The British Airways passenger loyalty program created a shock response

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British Airways has announced changes to its passenger loyalty program, sparking criticism from customers who fear they will lose travel benefits.

The airline, which has been plagued by cancellations and delays since the Covid-19 pandemic, is shaking up its points system, where passengers can earn rewards such as free seat selection and BA lounge access.

Under the changes, points will be awarded based on the price of flights or package holidays rather than the class and length of the trip.

Some industry figures say the move, which will begin in April, will hurt leisure travelers, who were able to hunt down the best deals on flights earlier to get the rewards.

“BA is washing its hands well in the leisure market,” said Rob Burgess, editor-in-chief of the frequent flyer website.

“The truth is, it’s not possible to get gold right now for small business travelers, economy travelers, or self-funded leisure travelers.”

Flyers can earn bronze, silver or gold status through the airline’s Tier Points program. One point is earned for every spend excluding tax.

Bronze is now awarded at 3,500 points, Silver at 7,500 points and Gold at 20,000 points.

Gilbert Ott, who runs the frequent flyer website God Save the Points, said the move “rewards overall spend with the brand rather than encouraging people to take more interactions to artificially hit them.”

B.A The changes, part of a wider £7bn transformation programme, said there were now “more ways than ever to earn points”.

Balancing points earned per pound spent will be in line with BA’s “model used by other airline loyalty programs around the world”, he added.

BA’s chief commercial officer Colm Lacey said: “The changes we’ve announced today are a continuation of our investment in our loyalty program and our customers.”

Customers can earn up to 2,500 points by spending on co-branded credit cards.

The Tier Points system is separate from the Avios loyalty currency, which can be used for flights and holidays.