I've been a BA executive club member for many years, and apart from a short period during Covid, have achieved silver status (relatively easily) year after year, but things have just changed! For me the silver status is a great perk, and a real draw for me to book all of my business travel with BA... But will it still be achievable for me in future? Time to grab a strong cup of Jumbo Jet Espresso, and strap yourself in!

In April 2025, BA scrapped their old distance-based Executive Club system and launched a new, spend-based loyalty program - The British Airways Club. But has it made things easier or just more expensive for the average flyer?

From Miles to Money: The Big Shift

Gone are the days when you could fly a few discounted Club Europe returns to Berlin and sneak your way into Silver. Now, the system is all about how much you spend - specifically, how many British pounds you hand over to BA (or its partners).

The new earning rule:

• 1 Tier Point per £1 spent

• Applies to: flights (excluding taxes and fees), seat selection, baggage fees, and even British Airways Holiday packages.

That means, in simple terms, if you want Silver status, you'll need to spend £7,500 - a hefty jump for many of us who used to play the tier run game with clever routing and sales.

New Tier Thresholds (2025 and beyond)

Let that sink in - £20k spend a year to hit Gold. Unless you’re flying Club World monthly or booking the family ski trip through BA Holidays, this new system just isn’t as reachable for many of us loyal customers.

However, there is a slight olive branch: the return of flight count status. If you fly:

• 25 eligible flights in a year, you’ll get Bronze

• 50 flights, and you’ll hit Silver

This gives a bit of hope to domestic and short-haul regulars, though for Gold, it’s still spend or bust.

Everyone’s Year Is Now April to March

Previously, each BA flyer had their own personal “membership year” - Now, every member’s tier point collection year is fixed: April 1st to March 31st, with benefits running through to April 30th the following year.

It’s cleaner, sure - but if (like me) your renewal was just before April, you may have lost some hard-earned points in the transition. Ouch.

The Curious Case of the BA Amex Premium Plus Tier Points

Now, here’s where things get a little... frothy.

Back when the new British Airways Club was announced, BA teased something very interesting:

American Express Premium Plus cardholders would be able to earn up to 2,500 Tier Points from their card spend, as a cardholder myself, this was music to my ears!

That’s right - 2,500 tier points, enough to push you well towards Bronze and a third of the way to Silver. The aviation forums lit up. Was this the beginning of the end of mileage runs?

But months later… radio silence.

As of mid-May 2025, British Airways still hasn’t released the full details of how this offer will work. Their own site simply states that more information will be shared “closer to launch” - a vague promise that’s beginning to feel a little stale.

For loyal BA Amex cardholders who’ve already planned their annual spend strategy around this, it’s frustrating to say the least. With many hoping this could take the edge off the new spend-based thresholds, it’s time for BA to put some proper numbers behind the hype.

So, Is It Good News for Frequent Flyers?

For some, especially business travellers who book direct and fly premium - it could be a cleaner, fairer system. Spend big, earn big. But for others, it’s a stark change.

Those of us who previously earned status through savvy flight routing, careful upgrades, or frequent short-haul hops may now feel priced out. It’s no longer about how far you fly or how often, it’s about how much you pay.

If you’re a frequent BA flyer, this is the year to track spend carefully. Book smartly, take advantage of bundled Holidays deals, and yes, keep an eye out for those Amex tier point announcements, whenever they finally drop.

Until then, I’ll be sipping on a Jumbo Jet Espresso, watching the new system unfold, and hoping BA finds a balance that rewards loyalty, not just luxury.

Fly often. Fly smart. And don’t forget to fuel up with Jet Bean.

Chris Louch
Frequent Flyer | Coffee Evangelist | Jet Bean Loyalist