British Airways improves lounge benefits for Silver, Gold and GGL Executive Club members

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Alongside the extension of Executive Club status for 25% of members announced today, British Airways has also tweaked its rules on lounge access.

Whilst this won’t impact most status members directly, it will indirectly improve the experience of Executive Club Gold members by reducing the numbers in the Galleries First lounge at Heathrow.

British Airways improves lounge benefits for Silver and Gold Executive Club member

What is changing with British Airways lounge access rules?

Are you Executive Club Silver or Gold?

With immediate effect, all Executive Silver and Gold members can use the pre-flight dining facility at North American lounges.

The major British Airways lounges in the United States contain a restaurant. The idea is that customers can eat a full meal and then maximise their sleep on what is often a very short flight back to the UK.

Historically, pre-flight dining required you to hold a ticket for Club World or First. Anyone who was flying in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus, and who was in the lounge on the back of their Executive Club status or because they had been guested in, did not qualify.

This has now changed. Anyone with access to a lounge with pre-flight dining, which includes New York JFK, Boston, Chicago and Washington, will be allowed to eat in the restaurant.

British Airways Concorde Room access rules

Are you Executive Club Gold Guest List?

From today, all Executive Club Gold Guest List members can use the Concorde Room lounges.

These are located in Heathrow Terminal 5 and New York JFK.

This change will impact anyone who earns more than 3,000, but fewer than 5,000, Executive Club tier points per year.

To join Gold Guest List – we outline the benefits of BA Gold Guest List here – initially requires you to earn 5,000 tier points in a year, currently reduced to 3,750 tier points. 5,000 tier points is also the threshold to receive Concorde Room access, so all new Gold Guest List members can access it in their first year.

After your first year of Gold Guest List, renewal is easier. You only need to earn 3,000 tier points, currently reduced to 2,250 tier points. However, the threshold for a Concorde Room card remains at 5,000 tier points. This creates a tier of Gold Guest List members who earn between 3,000 and 4,999 tier points who do not receive Concorde Room access.

From today, this distinction is removed. Concorde Room access will be available to all Executive Club Gold Guest List members.

You should receive details of these changes from British Airways during Monday.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

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

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 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 consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus: