Act fast: How to earn Oneworld Emerald status for under $3,000 this year
With advance seat selection, a route to Hilton Honors Diamond status, first-class lounge access and a track to lie-flat seat upgrade certificates, there's much to love about British Airways' top-tier Gold status.
To qualify, you need to earn 1,500 Tier Points in a calendar year; however, for 2022, the status requirements have been reduced by 25%.
So 2022 is your opportunity to earn the 1,125 Tier Points (plus four British Airways segments) needed for British Airways Gold status. And despite BA being a foreign airline, it includes Oneworld Emerald status, which has big benefits for U.S.-based travelers.
Why a US-based flyer would want BA Gold status
Before we discuss how to earn BA Gold status this year, let's look at why a U.S.-based traveler would want to pursue elite status on Britain's largest airline.
Since British Airways is a Oneworld member like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, you get reciprocal benefits on all Oneworld airlines. BA Gold elite status includes the following benefits whenever you fly a Oneworld carrier:
- Access to first- and business-class lounges.
- Access to first-class priority check-in.
- "Fast Track" or "Priority Lane" access at select airports worldwide.
- Priority baggage handling.
- Extra baggage allowance.
- Priority boarding.
- Priority on waitlists and when on standby.
- Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating.
Certain fare classes (like basic economy) are excluded from some benefits, and other exceptions apply to the BA Gold and Oneworld Emerald benefits list. Regardless, this is a generous list of benefits you can enjoy when you fly with Alaska and American.
Also, while top-tier Alaska and American elite members enjoy Oneworld Emerald status, their status doesn't get them into the Alaska Lounge, Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge when traveling on domestic itineraries. With BA Gold, however, you'll have access to all three of these lounges — even on domestic flights.
Of course, BA Gold comes with benefits on British Airways too. This includes:
- First-class check-in and boarding.
- Free seat selection for most seats at booking.
- Access to First lounges.
- Extra baggage allowance.
- Additional reward flight availability.
- 100% bonus Avios.
- Member-only offers.
- No booking or service fees for Priority Reward bookings.
- Gold Priority Reward.
- Additional reward flight availability in economy.
- Gold upgrade for two vouchers (at 2,500 Tier Points in one year).
- Two Gold upgrades for one voucher (at 3,500 Tier Points in one year).
- One Gold Executive Club partner card and two Silver cards (at 5,000 Tier Points in one year and 3,000 Tier Points thereafter).
- Concorde Room access (at 5,000 Tier Points in one year and 3,000 Tier Points thereafter).
You're also eligible for Hilton Honors Diamond elite status after you earn 5,000 Tier Points in your first qualification year, and 3,000 Tier Points per year after that.
Related: 5 reasons I pursued elite status with a foreign airline
An introduction to earning Tier Points
The easiest way to see the number of Tier Points you'll earn from a flight is by going to the British Airways Tier Points calculator on its website. You can type in your origin, destination, airline and Executive Club tier. If you have status with British Airways, you'll earn bonus Avios — redeemable for award travel — but your Tier Point accrual does not change based on your status.
For example, a one-way flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) earns 35 Tier Points in the L fare class.
It's important to remember that, unlike earning elite status with most U.S. airlines, your ticket price does not affect your Tier Points accrual. In turn, the key is to find a fare class that earns a generous number of Tier Points based on your ticket price.
Related: British Airways reduces Silver status requirements again — but there's a catch
How to quickly earn Tier Points in the US
Now that we've established the fundamentals of British Airways Tier Points, let's look at how you can earn lots of Tier Points on discounted North American flights. At the end of each example, we'll show you the cost per Tier Point at the time of writing.
40 Tier Points: Short-haul first class
Alaska Airlines offers some bargain-priced short-haul first-class tickets. For example, you can fly from San Jose's Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for $89.
These flights, which are normally in the I fare class — indicated by "First Class (I)" above — earn 40 Tier Points per the Tier Point calculator. Theoretically, you could earn 1,125 Tier Points after 29 short-haul first-class flights, which would cost just over $2,500.
Cost: $2.23 per Tier Point.
180 Tier Points: Connecting medium-haul first class
Connecting first-class flights can also help you earn more Tier Points. For example, this flight from San Jose to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) connects through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). You'll earn 40 Tier Points for the first leg and 140 Tier Points for the second leg.
You'll walk away with 180 Tier Points after spending just $379. After three round-trip flights like this, you will have earned 1,080 of the 1,125 Tier Points needed for BA Gold.
Cost: $2.11 per Tier Point.
220 Tier Points: Long-haul Hawaii
The next example we're looking at is a round-trip premium economy flight from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) by way of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The mainland U.S. flights are ticketed in the H fare class (economy class) and earn 20 Tier Points per leg, while flights to Hawaii are ticketed in the P fare class and earn 90 Tier Points each.
So for about $1,000, you earn 220 Tier Points in this case.
Cost: $4.67 per Tier Point.
440 Tier Points: Peru in business class
This flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) connects through Miami International Airport (MIA). It is ticketed the whole way through in the I fare class. The domestic flights earn 40 Tier Points each, while the flights to Peru earn 180 Tier Points each. By taking this round-trip ticket, you'll earn 440 Tier Points — that's over a third of your way to Gold status.
Cost: $3.51 per Tier Point.
Related: What does British Airways elite status get you, and how do you earn it?
Bottom line
By searching on the British Airways Tier Points Calculator, you'll become acquainted with some sweet spots that earn lots of Tier Points, but it's going to be hard to beat Alaska's low-cost first-class fares. You won't qualify for Gold status without four British Airways-marketed and -operated flights, so make sure to factor that into your status chase too.
When you qualify for BA Gold, you'll enjoy Oneworld Emerald benefits like access to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge — even on domestic U.S. flights — something your fellow Alaska Airlines and American Airlines Oneworld Emeralds won't have access to.
That might be a reason to pursue Gold status with British Airways, especially if you can get there for under $3,000.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.