BA axes Concorde Room Card, opens elite lounge to more frequent flyers

British Airways has ditched its highly sought-after Concorde Room Card and thrown open the doors of its elite Concorde Room lounges to all Gold Guest List members of its Executive Club frequent flyer program.

The move will see Gold Guest List (GGL) members – who enjoy status roughly equivalent to Qantas Platinum One – welcome at British Airways' Concorde Rooms at London Heathrow and New York JFK.

Concorde Room access was previously exclusive to the airline’s first class passengers, Executive Club Premier members (BA’s invitation-only status) and frequent flyers who earned a Concorde Room Card on top of their Gold Guest List status.

Now even more of BA's top-tier frequent flyers can enjoy a visit to the fabled Concorde Room.

That last criterion saw Concorde Room Cards offered as a privilege for frequent flyers exceeding 5,000 Tier Points in a single membership year.

Gold Guest List status requires 5,000 Tier Points to earn – the same as to receive a one-year Concorde Room Card – but just 3,000 Tier Points to retain, versus 5,000 Tier Points to retain that Concorde Room Card.

For frequent flyers who keep their status year after year, the change means they’ll only need to aim for 3,000 Tier Points per year to secure Concorde Room access, rather than 5,000 Tier Points as before.

However, as previously, Concorde Room access is not available to 'standard' Executive Club Gold members or other Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers.

As previously reported, British Airways is also rolling out another status extension for Executive Club members which will see some minted all the way through to 2023.

Inside the British Airways Concorde Room

With Concorde Rooms in London and New York – being both at ends of the airline’s flagship Concorde route, before its retirement – here’s a peek inside the Concorde Room at London Heathrow.

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Inside British Airways' new-look Concorde Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Also read: BA unlocks status extension for Executive Club members

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.