BA, Virgin, Qatar Holidays Offer Airline Status Points

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways are now offering their frequent flyers a way to earn elite status tier points by booking package holidays. This development allows passengers to accrue points not just from flights but from the total cost of a holiday package that includes hotels or car hire.

These three airlines have established schemes where spending on holidays can contribute towards the tier points needed for status levels like British Airways Bronze, Silver, and Gold or Virgin Atlantic Silver and Gold.

Earning with British Airways Holidays

Every pound spent via British Airways Holidays earns one tier point. However, these points are shared equally among all passengers on a booking, including children, with only infants under two excluded. For a family of four spending £10,000, each person would receive 2,500 tier points from the holiday cost.

Passengers also receive standard cabin bonus tier points for their flights. The entire cost of the flight, hotel, and car booked through BA Holidays earns points, unlike standalone flights where only the net cost, after taxes, counts.

Points are credited in three parts: cabin bonuses after each flight leg and the main holiday points around two weeks after returning home. The scheme applies to all holiday bookings that include a flight component; hotel-only bookings do not qualify.

Earning with Virgin Atlantic Holidays

Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers double tier points to all passengers on a qualifying booking. For bookings made by January 31, 2027, the lead booker gets an extra 200 tier points if the total exceeds £4,000.

To qualify for double points, a booking must include at least three nights of hotel accommodation or car hire and must be on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, not codeshares. The lead booker also earns separate Virgin Points based on spending and status level.

The report notes the three-night minimum makes the offer viable for business travellers. Virgin Atlantic's status operates on a rolling 12-month basis initially, switching to a fixed year after achieving Silver.

Earning with Qatar Airways Holidays

Qatar Airways Holidays offers one Qpoint for every $100 spent, excluding taxes. There is an annual cap of 600 Qpoints from non-flying activities like this scheme. Status requires 150 Qpoints for Silver, 300 for Gold, and 600 for Platinum.

The report suggests this is unlikely to be a primary route to meaningful status for most travellers, noting you need Gold status for oneworld lounge access. It highlights that substantial spending, such as on Formula 1 packages, would be needed.

Comparing the Offers

The Head for Points analysis indicates the British Airways offer is arguably the most attractive, especially when combined with spending on a British Airways American Express card. It notes the Virgin Atlantic deal is weakened by its Silver status not including lounge access. The battleground for rewarding non-flying activities is intensifying among frequent flyer programmes.