Can definitely see this will hurt a lot of people. But having predicted for a couple of years it was coming, it doesn't surprise me BA has gone this route. I'm just most surprised at the cash spend requirement. Seems nuts considering how dreadful UK salaries are. But I'm sure BA's done its sums. As bad as they are at many elements, I'm confident their rev team knows what it's doing. I'm sure AA's had some input here. Probably sick of their lounges full of silvers and golds earned on hardly anything.

Not the foggiest what my actual spend has been in the past couple of years, but I'd hazard a guess I'm at enough to get Silver.

I have been grappling with the idea of getting out for a while as I have felt a sort of pressure to keep chasing status and keep things on OW when other airlines sometimes offer much better prices. I've already got a QR trip booked in that gets me Gold until 2026 and wife Silver, so we can enjoy that and the Silver soft landing will tie us over until we decide best way forward.

This honestly may be the kick I need to stop spending expendable income on long-haul flying and just focus on booking what works for us.

I've got a GUF (deadline to use May) and a big pot of avios we can use for a big trip. Either SA or India. Based on the numbers above, I dread to think how much will need to be earned for a GUF in the future. It won't be worth it at that spend.