I’m a happy British Airways Silver member, 5 reasons I’ll win Gold for the first time

news7g10/28/2022

9 5 minutes read

I really appreciate my Silver status in Executive Club Program.

I first won Silver many years ago thanks to a cheap Qatar Airways business class flight to Europe. Then, thanks to the double advertisement of double Tier points for THREE vacations and 25% reduction in Level Point threshold, Last year, I was able to qualify for Silver again after taking a flight back to Greece.

British Airways Silver Class comes with the following perks on BA flights:

Access to the lounge.
Free seat selection when booking.
Priority check-in.
Increase baggage allowance.
In-house preferred.
Priority baggage delivery.
Prioritize security if applicable.
Increase points accumulated for your flights.
Priority phone support.

I appreciate all of these benefits as a UK tourist, especially the free seating options and lounge access.

While the double Tier Points offer from British Airways Holidays has been generously extended through September 30The 25% Tier Point threshold ends on December 31st and BA recently confirmed that they will not be extending it.

This is not really a surprise. The status is designed for people who travel frequently, and with pandemic travel restrictions now almost over, there’s no real reason not to travel if you want to win status.

With just a few months left before Tier Points requirements go up to the normal threshold, I – along with the TPG team and certainly many of our readers – have given careful thought to how to maximize my status first at the end of this year.

I will easily qualify for Silver this year as I regularly travel with BA and their partner airlines for both work and personal travel. However, I decided to stretch myself and win Gold for the first time before December 31 of this year.

What is the difference between the two states and why is it worth committing in terms of time and cost?

Here are five reasons I decided to choose Gold.

Earning gold has never been easier

I will only need 1,150 Tier Points on December 31 to earn Gold. Starting January 1, 2023, that amount reverts to 1,500 Tier Points, meaning there will be more travel costs to hit next year than the year after.

Plus, the BA Holiday Double Tier Points offer means I can earn the Tier Points I need twice as fast if I need to.

In a word: 2022 is a classic year for points and miles. A rare sweet spot when earning elite status faster, easier, and cheaper than ever before has been, and probably will be.

Time is right for me

My Tier Point collection year ends in April. This means that if I reach a higher status level before April, I can enjoy the status until the end of April, plus 12 months. So if I achieve Gold status in December 2022, I will hold it until April 2024. Since this will be close to 18 months Gold status, this becomes more attractive than just doing it. thought I would have status in 12 months.

Ideally I would earn Gold status only after April and have it for almost 24 months. However, when Tier Points are reset every year (for me, every April), I will start from zero and then earn 1,500 Tier Points as quickly as possible, which will be very expensive, time consuming and very expensive, even for me.

Eighteen months of Gold seems like a reasonable time to enjoy it.

Soft landing to Silver

If I earn Gold status before April 2023 when my Tier Points reset, I will keep it until April 2024. I will need to earn another 1,500 Tier Points between April 2023 and April 2024, with my current plans there are not as many flights booked with Avios as not earning Tier Points (or Avios).

Fortunately, the Executive Club program offers a “soft landing” for members who do not qualify for their existing status.

This means that even if I don’t earn a single Tier Point between April 2023 and April 2024, I will only drop from Gold to Silver in April 2024, with a Silver year coming. April 2025.

Basically, this will be almost 2.5 years with Silver status at least if I can get Gold by the end of 2022, which is an attractive and valuable proposition.

First class lounge access

Aside from the Calculations for Tier Points earnings, reset dates, and soft landings, one of the main reasons I want Gold for a while is because it offers more benefits than Silver status when I travel.

Silver is a wonderful state and I have been very pleased for many years as it offers significantly more benefits than Bronze, the underlying state, which provides almost nothing. I don’t expect Gold to offer the same spike in gains as Silver versus Bronze, but it’s still attractive.

With Gold, I would earn more Avios for every flight of cash taken, which would be a great thing. I will also have access to the Galleries First lounge when flying in any cabin with British Airways or their partner airlines. However, I don’t expect these to be much better than the Gallery Club lounges I already have access to with my Silver membership, based on reports from friends and colleagues.

The real reward for me is the Oneworld Emerald status which I automatically get as Executive Club Gold.

Oneworld Emerald status entitles me to first class lounge access with most Oneworld partner airlines around the world when flying in any class of service on Oneworld airline. This includes Cathay Pacific’s first class lounge in Terminal 3 at London Heathrow. I will also be flying back from Australia on Cathay Pacific at the end of the year and I will definitely be Gold by this time.

Even though I don’t fly in first class, I can approach Qantas First Class Lounge in Melbourne (MEL), and if they reopen in time, Pier or First class lounge wings in Hong Kong (HKG). I have visited these lounges before and they are a really worthwhile visit when not flying first class.

Also, when I’m in the US, I’ll have access to American Airlines Admiral Club and Alaska Lounge on domestic flights. This is included with Oneworld Sapphire – included with Silver status – but worth mentioning regardless.

The first Qantas lounge in Melbourne. NICK ELLIS / THE WRONG POINTS

Additional Avios Prizes Available

There are two well-publicized prize availability benefits of Gold status over Silver. First, Gold members can access additional bonus seats in economy class at normal exchange rates. No need to call up or enter special codes or coupon numbers. Additional seats show up in Gold member search, but not Silver or Bronze members.

Second, if there are no seats available on the flights I want, Gold members can exchange Avios for any seat for cash using twice the required number of Avios.

As someone who regularly trades Avios for short-haul flights to Europe on popular summer days, I would definitely use these two perks.

Key point

As someone who writes about elite status, points and miles, and travel in general for a living, I spend a lot of time thinking about things like what British Airways status is best for me.

I’m very happy with all the benefits that come with Silver status but always keep an eye on Gold for extra perks. For me, the time is right to take the leap before the end of the year.

I probably won’t be able to keep it after April 2024. Still, a light landing in Silver is another reason to start it now.

news7g10/28/2022

9 5 minutes read