Saturday, January 4, 2025 British Airways has revealed updates to its Executive Club loyalty programme, shifting to a system where status points are earned based on yearly spending instead of the distance flown. Starting 1 April, British Airways will rebrand its loyalty programme to “The British Airways Club.” Members will earn one “tier point” for each £1 spent on eligible items, including the base fare, add-ons, carrier-imposed charges, and contributions to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
However, non-airline charges like airport fees and government taxes will not count towards earning points. Starting 1 April, British Airways will implement a new spend-based model for its loyalty programme, moving away from the current distance-based system. Bookings made in currencies other than GBP will be converted using the IATA five-day exchange rate to calculate the total eligible spend.
The revamped model introduces spend thresholds for the top three loyalty tiers. For example, to reach Bronze status, members must spend £3,500 annually (equivalent to 3,500 points); Silver will require £7,500, and Gold status will be attained after spending £20,000. This change has drawn criticism from travellers and current Club members, as it makes it more challenging to earn and maintain status.
Under the old system, Gold status could be achieved with 1,500 tier points and four eligible flights. However, there are exceptions to the spend-based system. Bookings made through travel agen.
