Sorry, leisure travelers: British Airways plans to move to a revenue-based earning tier points program that determines status eligibility within the airline.
The change will come into effect on April 1, 2025, and British Airways’ loyalty program Executive Club will be renamed The British Airways Club.
Here’s what you need to know.
Level points reform
Currently, tier points are earned based on flight distance and fare class. These points are necessary to obtain British Airways status. The current system favors travelers on a budget, allowing them to find cheaper fares without sacrificing tier points.
From 1 April 2025, members of the loyalty program will earn 1 tier point for every £1 spent on flight fares, ancillary purchases such as seat selection and excess baggage, sustainable aviation fuel purchases and British Airways Holidays packages Accumulate points.
The shift will also allow loyal flyers to earn tier points in new ways, such as on co-branded credit card purchases. However, according to British Airways, the ability to earn bonus tier points through this method will be available later in 2025 rather than in April.
Be sure to note the currency on U.S. flights. Considering current conversion rates, you can earn 1 tier point by spending just over $1. While this may not sound like much, considering the thousands of dollars spent, it can make a meaningful difference.
In addition to moving to this new system, British Airways has also introduced an overhaul of its status eligibility requirements, as follows:
- Bronze status: 3,500 tier points
- Silver status: 7,500 tier points
- Gold status: 20,000 Tier Points
- Gold Guest List Status: 65,000 Tier Points
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It’s worth noting that Gold List eligibility requires “earning at least 52,000 Tier Points on British Airways marketed flights, qualifying ancillary services and British Airways Holidays packages.” You need to earn at least 40,000 [Tier Points] To retain Gold Guest List status, “at least 32,000 [Tier Points] Earn on British Airways marketed flights, qualifying add-on services and British Airways Holiday Packages.
Tier points can be accumulated from April 1 to March 31 each year, which is different from the previous tier point collection years and will also be implemented in April 2025.
The significant increase in spending required for Gold status compared to Silver status will dissuade leisure and budget travelers from seeking Gold status benefits such as first-class lounge access, additional free checked bags, Gold upgrade coupons, and more.
Using a co-branded credit card to fast-track your way to elite status will help, but it won’t meaningfully help those who can’t afford to spend $25,000 (£20,000) a year.
Related: America’s Best Airlines for 2024
bottom line
Unfortunately, if this was to be expected, there has been a change in the way British Airways obtains status. Most airline loyalty programs are moving toward elite status tiers based on income, making it harder for everyday travelers to earn meaningful status with their favorite airlines.
British Airways’ decision to follow this trend reinforces what we preach at TPG: always earn transferable points and miles. While transferable awards won’t change how you gain British Airways membership, it could allow you to move your business to a different airline if the changes cause you to lose interest in continuing as a British Airways exclusive passenger.
If you choose to pursue British Airways membership in 2025, be sure to plan your spend to determine the membership tiers you can achieve.
Related: British Airways Avios: How to earn rewards
