Travel
Losing Status on Your Favorite Airline Is Its Own Kind of Breakup
British Airways’ executive club overhaul shows why perks matter less than the feeling of being inside.
A dining area in the Miami lounge.
Source: British AirwaysAirline status is a game. At the end of March, I lose.
For years, British Airways loyalists measured their relationship with the airline in miles flown — the more you flew, the more “tier points” you earned, unlocking higher status and access to perks like lounge entry, priority boarding and seat selection. But as of April 1, the calculus changes. Elite status will be determined not by distance and cabin class but largely by money spent with the airline.