British Airways Executive Club Gold members will from today have to pay change and cancellation fees.
The news means that top tier members of BA's frequent flyer programme will be charged £35 per passenger for any ticket changes.
It is thought that this change in Gold tier benefits may have been implemented to limit multiple speculative bookings.
If so, then it may free up more seats for either redemption bookings or paid travellers.
The news arrived without any advance notice, save for a message on the final page of the award-booking process on each Gold member's account.
It reads: "Please note that from March 31, 2014 our terms and conditions have changed: Change and cancellation fees now apply to Gold Members."
Earlier this month, BA launched a business class leisure fare (see news, March 12).
Graham Smith