British Airways has sparked outrage among its passengers by significantly raising the spending threshold for its prestigious Gold tier membership, prompting many loyal customers to pledge they will no longer fly with the airline.
The airline announced that from April, passengers will need to accumulate 20,000 tier points annually—equivalent to spending over £20,000 on flights—to qualify for its top-level membership.
This marks a dramatic increase from the current requirement of 1,500 points.
The Gold tier offers exclusive perks, including access to first-class lounges, additional baggage allowances, and dedicated check-in areas.
Industry experts criticised the move, accusing the airline of abandoning loyal holidaymakers in favour of prioritising business travellers.
Many have expressed frustration, claiming the new policy will make it virtually unattainable for ordinary travellers to enjoy premium benefits.
Under the current system, tier points are calculated based on flight distance rather than ticket price. For example, a return business class trip from London to New York currently earns 280 points, while a longer journey to Sydney earns 480 points.
However, the new structure will base points on the cost of the ticket, with one point awarded for every £1 spent.
This shift means travellers must now spend at least £20,000 annually to retain Gold membership status, effectively excluding most leisure travellers from accessing the airline’s elite benefits.
Critics argue that the change undermines the loyalty of regular customers, with many vowing to take their business elsewhere.
The move has left frequent flyers questioning the airline’s commitment to rewarding its customer base beyond high-spending corporate travellers.
