Shuttle-Bored

Most frequent flier programmes are open to anyone to sign up for – thankfully, this now applies to the Executive Club too! You can sign up by visiting the link:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...l/public/en_gb

Previously, you could only join if you had a flight booked that would earn you Tier Points. Flight classes which earn Tier Points are:

Euro Traveller/World Traveller/UK Domestic: Y B H
World Traveller Plus: W E T
Club Europe/Club World: J C D R I
First: F A

For posterity (and in case BA change their minds and revert to the old policy any time soon!), we’ll record the previous ‘workarounds. Firstly, if you are based in the UK, you would automatically get enrolled in the EC if you took out a BA AmEx card and are not already a member. In the USA, you can join by taking out a BA Visa card. TEX277 also found a helpful partner link which had no eligibility requirements:

http://www.ba.com/starwoodec

If you are based in Australia, you will not be able to join the Executive Club. BA recommends you join the Qantas programme instead. Currently If you are based in Asia, you will be able to join the Executive Club but collect Asia Miles instead of BA Miles. However effective 17 June 2008, the Executive Club will no longer be linked with the Asia Miles programme, and instead members in Asia will automatically become a full member of the Executive Club and will be eligible for all benefits, including earning BA Miles instead of Asia Miles. You don't need to do anything as the change will take effect automatically on 17 June 2008, and your Asia Miles membership will still be valid so you can remain a member of both programmes if you choose.

For more information on this, see the membership countries section, later on.

You also need to be 18 or over to join the EC. The only exception to this is the household account, which has its separate section, later on.

Comping from other FF programmes

BA very rarely comp status from other FF programmes. The exception to this is if you’re an employee of a large corporate that has a deal with BA. Your best bet is to speak to your account manager to see what he/she can arrange. Comps can also come through contact with your local country office – obviously this would be easier in somewhere like Romania rather than the US.

BA's official position on matching status (‘comping’) is:

It is worth noting, however, that you can comp from BA. bmi is very keen to recruit BA Silver and Gold card holders – the sticky on the bmi board will explain all. Remember that bmi is in Star Alliance so your bmi Gold will give you lounge access across *A globally. However, a *A Silver card only gives you lounge access on the airline which issues your card – a significantly poorer benefit than the BA Silver card (oneworld Sapphire equivalent).