So using a reductio ad absurdum argument, if I book three weeks in the Ritz Paris and a cheap economy return to CDG, I will earn gold through my BA holiday spend?

This seems a very ill-thought out change. You are literally inviting the wealthy to purchase status merely by routing their hotel spend through BA.

As for me, I have been gold since 2005 through purely personal spend. I have at times been on the verge of GGL. I have deliberately flown BA (or if not possible OW) for tier points to maintain status. As a result, I tend to use Avios only for upgrades or the annual BA 2for voucher. I fly a lot of CE and long haul first, so apart from the Gold lounges at LHR and LGW, BA aren’t giving me much for my status that is not included in the fare.

£20k is just not going to happen.

My 20th year of gold will be my last, unless I eventually hit GfL - I am still a bit short of that.

For me the upside is going to be spending my stash of avios and choosing flights in future on routing and value. I’ll get to see new airlines and new lounges.

Whatever we call it, BAEC is supposed to be a loyalty programme. When I joined in 1993, it was viewed as exclusive and business orientated, but it evolved to reward loyalty more than just being one of the in-crowd. And so history repeats itself…

BA are now rewarding business travellers on corporate contracts that require BA/OW flights. They have no choice and with year end rebates spend nothing like the nominal fare price on which their status is based.

Meanwhile, people like me, who determine where to spend their own money are lost business. Very clever.

Oh, and I am a bean counter and no decent business accountant would have claimed this decision made
commercial sense.