Unlock Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, editor of the FT, picks her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
British Airways has announced major changes to its passenger loyalty program, drawing criticism from some customers who fear they will lose travel benefits.
The airline, which has come under fire for increasingly frequent cancellations and delays since the Covid-19 pandemic, is shaking up its points system in which passengers earn rewards such as free seat selection and access to the BA lounge.
According to the changes, points will be awarded based on the price of flights or package travel reservations instead of travel class and travel length.
Some industry figures say the move, which will be rolled out from April, will hit leisure travellers, who previously might have searched for the best flight deals to earn rewards.
“BA is effectively washing its hands of the leisure market,” said Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points.
“Realistically, it will now be impossible to earn gold for small business travelers, economy travelers or self-funded leisure travelers.”
Flyers can earn bronze, silver or gold status in the airline’s Tier Points program. One point is earned for every pound spent, excluding tax.
Bronze will now be awarded with 3,500 points, silver with 7,500 points, and gold with 20,000 points in the rebranding of its offer.
Gilbert Ott, of frequent flyer website God Save the Points, said the move would “reward overall spending with the brand, rather than encourage people to download many links to artificially hit status”.
B.A said the changes, part of a wider £7bn transformation programme, meant there were now “more ways than ever before to earn level points”.
It added that aligning points earned with pounds spent will bring BA into line with “the model used by many other airline loyalty programs around the world”.
Colm Lacy, BA’s chief commercial officer, said: “The changes we’ve announced today underline our continued investment in our loyalty program and our customers.”
Users can also earn up to 2,500 points by spending on co-branded credit cards.
The Tier Points system is separate from the Avios loyalty currency that can be spent on flights and holidays.
