Ask Alisha: Navigating British Airways Tiers, Status, and Rewards

Navigating the world of British Airways' Tiers and Statuses can be challenging. To help understand the perplexities of the subject, we gathered your questions and sat down with our in-house Avios expert, Alisha Collins.

In this blog, Alisha will address some of the most frequently asked questions that puzzle Reward Flight Finder (RFF) members about the BA Club, previously known as the British Airways  Club, and help us decode the mysteries of BA Tiers and Statuses. 

Let’s dive in.

What's the Difference Between Avios and Tier Points and Status?

Think of Avios and Tier points as your magic beans and golden goose in the fairy tale of British Airways reward seats. Intrigued? Let's break it down.

First up, the magic beans - Avios. These are your rewards earned from flying with the likes of BA and Qatar, holidaying with BA Holidays, and even from the day-to-day credit card spending and ancillary spends. Bought something from the BA Portal? That's some Avios for you. Converted your Nectar points? You've guessed it, Avios. These points can then be used to offset the cost of reward seats on BA flights. 

Now, onto the golden goose - Tier points. These points are primarily earned when you fly with BA and other airlines in the Oneworld Alliance. As these points accumulate, they culminate into a Tier status, which comes with its own set of bragging rights and benefits

To sum it up, while Avios are your currency for Avios reward seats, Tier points are your VIP ticket to enhanced travel experiences.

What are the BA Tiers?

If the BA Club were a game, tiers would be the levels you unlock as you accumulate points. Let’s take a look at them.

Blue Tier:

This is where the journey begins, the moment you step into the BA Club. As a blue member, you start collecting Avios and Tier Points, personalise your details and preferences, and gain access to member-only offers. In this tier, you earn 6 Avios per £1 spent.

Bronze Tier: Earn 3,500 Tier Points in one collection year or take 25 eligible BA-coded flights. Bronze includes business-class check-in, priority boarding and free seat selection from seven days before departure.

Silver Tier: Earn 7,500 Tier Points or take 50 eligible BA-coded flights. Silver adds business-class lounge access, free seat selection at booking and extra baggage benefits.

Gold Tier: Earn 20,000 Tier Points. There is no flight-count route to Gold. Gold adds First check-in and lounge access, Gold Priority Rewards and extra Economy reward-seat availability.

BA tier point thresholds from 1 April 2027

British Airways is raising the Silver and Gold thresholds for the collection year that starts on 1 April 2027. If you're collecting Tier Points now, the current figures still apply until 31 March 2027.

The Tier Point milestones that pay bonus Avios also move up from 1 April 2027, to 5,750, 12,000 and 17,000 Tier Points, and you'll earn fewer extra Tier Points on long-haul World Traveller Plus, Club World and First fares. Source: British Airways, About tier points (checked November 2026).

How Long Does My BA Status Last?

The British Airways Club collection year runs from 1 April to 31 March for every member. When you reach a new tier, it applies for the rest of the current membership year and the following membership year. British Airways normally shows the benefit expiry date as 30 April. Check your account for the exact date attached to your status.

How Do I Earn BA Tier Points?

Tier Points can be earned on eligible flights, British Airways Holidays packages, paid bags and seating, Sustainable Aviation Fuel contributions and qualifying British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card spend during the published offer period.

On British Airways-marketed flights, the base rate is 1 Tier Point per £1 of eligible fare and carrier-imposed charges. From 1 April 2026, eligible sectors also receive fixed extra Tier Points based on the marketing carrier, haul, cabin and fare type. Other partner airlines can use distance and booking-class tables.

Can I Earn Avios and Tier Points on BA Reward Flight Bookings?

You can reach Bronze in the British Airways Club with 3,500 Tier Points in one collection year. Tier Points can come from eligible flights and other qualifying activity; they are not restricted to flights.

You do not earn Avios or Tier Points on the Reward Flight itself. However, eligible paid add-ons, such as pre-paid seating, extra baggage and promotional upgrades, can earn Tier Points. Reward Flights do not count towards the separate option of qualifying for status by taking a set number of eligible flights.

Want to see how many Tier Points you’ll earn on your next trip? Use our British Airways Tier Points Calculator below to quickly check your route and start planning your next status upgrade.

Can BA Tier Points Be Transferred?

While the concept of sharing is great and Avios can be transferred among BA Club members, the same does not apply to Tier Points. This means they remain exclusively yours and can't be moved between BA Club members. 

What is BA Lifetime Status?

BA Lifetime Gold is permanent Gold membership. Annual Tier Points reset on 1 April, but they are added to your Lifetime Tier Point balance. British Airways currently awards Gold membership for life at 550,000 Lifetime Tier Points.

What Happens to My BA Tier Points and Status at the End of the Year?

Unlike Avios, which you accumulate and spend as a reward currency, Tier Points function differently. Essentially, they act as a measure of your engagement with BA's flights and services over a year. It's important to note that Tier Points aren't something you can spend, and they operate on an annual cycle. They accumulate over your membership year based on your flight activity and help you ascend to different BA statuses - Bronze, Silver, or Gold.

But, what happens when your membership year ends? Simply put, your Tier Points reset to zero. This is because BA's elite status is not an everlasting award; it's evaluated on a year-to-year basis. To retain your status or aim for a higher one, you must meet the minimum requirements for each status within each membership year. As soon as the new year kicks off, your Tier Points counter goes back to zero.

If I Upgrade My Flight, Do I Earn More Tier Points?

The quick answer to this question is "yes", but it comes with a pinch of "terms and conditions," so let's break it down. 

The number of Avios and Tier Points you earn depends on a few primary factors: how much you pay, the length of your flight and the class of travel. The rule of thumb is that higher classes equate to more earnings. So, if you originally book a lower cabin class, and later decide to upgrade to a higher cabin, your Tier Points will reflect the upgraded class. 

But before you rush to upgrade, be mindful of a couple of conditions. First, this rule only applies if you’re ticketed with a British Airways flight number. This means if your flight is operated by another airline, even if it's a BA partner, the rule doesn't apply. Second, you'll only score the upgraded Avios and Tier Points if you upgrade with cash. This means that if you use Avios to upgrade, you're only eligible for the Avios and Tier Points of the original class you booked.

Can I Exchange Avios for Tier Points?

No, you can't swap your Avios for British Airways Tier Points or vice versa. While both Avios and Tier Points play pivotal roles in your BA experience, they have different uses and can't be swapped or exchanged.

Can I Buy BA Tier Points or Status?

You cannot buy Tier Points directly in the same way as Avios. You can earn them through qualifying flights and holidays, eligible bags and seating, SAF contributions and the published Premium Plus Card offer. Check the live rules before spending specifically to reach status.