- One expert says it will now be ‘bordering on impossible’ to gain Gold status
British Airways has announced a monumental shake up of its Executive Club loyalty scheme.
The points programme has rebranded to the British Airways Club, and from 1 April new tier points requirements will kick in for those aiming to earn elite status.
From then, members will earn tier points – which are separate from Avios – based on the cost of their flight.
The new scheme means points will be awarded on the basis of money spent – rather than distance flown – at a rate of one tier point per £1.
The number of points members will need to reach each status has also risen sharply.
To qualify for Gold status – which includes benefits such as access to first lounges and enhanced baggage allowance – customers will need to earn 20,000 points in a year, up from 1,500 points currently.
British Airways said the changes are ‘based on member feedback’ and are part of British Airways’ overall £7billion transformation programme, announced in 2024.
We look at what’s changing for Executive Club members and whether the loyalty scheme is worth being part of.
Ringing the changes: British Airways has overhauled its loyalty scheme so that the tier points scheme is based on money spent, rather than miles travelled
How is BA Executive Club changing?
The qualifications for each elite status are changing. The entry level Blue tier is open to all. It offers free wifi messaging on board and the ability to earn Avios points.
Here are the new requirements for each status which kick in from 1 April 2025:
- Bronze: 3,500 tier points
- Silver: 7,500 tier points
- Gold: 20,000 tier points
Additionally there is also:
- Gold Guest List – new member: 65,000 tier points (with at least 52,000 earned through British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays)
- Gold Guest List – renewal: 40,000 tier points (with at least 32,000 earned through British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays
New ways to collect BA tier points
As part of its roll-out of changes, BA also announced new ways of earning tier points.
Customers will be able to earn up to 1,000 tier points per year by purchasing sustainable aviation fuel credits. They will get one tier point and 10 Avios per £1 spent on sustainable aviation fuel credits.
Later in 2025, members can also expect tier points on credit card spending. BA American Express Premium Plus card holders able to earn up to 2,500 tier points per year by spending on their card, though it is not yet known what the conversion rate will be.
For the first time, members will also be able to collect tier points for ancillary spending such as seat selection and excess baggage.
Customers will also be able to earn one point per £1 spent at British Airways Holidays. For high-end leisure travellers this could be an attractive way of earning status.
There will be milestone bonuses of 2,500 Avios at 5,500 tier points, 4,000 Avios at 11,000 tier points and 5,000 Avios at 16,000 tier points.
Rob Burgess, of frequent flyer website Headforpoints.com said: ‘The net effect is that earning Gold status will now be very, very difficult, bordering on impossible, for leisure travellers.’
‘Even Silver will be a major stretch.
‘BA is effectively washing its hands of the leisure market and going all-in to attract the dwindling band of full fare business travellers.’
Customers have expressed unhappiness with the changes on X.
One customer posted: ‘BA executive club is significant influence in my choice of airline for business and leisure travel. The new frequent flyer scheme isn’t useful or attractive to me anymore.
While another said: ‘We’ve travelled transatlantic with you for years but are switching to United Airlines.’
BA said customers who already hold bookings for travel after 1 April 2025 will be awarded tier points based on a conversion of the existing method. Any existing bookings will earn proportionally the same number of tier points, or more, as they would today.
What does it mean for oneworld status?
BA Executive Club members can use their points, and also access benefits such as lounge access, when travelling with other airlines which also use the ‘oneworld’ joint rewards system.
Some might now find it easier to gain higher status with other oneworld carriers, and still get many of the same perks when travelling with BA.
Burgess said: ‘I suspect that most people will now find it easier to earn Silver or Gold-equivalent status via another oneworld airline – you would get virtually the same benefits except for Gold access to additional Economy Avios inventory.’
As an example, Burgess said: ‘Oneworld member Royal Jordanian will give you 12-months of BA Bronze-equivalent status for just $49 if you have hotel or airline elite status elsewhere.’
Colm Lacy, British Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: ‘The changes we have announced underline our continued investment in our loyalty programme and in our customers.
‘Based on our members’ feedback, we’ve built on the changes we’ve already made – including how customers collect Avios and their membership year – in a way that we believe better rewards their loyalty and reflects their changing travel needs.’
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