British Airways has backtracked on some changes to its new loyalty programme and premium cabin catering following a backlash from frequent flyers. The airline sparked controversy in December when it announced sweeping changes to its frequent flyer club, through which passengers earn points to unlock perks including access to BA’s lounges. From April, BA’s “tier points” will be awarded based on the cost of flights or package holiday bookings, instead of the class of travel and the length of trips. One “tier point” will be earned for every pound spent, excluding taxes. Bronze will now be awarded at 3,500 points, silver at 7,500 points and gold at 20,000 points. On Wednesday BA for the first time recognised that these changes had upset many frequent flyers. “We’ve heard that our members wanted more clarity, certainty and reassurance,” said CCO Colm Lacy. Although the changes are seen by some members and travel experts as relatively minor, Lacy said BA would tweak the new scheme to allow very frequent flyers to earn status based purely on how many flights they had taken, irrespective of how much they spent. Customers can now earn “bronze” status by taking 25 flights a year, or “silver” by taking 50 flights, in a move designed to appease people who commute on short, comparatively inexpensive flights. The airline has also extended an offer of “bonus points” for bookings made this year, to help flyers keep their current status under the changes. “Our members have a deep emotional connection with our loyalty scheme and their status means a lot to them — we’re confident the changes we’ve made fairly reward members for their travel with us,” Lacy said. BA’s switch to a loyalty programme based on how much passengers spend on their flights or holidays brings it into line with many of its rivals.<br/>
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A Japan Airlines plane clipped a parked Delta Air Lines plane while taxiing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday, leaving the wing of the Japanese plane impaled on the tail of the Delta jet. Delta said the Boeing 737 that was struck had 142 passengers aboard. The plane, which was operating as Flight 1921, was scheduled to fly to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and was in line for de-icing when it was hit, Delta said. “There are no reports of injuries for crew or customers on the flight, and we apologize for the experience and delay in travels,” Delta said. Japan Airlines did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The FAA said that the Japan Airlines plane was Flight 68, which had landed at the airport after flying for more than eight hours from Tokyo. The planes were in an area that is not under air traffic control, the F.A.A. said, adding that it had paused some flights at the airport after the episode and was investigating. Police and firefighters responded at 10:17 a.m. and worked with both airlines to get passengers off the planes and into the terminal, the airport said in a statement. It confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries and said the impact on airport operations was “minimal.” Jackie Patton, a Vancouver resident, was sitting in a window seat on the Delta plane, on her way to meet her parents for a vacation in Puerto Vallarta, when the collision happened. She described “violent shaking in the plane and a really loud crunching sound.” “It was obvious right away something was wrong,” Patton said in an interview. The pilot later confirmed that the plane had been hit, Patton said. “It was very scary,” she said. A video posted by Patton on social media shows people reacting with astonishment as they see the wing of the Japan Airlines plane after it had sliced into the tail of the Delta jet.<br/>