British Airways, the United Kingdom’s flag carrier, has made more changes to fine-tune its recent loyalty program changes. For one, the airline is returning full meal services. Secondly, the tier point system, which is the key part of the British Airways Executive Club loyalty scheme, is being adjusted.
British Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code
-
BA/BAW
- Year Founded
-
1974
Returning full meal services
According to the Financial Times on February 6, British Airways planned to cut back on in-flight catering for flights leaving between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., making breakfast brunch, and also cutting back on food for overnight flights leaving after 9:00 p.m. Instead, the carrier has reversed its course on this front.
In response to feedback, British Airways has returned to full catering. As you can see in the pictures above, the airline prides itself on offering full meals. Contrastingly, such offerings are normally not found on United States airlines.
Additionally, British Airways is partnering with a Michelin-starred Chef in Tom Kerridge to assist with its meal creation. As Kerridge explained in a British Airlines promotional YouTube partnering with British Airways:
“When you meet people who are excited about food and in this case, airlines and travel, it’s incredibly exciting. This is an opportunity to showcase British produce, British cooking, fantastic hospitality, everything that I’ve been part of for the last 30 years, into a plane and showcasing it around the world. British Airways has a massive reputation and a very warm one, recognised throughout the world, that it’s great service, the food is always good; we need that food to always be good.”
You can watch the full YouTube below:
However, British Airways’ changes in recent times go beyond restoring catering. Indeed, it has also devised a new loyalty rewards program called The British Airways Club to replace the BA Executive Club.
British Airways Club being fine-tuned before activation
Last week, British Airways decided to fine-tune its new awards program, British Airways Club. As per a February 5 statement, British Airways still offers a bonus point proposition alongside a “1 Tier Point for £1 earning mechanism”. But you can also earn points via:
- British Airways American Express Premium credit card spending up to 2,500 Tier Points with details to come
- Buying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits up to £1,000, equivalent to 1,000 Tier Points
- Holiday packages with British Airways Holiday
- Seat selection
- Extra Baggage purchases
Photo: British Airways
British Airways also had Chief Commercial Officer Colm Lacy reassure loyalty club members that,
“We crunched our data and it shows that under the new model, Bronze and Silver members can still re-qualify based on around the same number of average-priced standard fare flights as previously. However, we’ve heard that our members wanted more clarity, certainty and reassurance, so we’ve found a way to re-introduce earning by sector for flights with a BA flight number to support members who use British Airways’ flights to commute. I hope it’s clear that these changes aren’t about reducing the number of members in each Tier but making sure that we get the level of recognition right for each individual.”
There is a new Bonus Tier Point offer on the table as far as British Airways loyalty status. The offer is for flights booked before December 31, 2025, for travel starting from April 1, 2025, and requires loyalty program members to opt in.
- 75 bonus tier points per one-way Euro Traveller flight
- 175 bonus tier points per one-way Club Europe flight
- 150 bonus tier points per one-way World Traveller flight
- 275 bonus tier points per one-way World Traveller Plus flight
- 400 bonus tier points per one-way Club World flight
- 550 bonus tier points per one-way First flight
You can also read
our critical coverage about the original plan
below:
Related
British Airways’ Loyalty Overhaul: Why Short-Haul Travelers Should Rethink Their Strategy
Other airlines’ loyalty programs make it easier for short-haul travelers to earn status.
There is also
a fresh loyalty guide
that you should read:
Related
What It Takes To Get British Airways Executive Club Privileges Now
Changes have been afoot recently at the UK flag carrier’s loyalty program.
Readers should also note that
Virgin Atlantic is attempting to poach disgruntled British Airways loyalty members.
torqued by the changes.
Bottom line: Relatively small adjustments by British Airways
British Airways is making two relatively small adjustments, and it’s clear that the airline is receptive to feedback, which is always to be commended. However, as to its British Airways Club adjustments, Head for Points noted in a recent article that:
“It’s hard to see what is going on here. Placating commuters removes any idea that these changes were made in response to member concerns about lounge overcrowding. It also does nothing to fix the issue that someone paying £500 for Club Europe flights to Frankfurt is no more valuable than someone on a £500 economy ticket to Bangkok, although they clearly are.”
So the question becomes: do these adjustments make you want to fly with British Airways?
