The British Airways Club Guide: How Tier Points and Status Work
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 1, 2026 
British Airways changed its loyalty programme fundamentally in 2025.
The Executive Club became The British Airways Club, and status now depends mostly on how much you spend rather than how far you fly.
For anyone chasing Bronze, Silver or Gold, the rules have changed again from April 2026.
This guide explains how British Airways tier points work today, how to earn them and how to plan your year.
What Changed at British Airways?
The biggest shift was the move to revenue based status.
Head for Points explains that tier points are now based on spending rather than distance or travel class.
Travel Smarter notes that the Executive Club was rebranded as The British Airways Club in April 2025, with existing membership numbers, Avios balances and status carried over.
Under the old system, a cheap business class ticket to a distant city could earn a lot of tier points.
That approach, known as tier point running, has largely disappeared under the new model.
The Status Thresholds
The tiers remain familiar.
Reward Flight Finder confirms that Bronze requires 3,500 tier points or 25 eligible the airline flights, Silver requires 7,500 tier points or 50 eligible flights, and Gold requires 20,000 tier points.
The flight count route is an important alternative.
Frequent short haul travellers who fly often on cheaper fares can still reach Bronze or Silver without spending large sums.
At the very top is Gold Guest List.
Max Your Trip notes that it requires 65,000 tier points, of which 52,000 must be earned flying on British Airways.
Head for Points adds that renewal requires 40,000 tier points, with at least 32,000 from BA marketed flights and holidays.
How British Airways Tier Points Are Earned
The base rule is simple. Reward Flight Finder explains that on British Airways marketed flights, you earn one tier point per £1 of eligible fare and carrier imposed charges.
Government taxes do not count, although carrier imposed charges do.
Reward Flight Finder gives the example of a Club Europe return to Berlin costing £500 before taxes, which would earn around 500 tier points.
Since 1 April 2026, flights also earn fixed bonus tier points.
Head for Points lists ranges per segment, from 75 to 275 for short haul economy up to 500 to 1,100 for long haul business and 650 to 1,250 for First.
The bonus depends on the route, cabin and fare type.
Flexible fares and premium cabins earn the highest bonuses, which rewards the most valuable customers.
Extras That Earn Tier Points
Ancillary spending now counts too. Head for Points notes that from April 2026, you earn two tier points for every £1 spent on extra baggage or seat selection.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel contributions are another route.
Reward Flight Finder notes that eligible SAF contributions also earn two tier points per £1, capped at 2,000 tier points per collection year.
British Airways Holidays bookings earn tier points as well.
Head for Points explains that where a fare is not disclosed, such as in a flight and hotel package, tier points are based on cabin, booking class and a percentage of miles flown.
Partner Airlines
Partner flights work differently.
The Points Guy explains that flights marketed by most partners earn tier points based on a percentage of miles flown, cabin and booking class.
American Airlines and Iberia marketed flights are treated differently.
Reward Flight Finder notes that these receive fixed extra tier points based on haul and cabin.
For travellers who fly mostly on oneworld partners, this distance based approach can still be valuable.
It is one of the few areas where the old style of earning survives.
Bonus Avios Milestones
The programme also rewards progress within the year.
Head for Points lists bonus Avios at 5,500, 11,000 and 16,000 tier points, worth 2,500, 4,000 and 5,000 Avios respectively.
These milestones encourage members to consolidate their spending with the airline rather than spreading it across rival airlines.
The Membership Year
Timing matters. Max Your Trip explains that the membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and status is based on tier points collected within that year.
Travel Smarter notes that tier points reset to zero on 1 April.
Any planning for status therefore needs to be completed before the end of March.
Tier points on a booking are split equally among passengers.
Max Your Trip notes that only travellers who add their British Airways Club number receive the credit.
Lifetime Gold
Lifetime Gold remains available but is now tied to spending.
Head for Points reports that it requires 550,000 tier points, equivalent to £550,000 of net British Airways spend, with existing tier points converted on a pro rata basis.
How to Plan Your Year With British Airways
Start by deciding which route suits you.
Frequent short haul travellers may find the flight count option easier, while long haul and premium travellers will benefit most from the revenue model.
Consolidate your spending.
Paying for seats and bags through BA now earns double tier points, so these add ons contribute more than before.
Track your progress against the milestones.
Hitting 5,500, 11,000 or 16,000 tier points brings bonus Avios, which add value even if you fall short of the next status level.
What Each Tier Unlocks Across oneworld
Status also carries weight beyond British Airways.
The Points Guy notes that Bronze status is equivalent to oneworld Ruby, and higher tiers map to more valuable alliance levels.
Silver corresponds to oneworld Sapphire, which brings business lounge access when flying with oneworld airlines.
Gold corresponds to oneworld Emerald, which adds first class lounge access and fast track security at many airports.
That alliance recognition makes status especially useful for travellers who regularly fly with partners such as American Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways or Cathay Pacific.
Is British Airways Status Still Worth It?
For frequent travellers based at Heathrow, the answer is often yes.
Status brings lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage and better seat selection.
However, the revenue model favours higher spenders.
Travellers who previously earned Silver on cheap long haul fares may find it much harder under the new system.
You can explore the British Airways fleet and network using our Airline Search tool.
The Bottom Line
The British Airways Club rewards spending, not distance.
Understanding how base tier points, fixed bonuses and ancillary earning combine is the key to reaching the status you want.
Plan around the April to March year, use the flight count route if it suits you, and make every pound count.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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