British Airways Executive Club rules are changing: How will the new points scheme work?

British Airways has announced a monumental overhaul of its Executive Club loyalty scheme.

The points program has been renamed British Airways Club, and from April 1, new points requirements will come into effect for those who want to acquire elite status.

From then on, members will earn tier points – which are separate from Avios – based on the price of the flight.

The new scheme means points will be awarded based on money spent – rather than distance traveled – at a rate of one tier point per £1.

The number of points that members will need to achieve each status has also skyrocketed.

To qualify for Gold status – which includes benefits such as access to first lounges and increased baggage allowance – customers will need to earn 20,000 points per year, up from the current 1,500 points.

British Airways said the changes were ‘based on member feedback’ and were part of British Airways’ overall £7bn transformation programme, announced in 2024.

We look at what’s changing for Executive Club members and whether it’s worth participating in the loyalty scheme.

How is the BA Executive Club changing?

The qualifications for each elite status change. The entry level blue level is open to all. It offers free messaging via onboard wifi and the ability to earn Avios points.

Here are the new requirements for each status effective April 1, 2025:

• Bronze: 3500 level points
• Silver: 7500 level points
• Gold: 20,000 level points

Additionally there is:

• Gold Guest List – New Member: 65,000 tier points (with a minimum of 52,000 earned through flights offered by British Airways and British Airways Holidays)
• Gold Guest List – Renewal: 40,000 points (with a minimum of 32,000 earned on flights offered by British Airways and British Airways Holidays

New ways to collect BA level points

As part of the rollout of changes, BA also announced new ways to earn tier points.

Customers will be able to earn up to 1,000 points per year by purchasing sustainable jet fuel credits. They will receive one tier point and 10 Avios for every £1 spent on sustainable jet fuel credits.

Later in 2025, members can also expect tier points for credit card spending. BA American Express Premium Plus cardholders can earn up to 2,500 tier points per year by spending on their card, although the conversion rate is not yet known.

For the first time, members will also be able to collect points for additional charges such as seat selection and excess baggage.

Customers will also be able to earn one point per £1 spent on British Airways Holidays. For high-end leisure travelers this could be an attractive way to gain status.

There will be bonuses of 2,500 Avios per 5,500 Tier Points, 4,000 Avios per 11,000 Tier Points and 5,000 Avios per 16,000 Tier Points.

Rob Burgess, of frequent flyer website Headforpoints.com, said: ‘The net effect is that achieving gold status will now be very, very difficult, bordering on impossible, for leisure travellers.’

‘Even silver will be a big effort.

‘BA is effectively washing its hands of the leisure market and going all-in to attract the dwindling number of business travelers at full price.’

Customers expressed dissatisfaction with the changes to the X.

One customer posted: ‘BA Executive Club has a significant impact on my choice of airline for business and leisure travel. The new frequent flyer scheme is no longer useful or attractive to me.

While another said: ‘We’ve been traveling across the Atlantic with you for years, but we’re switching to United Airlines.’

BA said customers already booked for travel after 1 April 2025 will be awarded tier points based on the conversion of the existing method. All existing bookings will earn proportionally the same number of tier points or more as today.

What does this mean for oneworld status?

BA Executive Club members can use their points, but also access benefits such as lounge access, when traveling with other airlines that also use the ‘oneworld’ shared rewards system.

It may now be easier for some to upgrade to other oneworld carriers and still get many of the same benefits when traveling with BA.

Burgess said: ‘I imagine most people will now find it easier to earn Silver or Gold status through another oneworld airline – you’d get virtually the same benefits apart from access to the Gold extra inventory of Economy Avios.’

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’ve announced underline our continued investment in our loyalty program and our customers.

‘Based on feedback from our members, we’ve built on the changes we’ve already made – including how customers collect Avios and their year of membership – in a way we believe better rewards their loyalty and reflects their changing travel needs.’