Sorry, leisure travelers: British Airways plans to shift to a revenue-based program for earning Tier Points, which determine status qualification within the airline.
This change will be effective April 1, 2025, and will accompany a rebranding of British Airways’ loyalty program, Executive Club, to The British Airways Club.
Here’s what you need to know.
Tier Points overhaul
Currently, Tier Points are earned based on flight distance and fare class. These points are necessary for earning status with British Airways. The current system favors budget travelers, allowing them to hunt for cheaper fares without sacrificing Tier Points.
Beginning April 1, 2025, loyalty program members will earn 1 Tier Point per £1 of spending on the cost of their flight, ancillary purchases like seat selection and excess baggage, sustainable aviation fuel purchases and British Airways Holidays vacation packages.
This shift will also allow loyal flyers to earn Tier Points through new means, such as cobranded credit card spending. However, according to British Airways, the ability to earn bonus Tier Points through this method will come later in 2025 rather than in April.
It is important to note the currency for U.S. flyers. Considering current conversion rates, you’ll need to spend just over $1 to earn 1 Tier Point. While that may not sound too significant, it can make a meaningful difference when considering thousands of dollars in spending.
In addition to the shift to this new system, British Airways is overhauling its status qualification requirements to the following:
- 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 important to note that Gold Guest List status requires “at least 52,000 Tier Points earned through British Airways-marketed flights, qualifying add-ons and British Airways Holidays packages.” You’ll need to earn at least 40,000 [Tier Points] to retain Gold Guest List status, with “at least 32,000 [Tier Points] earned through British Airways-marketed flights, qualifying add-ons and British Airways Holiday packages.”
Tier Points can be accrued between April 1 and March 31 of each year, a change to the previous Tier Point collection year that will also be implemented in April 2025.
A significant jump in spending is required for Gold status versus Silver, which will hinder leisure and budget travelers seeking Gold status perks like first-class lounge access, additional free checked bags, Gold upgrade vouchers and more.
Using cobranded credit card spending to jump-start progress toward elite status will help, but it won’t provide meaningful aid for anyone who can’t fathom spending $25,000 yearly (£20,000).
Related: The best airlines in the US for 2024
Bottom line
These are unfortunate, if expected, changes to the way status will be earned with British Airways. Most airline loyalty programs are moving toward revenue-based elite status tiers, making it harder for the everyday traveler to attain meaningful status with their preferred airline.
British Airways’ decision to hop on this trend reinforces what we preach here at TPG: Always earn transferable points and miles. While transferable rewards won’t change how you’ll earn status with British Airways, it allows you to shift your business to different airlines if these changes cause you to lose interest in remaining an exclusive British Airways flyer.
If you opt to pursue British Airways status in 2025, make sure to plan your spending to determine what status tier you can achieve.
