BA metal changed sometime back. More recently the IB language showed up and persons on the BA have received qualifying segments for the IB flights. The BA board is aware that the BAEC t&c's still say metal but the BAEC website where it explains avios and tiers says otherwise in a couple of locations and persons have received segment credit for other than BA metal segments as long as on a BA flight number. For example, see the BA forum dashboard:
And see a few of the following threads on the BA board:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...r+flights+tier
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...r+flights+tier