What are the benefits of British Airways Executive Club Gold status?

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What are the benefits of British Airways Executive Club Gold status?

Gold is one of four tiers of the Executive Club, British Airways’ frequent flyer membership scheme. In this article we’ll look at what the benefits are of having British Airways Executive Club Gold status.

Gold and Gold Guest List (more on that later) are the highest statuses you can hold as part of British Airways Executive Club. You won’t be surprised to learn that it takes a lot of flying to achieve this level – you can read more about what it takes to achieve British Airways Gold status here.

Unlike the other tiers, Gold comes with several additional milestones at varying tier point levels. Gold Guest List is a sub-tier of Gold that comes with some exceptional benefits. You can read more about what British Airways Gold Guest List is, how to get it and what the benefits are here.

Even ‘standard’ Gold status comes with a long list of perks:

100% bonus Avios on all British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines and Japan Airlines, doubling avios earned

Free seat selection at the time of booking for you and anyone else on your booking, including “extra legroom” upgrades

Free seat allocation for a companion on their own booking, but on the same flight (this can only be done over the phone)

2 free 32kg bags per person in all classes, for everyone on your booking

First Class, Club World, Club Europe or oneworld equivalent First Class or business class check in desks, regardless of your flight class – plus use of the new First Wing at Heathrow Terminal 5

Access for you and one guest (traveling on a British Airways or oneworld operated flight) to the British Airways Galleries First, Club, Terraces and Executive Club, or the equivalent oneworld first and business class departure lounge

Use of the British Airways Elemis Spa before a long haul flight, regardless of ticket class

Use of a British Airways arrivals lounge, irrespective of class of travel

Priority boarding

Reservation assurance on full-fare economy tickets, guaranteeing you a seat even on full or overbooked flights.

Priority over lower status passengers on waiting lists

Additional Avios reward seat availability in economy

Gold Priority Reward, allowing you to book any seat still for sale for double the Avios cost (these can only be booked offline and with 30 days’ notice)

No booking free for Avios redemption flights

The official list of British Airways Gold benefits can be found on ba.com here.

Key benefits here are access to First Class lounges as well as the ability to book Gold Priority Rewards, which allow you to book any seat, regardless of whether it is set aside for a redemption, with your Avios balance. If the seat is bookable, it’s yours. This article explains more about British Airways Gold Priority Rewards.

For its most loyal flyers, however, British Airways has some even bigger surprises. Find out what rewards BA Gold Guest List members are entitled to ….

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which explains how British Airways Executive Club works. You can see all of our ‘BA Q&A’ articles here. )

(Head for Points is the UK’s biggest frequent flyer website with 1.8 million monthly page views. Want to learn more about earning and spending Avios? Click here to read our latest news stories, click here to join our email list and click here to read our ‘Avios Redemption University’ series.)

How to get 20,000 Avios from Amex Gold or 30,000 Avios from Amex Platinum (December 2021 offer)

The sign-up bonus on American Express Preferred Rewards Gold converts to 20,000 Avios and the card is free for the first year. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

You don’t qualify for the Amex Gold bonus if you have a British Airways American Express card. You DO qualify for the bonus on The Platinum Card, which converts into 30,000 Avios. You can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

If you have your own small business, the best way of earning Avios is via the Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa. It has a sign-up bonus which converts to 10,000 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also look at the British Airways Accelerating Business card, because it currently has a limited time offer of 60,000 Avios when you sign up by 14th November. You can apply here.