Okay! I've just popped over to read about the changes to the Executive Club and, from what I can see, there are definitely more positives than negatives:
Copied from Executive Club Website
Top 10 Questions
Q Why are you changing the Executive Club?
A Members have told us that the current Executive Club is too complex. Based on your feedback, we have created one global, simplified Executive Club programme.
For example, the fare classes that qualify for BA Miles* and Tier Points will be aligned worldwide. It will also be easier to understand how many BA Miles you will earn and how many you will need to spend for a redemption flight.
In many areas of the world, new benefits are being introduced, and existing benefits are being enhanced as a result of customer feedback.
Q What are the new key benefits?
A We have taken the most popular benefits from each of our regional programmes and made them available to all members from 1 July.
These include flexible ways to redeem your BA Miles for flights: 'Miles for Upgrade', 'Part Cash Part Miles', and 'Household Accounts'. We have improved these benefits and extended them to all of our Executive Club members.**
You will also be able to do more online, giving you access and control of your account 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including:
- Book British Airways flight redemptions
- Receive e-tickets on your redemption travel
- Book Miles for Upgrade and Part Cash Part Miles.*
We're also recognising the loyalty of our top Gold members with free Upgrade for Two Awards. Click here for more details.
Q Will I receive bonus BA Miles for flying in a premium cabin?**
A From 1 July, all members worldwide will receive the same cabin bonus. The cabin bonus gives you additional BA Miles when you fly in a premium cabin on an eligible fare.
The new cabin bonus rates are as follows from 1 July:
World Traveller Plus: 25% bonus BA Miles
Club Europe/ World: 50% bonus BA Miles
First: 100% bonus BA Miles
Concorde: 200% bonus BA Miles
For example, from 1 July, any Executive Club member travelling in our Club World cabin on an eligible fare will earn an additional 50% BA Miles on every mile that they fly with British Airways.
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Q Will I receive bonus BA Miles for being a Silver or Gold card holder?**
A Under the new programme, all Silver and Gold members will benefit from a tier bonus, in addition to the cabin bonus (see Question 3).
The tier bonus is currently offered to members of some regions, but will be extended globally at the following rates from 1 July:
Silver: 25% bonus BA Miles
Gold: 50% bonus BA Miles
For example, from 1 July, all Silver card holders globally will earn an additional 25% BA Miles on every mile that they fly with British Airways on an eligible fare, regardless of the cabin that they are travelling in.
For more details, click here.
Q How many BA Miles will I receive when I fly on Discount Economy fares?**
A From 1 July, when travelling on Discount Economy fares (G,K,L,M,N,O,Q,S and V), you will earn 25% of the actual miles flown. Short sectors of less than 500 miles will earn a minimum of 125 BA Miles.
This means that in regions where BA Miles were not previously available on discounted fare classes, you will now earn more BA Miles on British Airways flights.
For more details, click here.
Q How are the mileage redemption rates changing?**
A In moving to a simplified global programme, the amount charged to redeem BA Miles for flights has changed for members in some regions. From 1 July, some destinations will require fewer BA Miles and other destinations will require more. For more details, click here.
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Q How many Executive Club Tier Points will I need to earn to become a Silver or Gold card holder?
A We have simplified the Tier Points earning structure, so it is more straightforward to calculate how many Tier Points you will earn from 1 July. Click here to see the new table.
In addition, we've aligned the threshold levels for entry and renewal in the Silver and Gold tiers.
Please click here to see the points levels for entry and renewal.
The new entry thresholds will be in place from 1 July. The current renewal thresholds will be honoured for all membership cards that expire before 1 March 2004. After this date, the new renewal thresholds will also apply. This means that existing Gold & Silver members will have a full year to change their flying, where necessary, to ensure they maintain their status next year.
Q How can I join the Executive Club after 1 July?
A From 1 July, you will need to take an eligible flight to join the Executive Club. A flight is eligible if the booking class qualifies for Tier Points. All travel in Premium Cabins, and Economy travel booked in Y, B or H class (additionally, C class on UK domestic travel) are eligible for Tier Points.
The new Blue entry threshold applies only to customers enrolling in Executive Club after 1 July 2003. Existing Blue Tier members will continue to enjoy the benefits of their Executive Club membership so long as they have unexpired BA Miles in their account. As long as you earn or redeem BA Miles once within each 36-month period, your BA Miles will not expire.
Q What are Part Cash Part Miles, Miles for Upgrade and one way redemptions?**
A Members in some of our regional programmes currently enjoy Part Cash Part Miles and Miles for Upgrade, two flexible ways of redeeming your BA Miles for flights. We've taken the best elements of these local benefits and extended them to all of our members. For more details, click here.
Part Cash Part Miles allows you take a redemption flight sooner, by combining BA Miles and cash to pay for an economy redemption ticket. For more details, click here.
Using Miles for Upgrade you can spend your BA Miles to treat yourself to a cabin upgrade. For more details, click here.
All members worldwide will also be able to redeem their BA Miles for one way travel on British Airways, for only 50% of the BA Miles required for round trip travel.
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Q What is a Household Account?**
A The Household Account lets you collect and redeem BA Miles as a family.
We've combined our current Household Account and Family Passport schemes to create the new Household Account, which will allow you and up to 6 members of your household to pool your BA Miles together for free*** flights. For more details, click here.
* Members living in Asia (excluding Japan) collect Asia Miles - not BA Miles.
** Not applicable to members living in Asia participating in the Asia Miles programme.
*** Subject to applicable taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
For those who still feel aggrieved, please bear in mind that these changes were the result of asking Executive Club members what changes they would like to see!