Utilizing airline loyalty standing to unlock luxurious journey perks

In case you belong to an airline loyalty programme, otherwise you’re a frequent flyer with a specific airline, you’ll be able to unlock some critically good journey treats by utilizing your standing everytime you journey. And, as you progress up the tiers of your scheme, the perks get higher and higher. Free lounge entry – certain, precedence boarding – no downside. Right here’s how you can work the British Airways Membership, tiers and standing, to your benefit. 

For these of you which can be a member of the British Airways Membership, or are planning to grow to be one, understanding tier factors and standing is important. Not like Avios, that are used to redeem flights and upgrades, tier factors provide help to climb the BA Membership standing ladder—unlocking unique bonuses like lounge entry, fast-track safety, additional baggage, and precedence remedy.

Lets break down what tier factors are, how you can earn them, and the advantages you get at every British Airways Membership Tier.

What are tier factors?

Tier factors are a part of the British Airways Membership, the airline’s loyalty programme. Whereas Avios are earned and spent like foreign money for flights, tier factors measure your journey exercise and decide your elite standing. You possibly can’t spend tier factors—however you positively need them.

The right way to earn tier factors

You earn tier factors once you fly on British Airways, Iberia and different Oneworld alliance companions (American Airways, Qatar Airways and many others). The variety of tier factors you earn is determined by the airline and route you fly on, the fare class you ebook (Economic system, Premium Economic system, Enterprise, First), and the kind of ticket (versatile vs. primary financial system). To offer you an instance, for those who fly between London and Amsterdam in versatile Economic system seats you’ll solely earn 20 tier factors, however for those who fly between London and Dubai in First Class you’ll earn ten instances as a lot – 210 tier factors. 

As a member of the BA Membership, from 1 April 2025 it’s also possible to earn tier factors once you ebook your vacation by BA Holidays, and once you spend in your BA American Categorical bank card. 

British Airways Membership tiers/standing

There are 4 BA Membership Tiers, every providing progressively higher advantages as you obtain larger standing. Right here’s how they work:

Blue Tier (Entry degree)

Blue Tier members get entry to Avios redemptions, Family BA accounts to pool Avios factors for household journey, “Avios + money” choices for flight bookings, and so they can handle bookings by way of their Membership account

Everybody begins right here after they be a part of the BA Membership. No Tier Factors are wanted in your account to utilise your advantages, however I’m certain you’ll agree, they’re very primary. Consider Blue as your beginning line. From right here, each tier level helps you climb.

Bronze tier – 300 tier factors 

Bronze Membership members profit from precedence check-in (even for those who fly Economic system), free seat choice 7 days earlier than departure, 25% bonus Avios earnings on flights and precedence boarding. In addition they qualify for Oneworld Ruby standing, which opens up a complete host of different advantages (extra particulars on this to come back).

This can be a good standing to attain for those who’re an occasional traveller who needs some premium remedy. 

Silver tier – 600 tier factors 

Silver standing is way beloved by British Airways Membership members. In case you attain this tier you’ll be able to unlock some nice extras and actually begin to spoil your self everytime you fly. 

You’ll get lounge entry throughout BA and Oneworld enterprise lounges worldwide (14 different airways’ lounges together with these of Qantas, American, Qatar, Malaysia Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airways). You’ll get precedence safety lanes (at choose airports), free seat choice at reserving for all flights, additional baggage allowance, a 50% bonus Avios incomes fee and Oneworld Sapphire standing.

Silver is the candy spot for many travellers— that lounge entry and different perks could make an enormous distinction to your journey expertise, significantly when you’ve gotten an Economic system reserving. 

Gold tier – 1,500 tier factors

The rockstar of British Airways standing, Gold will get you entry to BA First Class lounges, First Class check-in desks, precedence boarding (Group 1), free seat choice for you and journey companions, extra baggage allowances, 100% bonus Avios earnings on flights, and Oneworld Emerald standing.  Some Gold members even get Visitor Record & Concorde Room invites – however these are solely open to very excessive spenders.

Gold actually does unlock the total luxurious journey expertise ever time you fly, it doesn’t matter what cabin class you ebook. 

Tier level assortment 12 months and retention

Your Tier level assortment 12 months runs for 12 months, and on the finish of every assortment 12 months, your Tier factors reset to zero. In case you don’t re-qualify for a similar standing after that 12 months – i.e you haven’t earned the required variety of tier factors – you drop one degree, so when you get the standing you need, it’s best to ideally formulate your journey plans and incomes technique round holding it that manner. 

Tier level runs

Some BA Membership members do “Tier level runs” by reserving particular flights designed to maximise their tier factors earnings on the lowest doable price, particularly when their renewal date is approaching. Others particularly be careful for promotional affords from British Airways, whereby they provide travellers double tier factors for sure routes. In case you’re a standing chaser, these journey hacks can actually provide help to retain your BA standing. 

Lifetime tier factors

Complicated, I do know, however whilst you earn annual tier factors to attain annual standing, which reset, you additionally earn Lifetime Tier Factors that accumulate indefinitely, so long as you’re part of the British Airways Membership. When you hit 35,000 Lifetime Tier Factors you’ll get Gold standing for all times. In case you can miraculously handle 100,000 Lifetime Tier Factors, you’ll get Gold Visitor Record for Life. You need to be a critically large spender although to attain these – so I’d recommend you focus in your annual standing. 

The right way to observe your tier factors

So, how do you observe all these factors?! Properly, you’ll be able to simply observe your tier factors in your BA Membership account on-line or by way of the British Airways app. Your account will present you what number of tier factors you’ve earned in your present 12 months, the flights eligible towards your tier, and what number of factors you could attain or retain a tier. I make it a behavior to maintain a frequent verify on this as a result of it helps me plan what I’m prone to earn as I transfer by the 12 months, and what I must do to remain on my present degree, or transfer up if I’m near the subsequent. 

Ultimate ideas

Tier factors don’t get as a lot consideration as Avios, however I discover them to be simply as precious. They’re the important thing to unlocking elite journey advantages. My standing is indispensable if I wish to breeze by the airport and skip lengthy strains, once I wish to take time to chill out within the lounge earlier than I fly, or be sure that I can ebook seats all collectively prematurely. In my view, climbing the Membership ladder is nicely price it.

Do you’ve gotten any questions on tier factors or have any tier run suggestions? Share them within the feedback under!

Kayleigh Hepworth

Kayleigh Hepworth is Head of Advertising and marketing at Reward Flight Finder. Reward Flight Finder is the right instrument to seek for British Airways reward flights. If you want to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog so as to increase your profile, please contact us.