I Now Have British Airways Gold Status: Bye American AAdvantage?

I recently wrote about how I was considering changing up my oneworld status strategy. Days later, British Airways Executive Club launched a lucrative status match offer. I took advantage of this — I now have British Airways Gold status, and I think this might finally be the push I needed to switch my loyalty, and stop pursuing elite status with American AAdvantage. Let me explain…

How I earned British Airways Gold status

For some background, British Airways Executive Club has a Gold and Silver status match promotion, specifically for those in the United States and Canada. British Airways is matching status from Delta, United, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

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Not surprisingly, British Airways isn’t matching status from American, as it’s normal for programs to not match status of partners. So, how did I pursue this status match?

First, I took advantage of Delta SkyMiles’ status match challenge. I showed proof of my American AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, and got a temporary status match to Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status:

• I did this because with Delta, status match challenges aren’t once in a lifetime, but rather can be done every three years (while with other programs they’re once in a lifetime)
• There’s no opportunity cost to me for this, since I have no interest in going for status with Delta SkyMiles, as I’m pursuing SkyTeam status with Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Impressively enough, the status match challenge was approved within hours; I submitted my request in the evening, and then the following morning my status was upgraded

Then I requested my British Airways Executive Club Gold status match request using my Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status. I submitted that request four days ago, and just this morning received notice that my status match has been approved (which is surprisingly fast turnaround, given the demand):

• The status match is valid for six months, through October 14, 2024
• Now I need to take a roundtrip British Airways business class trip within that timeframe in order to maintain my status through the end of the next membership year
• My Tier Points collection period ends on February 14, 2025, so if renewed, I think that means my status would be valid through at least February 14, 2026 (though it might be slightly different, given how British Airways is changing the Tier Points collection period)

Let me note that I very rarely take advantage of status matches, so I wouldn’t usually do a double match like this. However, in this case, it’s a status tier that I have the genuine intent to earn on an ongoing basis, so I thought it was worth it.

Decision time: leave AAdvantage for Executive Club?

It’s amazing how just a couple of weeks ago I shared how I was considering changing my loyalty program strategy, and just days later, British Airways launched its first US status match promotion in many years. The timing really couldn’t have been any better.

Essentially I’m considering changing my oneworld status strategy, pursuing elite status with British Airways Executive Club rather than American AAdvantage. Let me be clear, this is nothing against American — since I live in Miami, American is the airline I fly most, and that won’t change.

Rather, it reflects a change in the value proposition of elite status:

• Back in the day, elite status with US airlines used to be so much more lucrative, as first class upgrades happened regularly; that’s no longer the case, at least based on my travel patterns
• I think American is smart for using its Loyalty Points system for elite status, and heavily incentivizing people spending money on its cards; however, I consider the opportunity cost of that spending to be too high, and it’s just not a game I’m interested in playing
• American has made some minor changes that have really degraded the value of going for status, from ending the Business Extra program, to changing the goalposts for Loyalty Point Rewards
• American offers very little incentive to stay loyal long term, given that the carrier’s lifetime elite status program is totally uncompetitive

So even if I keep flying American, there’s huge value to being loyal to British Airways Executive Club, and having oneworld Emerald status with a foreign airline:

• I’ll receive most of the same priority services at the airport, and I’ll also still receive complimentary Main Cabin Extra seating
• I’ll receive Flagship First Check-In even on domestic itineraries
• I’ll receive access to all oneworld Emerald and oneworld Sapphire lounges, even when traveling domestically, and that includes American Flagship Lounges, the Qantas First Lounge LAX, and more
• British Airways actually has a compelling lifetime elite status program, as you can earn lifetime Gold status, which would get you oneworld Emerald status for life

So I’m heavily leaning toward making this change, because frankly I see little downside. I don’t rely on complimentary upgrades anymore, since I find that they clear rarely as an Executive Platinum member with a low Loyalty Points total. I’d also get significant incremental value from having oneworld Emerald status with a foreign program.

For that matter, I actually think I could earn British Airways Executive Club Gold status at a significantly lower cost than what I spend to earn Executive Platinum status.

I’m of course a massive advocate for US airline loyalty program, and historically think they’ve been extremely compelling. However, it’s quite a reflection of the times if the status I’m pursuing is with Air France-KLM and British Airways, eh?

Bottom line

I now have British Airways Executive Club Gold status thanks to a status match opportunity. Funny enough, I had considered going for this status before the promotion was launched, so the timing couldn’t have worked out better.

While it can be hard to break old habits, I think after over 15 years of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, it might be time to move on to greener — or at least different — pastures. US loyalty programs just aren’t what they used to be when it comes to elite perks. If nothing else, it can be fun to experiment, so maybe I should do this and report back. I can always return to AAdvantage if this doesn’t work out.

What do you think — should I make the switch? Anyone else considering this?