Spanish flag carrier Iberia announced yesterday that, as of April 1st, its Iberia Plus loyalty program will be known as Club Iberia Plus. This switch aligns with a range of other changes, such as the addition of a new tier, and the move towards a spending-based earnings model. However, the news has been met with a more positive reaction than British Airways’ recent changes to its own loyalty scheme.
A key reason for this is the difference in required qualifying spend to move up the tiers. While both programs need 3,500 points to move from the first to the second tier, with 7,500 being the threshold for the third tier, Iberia members earn a point per Euro ($1.04) spent, compared to a point per Pound ($1.25) at BA, with this small difference quickly adding up. Furthermore, qualifying by sectors flown is easier with Iberia, with just 20 and 40 required for the second and third tiers.
Meanwhile, BA members need to fly 25 and 50 sectors to qualify for the UK flag carrier’s second and third tiers, with this only being reinstated after a severe backlash due to it initially having been left out of the new scheme. Still, for many BA members, the damage has been done, and, as the airline and Iberia are oneworld partners, Iberia frequent flyers can earn points (and, subsequently, equivalent status within the alliance) with British Airways.
This means that the Spanish flag carrier’s new loyalty scheme will likely be a common destination for British Airways frequent flyers who are looking to vote with their feet and take their loyalty elsewhere.
This article was originally published by Simple Flying on 13th February 2025. View original.
