knows points earned in last 12 months and thats what matters.

Aerclub will resolve this once and for all
Tier points => status (can't be spent)
Avios => currency for redemption

Hopefully AerClub will actually bring a useful way to track all this online too - the tier points were ridiculous, you'd have to email them to check how many weren't bonus points, and twice they "hadn't noticed" that I was due a level upgrade until I did!

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

You would hope not, as it would be a bit of a sickener, but I'd say it's very likely as unless your actually in the club, it don't mean crap!!
Took me a good few years to get in, being so very close for so long!!

The email I got says that no new Gold Circle memberships will be accepted between now and the roll-out of AerClub. Whether that includes a level change from applicant is anyone's guess.

I guess that means that I'm going to lose the last few months of my Gold Circle benefits, which were due to expire in June. D'oh!

Separately, I wonder if there will be a way to consolidate existing Avios into the EI scheme. I have about 250,000 sitting in a BA card that I almost never use, and they'd certainly be more useful on the local airline.

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Few bits worrying me. Currently at 7,700 points and closing in on the Elite level (8,400 points I think). Have a few European flights booked over the next month and then have a business class flight to the US just before Christmas.

This worries me a bit:



I expect to make Elite in the next month and wondering if the above timelines will screw me.

Finally, I am wondering will I be able to avail of this as an Elite member still:

I'm wondering the same as well. I'm 350 points away from finally getting off the ever so annoying applicant stage. I had thought about two UK trips in the new year to get me over the gap. I wonder how the points system will carry over into the new scheme.

ImDave wrote: »

You'll lose those points and effectively be starting from scratch in the new system if you remain at applicant stage. If I was you, I ring up Gold Circle tomorrow and ask if you get the additional 350 points in the next few weeks, will they give you GC status.

Worth trying as the alternative is losing your current balance completely.

Thanks for that heads up. Bloody wonderful. I shall do that.