Here’s a silver lining to the recession: British Airways is wooing its most loyal customers. The carrier recently announced that:
• It is launching “Priority Reward” for Gold Executive Club members, that, for double the standard redemption rate, allows them to book any route and cabin on their choice of dates provided they book 30 days or more in advance. Thus, New York–London in Business Class (usually 100,000 miles) costs 200,000 with Priority Reward. This is a modified anytime award and can be booked through the call center.
• Executive Club members earn Tier Points on every BA and oneworld flight, including discount economy fares (though this only goes until May 18).
• Existing Silver members can renew after 50 flights or 600 Tier Points and Blue members advance to Silver membership after 50 flights. Previously they could only earn or renew Silver status by accumulating 600 tier points.